Episode 113Aug 27, 2026· 6:46
Turning 42 and Still Dancing: Why Joyful Movement Beats Any Workout Plan
▸ Show notes from the creator
Ashley kicked off her 42nd birthday with Zumba, talking about tikka masala mishaps, and a truth she wants every mover to hear: if your workout doesn't bring you joy, you won't stick with it. In this personal, feel good episode, she shares why fun is the real secret to a lasting fitness habit, how she turns everyday moments into dance breaks, and what her husband's love of hiking and sports taught her about finding your own version of movement that lights you up. Whether you love Zumba, Tabata, walking, or something totally different, this episode is a reminder to stop forcing workouts you dread and start chasing the ones that make you smile.
This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.
Get more content: https://famousashleygrant.com/fitness/
Join the FREE accountability group: https://famousashleygrant.com/group/
---------------------------------------
This podcast is supported by affiliate partnerships. Please check out a few of our partners below:
– Check out my Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theashleygrant?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_4EEZX1HN7ZCWEBZ33TK3
– Start a podcast today here: https://rss.com/?via=moremovementplease
– Create content from your own voice with Castmagic's Suite of AI Tools: https://get.castmagic.io/dcjy15cirnts
– Want to help support our show? Buy a girl a drink perhaps? https://ko-fi.com/famousashleygrant
– Need content for your podcast or blog? Check out Tools for Motivation: https://toolsformotivation.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=962&url=1914
The links above are affiliate links. This means my podcast will receive a small commission if you order through any of them at no additional cost to you. Affiliate commissions are one of the ways my podcast makes money so that I can create episodes free of charge. If you do purchase anything from my links, I sincerely would like to thank you for your support!
About this episode
Ashley kicked off her 42nd birthday with Zumba, talking about tikka masala mishaps, and a truth she wants every mover to hear: if your workout doesn't bring you joy, you won't stick with it. In this personal, feel good episode, she shares why fun is the real secret to a lasting fitness habit, how she turns everyday moments into dance breaks, and what her husband's love of hiking and sports taught her about finding…
Listener reactions
💡0
🤝0
🔥0
😄0
0 reactionsShare your reaction
Pick how this episode landed — then leave a public review or a private note to the host.
You
Your name will appear with your review0/300 Visible to everyone
Sign in to leave feedback
Full transcript
00:00
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 42. What's up my movers and shakers? Famous Ashley Grant here. Welcome to More Movement Please, the podcast where I hope to inspire you to move your body more. Today's my birthday and by the time you guys hear this, it will have already passed and be over and done with and all that jazz, but I just, I don't know, I guess I'm feeling like I should record something because I'm headed to the gym on my birthday and that Excites me last year for my birthday. I wanted to take a bunch of classes And so I did and today I'm only taking two classes But at least one of them is my favorite class and that is Zumba and that's what I'm headed to right now And so I I can think of no better way to begin the day than by shaking my ash So that's why that's what I'm doing. I'm headed to the gym now. I'm so excited to just let loose because i i get very happy whenever i'm dancing i've told y 'all this in the past
00:57
that zumba is my favorite and movement is life and oh god i just i love dancing i love the music i love all the things but um but yeah i'm i'm excited to dance excited to have my birthday begin at the gym and that's so funny to me because you know a few years ago i would not have wanted to start my birthday at the gym but now that i'm so addicted to moving my body I'm thrilled that that's what I'm going to be beginning my day with. So I will report back whenever I get out of the gym. But I just, I'm thrilled to be here. And that's all I've got to share for now.
01:32
Until after class. Back in the car from birthday Zumba and low impact cardio and toning. Had an absolute blast. And I was so pleasantly surprised that some folks gave me a card and a gift. And I just I appreciate it so much whenever people are kind to me. It's just it's one of those things that like people don't have to do nice things. But when they do, it's just like it just touches my heart. And I just really, really appreciate it. So to everybody who has either sent a card or or sent a message or anything to say happy birthday to me, I just I want to thank you all so much. And. I just had so much fun in Zumba.
02:14
I absolutely love, love, love to dance. And it's just, it's just a blast. Like, I mean, if I could do Zumba every single day, I would because it's just that much fun for me. Like I've said in other episodes, I will sometimes just do Zumba dances around my apartment just because, like, I love it so much. I love it that much. Like, I mean, I've done it while cooking. I've done it while, you know, in the middle of the day between meetings and things like that. i did learn do not do it while you have a utensil in your hand however i was making chicken tikka masala one night and i was doing um the zumba dance to apatay and i totally threw tikka masala sauce on the ceiling and so yeah i still haven't gotten it all off because it's stained but it's just it's all for the cause dear It's just so much fun. I love, love, love to move my body.
03:09
And so basically the big thing that I want to say. is if you are not doing something that you're enjoying to work out do something like find something that brings you joy whether that is a boot camp that you gamify to see just how many reps you can get done or if you're trying to see just how fast you can run a mile or you know if you're trying to test yourself to see how many push -ups you can do or how long you can hold plank or if you like Zumba like I do or you're into What are the other ones? Like I think there's like a drummer fitness kind of thing. And I've seen the fat fitness. I've seen all kinds of crazy things. And whatever it is you're into that brings you joy. Maybe it's sports. Like that's my husband. He loves to play sports to work out. He loves to go hiking to work out.
03:55
Like those are his favorite ways to work out. You've got to find something that lights you up and brings you so much joy so that you will stick with it. Because there are days that it's going to suck and it's going to hurt and it's not going to feel fun. But if you make it. it fun oh man that's just that's when you can really get more work done and that's the biggest thing that I have learned is that I've got to keep making it fun that's one of the reasons why I was excited to bring Tabata back onto my schedule because Tabata has just become one of my favorite classes of ever like it is honestly number two just to Zumba and I I just really want y 'all to think about what it is that makes you excited to move your body and whatever that is, start doing that as your, as your physical fitness thing. Maybe it's planting, maybe it's, you know, gardening or I don't even know what, like some people get a kick out of cleaning. Maybe if it's
04:46
cleaning, clean more, like just do something that brings you joy and lights you up because that's just the best. Cause like even on the days where it hurts and I'm not feeling well. I still feel better just because the workouts I'm doing are fun. The workouts I'm choosing are fun. Hanging out with people and working out with them, that's my jam, y 'all. And I want that so much for you. I really do because when you can find a way to make it something you look forward to rather than something you dread, that's when you get more done. That's when you start showing up more for yourself. And as you keep showing up, it gets more fun and it feels better.
05:23
And I just... It's just the best. So I've had the happiest of birthdays so far. And it's not even over. The day's not even over. I have plans to... go play video games, and then I'm going to go play poker and just doing all I can to just get as much joy and fun out of life as possible. For those of you who are wondering, I'm turning the ripe old age of 42. And if you are a fan of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you know that 42 is the answer to all the universe's questions.
05:49
So I have a lot of plans for what I'm going to do while I'm 42. And I'll be sharing them on social media. So if you're not following me already at famoushashagrant .com, please do so. I would love for you to come over there and hang out with me. See everything that I'm sharing there. And if you want to know more about the show, about more movement, please head over to famous.grant .com backslash fitness. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Onwards and upwards, my friends. Have you worked out today?