Christ With Coffee On Ice with Ally Yost

Episode: If You Hate Going to the Gym, Watch This
Date: April 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid and heartwarming episode, host Ally Yost dives into her personal struggles and journey with gym anxiety and developing a healthier relationship with exercise, framed by her Christian faith. Ally addresses the common dread many feel towards working out, shares her vulnerabilities about negative past experiences, and offers encouragement for listeners to invite Jesus into their everyday routines—including fitness. The episode wraps up with a group reading of the latter half of the Book of Esther, drawing spiritual insights about patience, grace, divine justice, and God's presence even in unseen moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Transforming Gym Dread into a Joyful Experience (05:30 – 38:00)

• Ally’s Background with Sports & Workout Anxiety (09:00)
  • Ally confesses she did not grow up athletic, gave up on sports young, and always found working out daunting:
    • “I just was never athletic, okay? And so, working out, moving my body, super intimidating for me because I didn’t have a lot of experience with that.” (11:13)
  • She reflects on her tendency toward “all or nothing” extremes, often leading to quick burnout:
    • “If I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it, like, a lot. And I know the Lord really appreciates that heart posture, but at the same time, girl, if you do that, you’re gonna burn out…” (14:00)
• Negative Associations with the Gym
  • Ally recounts how past hardcore fitness attempts created lasting negative associations, making her dread even entering a gym:
    • “Anytime I would even go near a gym, step in a gym, hear the machinery of a gym, like, smell a gym, I was immediately triggered…” (16:50)
  • She unpacks the idea of psychological associations and relates this to other life experiences, explaining the need for “unlearning” negativity through God’s help.
• Learning Grace and Patience for Herself
  • Honest reflection on why she lacked patience with herself versus others:
    • “I will literally give other people the most amount of grace and patience… Sometimes I don’t extend that grace to myself, which is a reflection of how I see myself sometimes, which is unworthy of grace and patience. Ooh. So the root goes deeper.” (21:40)
  • Ties to faith: Ally talks about how only the Holy Spirit could help her extend true self-grace.
• Building New, Positive Gym Experiences
  • Shares about discovering and using the FORM app—created by friends, but not faith-based—which helped her by providing manageable, validating, and real instruction.
    • “This app has just been so good for me, at least with being at such a beginner level… I love it because they have everything that you need in the sense of how much time you want to work out.” (26:30)
  • Emphasizes that short, simple workouts can be effective—challenging the belief that only grueling, long sessions count.
• Making Workouts “Holy”—Bringing Jesus With Her
  • Personalizes her gym time by playing worship music and sometimes reading the Bible while on the treadmill:
    • “If you haven’t worked out to worship music, you’re missing out… working out can be worship.” (32:50)
  • Feels God’s strength tangibly during workouts:
    • “If I felt like I couldn’t get a couple more reps or I was getting really tired... I literally will feel Jesus almost as if he’s like my trainer or he’s like, spotting me and he’s like, I got you. Like, give me one more.” (35:20)
  • Encourages listeners to “integrate things of my faith in these workouts, which make it kind of holy… It also makes it so much more enjoyable.”

2. Practical Recommendations & Encouragement (38:00 – 40:00)

• Loving Christian Brands & Modest Apparel
  • Ally mentions codes for Hosanna Revival (Bibles & journals) and FORM (workout apparel), making clear her endorsements are based on genuine use and love.
  • Touches on the importance of discernment and modesty when choosing workout clothing:
    • “Just be discerning as well with the Lord about that. I try my best to…”

3. Scripture Study: Book of Esther, Chapters 5–10 (40:00 – end)

• Recap & Reading
  • Ally resumes their group journey through Esther, picking up at Esther chapter 5.
  • Dramatic narration and commentary about Queen Esther’s courage, Haman’s pride and downfall, and the theme of God’s justice and providence.
  • Pause for memorable moments:
    • On Haman suggesting honors for himself, then being forced to honor Mordecai:
      • “Oh my gosh…” (51:43)
    • On the reversal of Haman’s evil plot:
      • “The Lord ends up uno reversing, and they fall into their own traps. That’s gotta be a proverb somewhere, I think.” (58:51)
• Summary of Esther’s Themes
  • Ally notes Esther is the only book in the Bible where God is never explicitly mentioned, yet his providence and justice are evident:
    • “This is the only book in the Bible where God isn’t directly pointed to. But it’s like, it still points to him, though.” (01:15:32)
  • Emphasizes the encouragement that “when it looks like we’re literally about to be killed, God is our advocator, and he is the one that fights for us…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Self-Compassion:
  “Sometimes I don’t extend that grace to myself... which is a reflection of how I see myself sometimes, which is unworthy of grace and patience. Ooh. So the root goes deeper.” — Ally (21:40)
• On Integrating Faith and Fitness:
  “Working out can be worship… I’m moving my body with Jesus and I’m listening to this worship music.” — Ally (33:05)
• On Tangibly Feeling God's Support:
  “I literally will feel Jesus almost as if he’s like my trainer or he’s like, spotting me and he’s like, I got you. Like, give me one more… the spirit of God pushes me so much in those workouts.” — Ally (35:20)
• On God’s Reversal of Evil for Good:
  “The Lord really reversed all of it, and every evil intent and plot... ended up being thrown right back at them by God. So praise God. Hallelujah.” — Ally (01:16:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 05:30 – Opening remarks and brand shout-outs
• 09:00 – 16:50 – Gym anxiety, negative associations, and childhood context
• 21:40 – Self-grace and spiritual reflection
• 26:30 – 32:50 – Discovering the FORM app and building new routines
• 32:50 – 36:00 – Making workouts worshipful; inviting the Holy Spirit into fitness
• 40:00 – 01:16:33 – The Book of Esther: reading, commentary, and lessons
• 01:15:32 – The message of God’s unseen hand and divine justice
• 01:16:33 – End – Blessing listeners, encouragement to show Jesus to others, episode close

Episode Takeaways

• Vulnerability leads to transformation: Ally’s willingness to be honest about her struggles around fitness and self-worth models authentic Christian living.
• Grace isn’t just for others: Extending patience and kindness to ourselves makes transformation possible.
• Faith can permeate everyday routines: Even exercise can become an act of worship, inviting God into all areas of life.
• God works behind the scenes: Like in the story of Esther, believers can trust that God is advocating and orchestrating for their ultimate good—even when he isn’t visible.
• Encouragement to act: “Let’s walk more like him, talk more like him, be more like him.” (01:17:20)

For further encouragement and community, Ally welcomes listeners to join her Patreon for extended content, early episode access, and supportive messages.