Getting Started With Fitness: Meet Sharon and Why the Hardest Part Is Walking Through the Door

What 10+ Years of Consistency Actually Looks Like

If you’ve ever struggled with getting started with fitness, you’re not alone. Most people assume that if someone has been working out consistently for years, it must feel easy by now. Like they’ve figured something out that other people haven’t. Surely, they have more discipline, more motivation, more drive or all three.

But that’s not really how it works.

Sharon has been a member at DSC for over 10 years. She’s a middle school teacher, a mom, a wife, and someone who, like a lot of people, carries a full day before she ever walks into the gym.

Her job alone is demanding in ways people don’t always see. Her work is one of the most important jobs there is, a teacher. “It’s not a job that people often consider physical,” she says, “but the 7:15 a.m. start and standing for the majority of the day definitely takes a toll on my body.” And that’s just the physical side.

Why Getting Started With Fitness Feels So Hard

“The mental demands of the job can be emotionally draining… I make many quick, frequent decisions and answer a million questions a day.” By the time she gets to a workout, she’s often already exhausted. And that’s not unusual. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and improve mental clarity, something well documented by the Mayo Clinic.

“There are many days that I don’t feel like working out because I’m tired, have a headache, or just feel mentally fatigued.” That’s the part most people don’t expect. The difference isn’t that she always wants to be there. It’s that she’s learned what happens if she goes anyway.

“Within 10 minutes of getting into the stretch and workout, I’m reenergized, feeling better, and never regretting that I went.”

Over time, that becomes something you trust.

It Becomes About More Than Exercise

When Sharon talks about what keeps her coming back, it’s not framed around appearance or chasing a number. It’s about how it fits into her life and how it makes her feel.

“DSC plays a large role in my life outside of the gym,” she says. “A lot of my social time is spent with friends I’ve made over the years (at DSC).”

What started as something simple, like walking after class, grew into real friendships, even girls’ weekend trips. “Friends and exercise reduce my stress, improve my sleep, and boost my overall confidence.”

There’s also something deeper built into her routine, especially after long days at work. “Being able to go to a gym where I can trust that I’m going to get an effective full-body workout… without having to make any decisions at all is one of the best aspects.”

That kind of structure removes a barrier a lot of people feel but don’t always name. As professionals, parents and caregivers, we are tired of making all of the decisions. To have an hour where, you just show up and are told where to go, what to do and how to do it. It’s like an hour vacation in your day.

“I like feeling strong,” she says. “I joke that I want to fit into my shorts this summer, which is true, but I am also working out for the 80-year-old me.” She wants to keep moving for a long time, to feel capable and to stay independent.

And maybe most importantly:

“I want my 14-year-old daughter to know that movement is important and being a strong woman is cool.”

The Part That Stops Most People

When asked what she would say to someone thinking about starting, her answer is simple:

“Anybody who is thinking of joining just needs to take the first step of walking in the door, which is often the hardest part.”

It’s not the workout or being out of shape and definately not keeping up with anyone else. Just getting yourself there the first time. Because once you do, things tend to look different than you expected.

“It is a community of various physical abilities who aren’t intimidating,” she explains. And just as important:

“Make sure you don’t compare yourself to anyone else… It’s you against you.”

That shift alone can change everything!

A Different Way to Think About Consistency

If there’s one thing Sharon’s experience makes clear, it’s this:

Consistency doesn’t come from always feeling ready. It comes from showing up on the days you don’t. Even after more than a decade, she still has days where she’s tired, drained, and doesn’t feel like going. That part never fully disappears.

What changes is the relationship to it. Instead of waiting for motivation, she relies on experience. She knows how she’ll feel 10 minutes in. She knows she’ll be glad she came and she knows it’s worth it!

And that’s a much more realistic place to start. You don’t need to feel ready and you don’t need to have it all figured out.

You just need to take that first step and walk in the door. We’ll be waiting for you!

P.S. Sharon said the hardest part is just walking through the door.

If that’s where you’re stuck, our 7-day free trial is a simple way to take that first step. No pressure, just come try it.