September Athlete of the Month - Danielle Lavache

Danielle’s fitness journey is a wonderful reminder that progress doesn’t always arrive in one big breakthrough. More often, it happens quietly one session, one coaching cue, and one attempt at something a little more challenging at a time.
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Since joining Wilcox after COVID, Danielle has rebuilt what she felt she had lost and continued to become stronger and more resilient. Along the way, movements that once seemed impossible have gradually become accomplishments she can be proud of.
And she’s still learning, challenging herself, and finding new things to conquer.
Danielle first came to Wilcox after COVID, when she was ready to get back to the gym and regain some of the strength and fitness she had lost.

What she found was more than a place to work out.
Danielle credits the coaching at Wilcox with helping her get so much more from her training. The explanations, attention to movement, and seemingly small suggestions from her coaches have helped her understand not just what to do, but how to do it well.

As Danielle puts it, Wilcox is the best gym she’s ever attended because of the coaching.
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​Learning the movements didn’t happen overnight for Danielle. She says it took her a long time, and even now, she continues to learn something new in every class. That willingness to keep learning has paid off. Danielle feels stronger and more resilient, and she notices the difference well beyond her workouts. After a long day of gardening or snow shoveling, her body recovers much more easily. Instead of waking up “wicked sore” the next day, she’s able to bounce back and keep moving.

​Those everyday changes are some of the best measures of just how far she’s come.
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Danielle has plenty of gym victories to celebrate. She’s proud of learning to jump rope and being able to perform rows from a lower position on the TRX. But there’s one accomplishment that stands above the rest:
Push-ups.
Push-ups were something Danielle struggled with for a long time, which makes being able to do them now that much more meaningful. Her experience has taught her an important lesson about progress: sometimes you simply have to keep trying.

Every so often, Danielle challenges herself to attempt the harder version of an exercise instead of automatically choosing the variation she normally uses. And sometimes, she surprises herself. That’s when she realizes just how much stronger she has become.

One of the most powerful things Danielle has learned through training is that she is stronger than she thinks.
She’s also learned that progress doesn’t require mastering something immediately. It requires continuing to try.

Consistency builds strength over time. That thing that was once impossible can quietly turn into another accomplishment.
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​That mindset has allowed Danielle to approach challenges with patience and curiosity rather than expecting herself to get everything right the first time. And there’s already another challenge on her list.
Next up: the Indo Board.
Right now, Danielle can balance for only a few seconds at a time, but she knows that lightbulb moment is coming. If her past progress is any indication, we have a feeling she’s right!

​Danielle has a wonderfully straightforward reason for continuing to prioritize her fitness:
Aging!
As she puts it:
If you don’t move it, you will lose it.
For Danielle, staying strong isn’t simply about what she can accomplish during a workout. She wants to remain active and capable so she can continue doing all the fun things life has to offer.
That motivation keeps her showing up, learning, and challenging herself.

Give Danielle any kind of ball slam and she’s happy.
Her verdict? “So satisfying!”
Planks with shoulder taps and dumbbell drags, however, are another story.
But true to Danielle’s mindset, she doesn’t simply write off the exercises she finds difficult. She recognizes that they’re showing her where there’s more opportunity to grow—particularly as she continues building her core strength.
Today’s least favorite exercise just might become tomorrow’s accomplishment.

Beyond the physical progress, Danielle appreciates the environment she’s found at Wilcox.
She describes it as friendly, positive, supportive, and full of knowledge—an environment where she can continue learning while being encouraged to challenge herself.
And we’re just as grateful to have Danielle as part of it.

Danielle, we are so excited to celebrate you as our September Athlete of the Month!
Your journey is such a great example of what happens when you combine consistency with curiosity and a willingness to keep trying.

From push-ups that once felt out of reach to greater strength and resilience in everyday life, you’ve shown that progress doesn’t have to happen all at once to be powerful.
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​Keep showing up. Keep trying the harder thing every once in a while. And keep trusting that those lightbulb moments will come.
We can’t wait to see you conquer that Indo Board next! 💙💪
👏 Let’s hear it for Danielle!

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​You don't have to do it alone, and you don't need to have it all figured out to take the first step.

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