Meet the Founder · TurnFit Personal Trainers
I know what it feels like
to be weak and hopeless.
That’s exactly why I built TurnFit. I’m David Turnbull — and I spent most of my childhood being the bullied, overweight, “not good enough” kid. Fitness is what turned my life around. Now I help others do the same, every single day.
8× Vancouver Top Choice Award winner · 300+ five-star reviews · Kitsilano & Downtown
My story
Who I am, and why I do what I do today
As far back as I can remember — grade one — I was bullied. From grade three to eight I was severely overweight, called every name you can imagine. From grade two to six I was put in special reading classes because I couldn’t keep up; I was called “stupid” and “slow.” I only found out at 22 that it was dyslexia. I was the kid who got picked last, pushed into walls, and made fun of for crying — because I’ve always been an emotional person. By high school I’d given up on sports entirely and became the computer nerd, hiding from the whole thing.
That path followed me into adulthood. I started out working in the computer industry, living the couch-potato life and feeling every bit of it: chronic back pain, asthma, no energy, constant fatigue. When I was 19 I moved provinces and slowly started to reinvent myself — a fresh start. Then I moved to Vancouver, into the heart of Kitsilano, and it became impossible to ignore what physical activity and proper nutrition were doing for the community around me.
So I changed. I got motivated, did the work, and in nine short months I went from couch potato to competing in a men’s physique competition in 2014. But the real change wasn’t the stage — it was everything underneath it. I’d finally proven to myself that the weak, hopeless kid wasn’t who I had to be.
I created TurnFit because I am genuinely passionate about helping others succeed. I want to see strong, confident people — because I know exactly what it feels like to be weak and hopeless. At TurnFit you’re not just a client, you’re a friend. Good friends show up for you, build you up, and yes, call you out when you’re not trying — because they care. That’s the whole company. A healthier, happier you, body and mind.
“I know what it feels like to be weak and hopeless — that’s why I’m so passionate about helping others get strong. You need not only a healthy body, but a healthy mind.”
— David Turnbull, Founder & Head Coach, BCRPA-Registered Personal Trainer
The philosophy
Most trainers chase a look. We chase how you function.
For years the industry sold aesthetics. We made the opposite bet — that you’ll feel the difference long before you see it, and that the feeling is what makes it last.
Train for the mind
The fastest, most lasting result of resistance training isn’t the mirror — it’s your mental health. That’s the headline here, not the footnote.
Kill the pain first
Rehab and prehab are our specialty. Removing pain is often the easiest win in the room — and almost nobody coaches it well. We do.
Build something that lasts
Posture, strength, and injury prevention compound for decades. We’re coaching your next thirty years, not your next six weeks.
What we stand for
Our Mission
To help every client move without pain, think more clearly, and stay strong for life — by coaching the whole person, not just the body in the mirror.
Our Vision
In Vancouver, where strength training is understood for what it really is: the most reliable tool we have for mental health, longevity, and confidence at every age.
Our Values
- Client first, always. Your goals set the program, not our egos.
- Sustainable beats extreme. We coach real life, not a diet you’ll quit in March.
- Honesty over hype. Real expectations, real timelines, real results.
- The standard never slips. Every coach is held to it — no exceptions.
Why you won’t find a wall of trainer profiles here
You’re not hiring a name. You’re hiring the TurnFit standard.
A lot of gyms post a grid of trainer headshots online. We deliberately don’t — and here’s the honest reason. Great trainers move on. Many of ours are exceptional people on their way to physiotherapy, chiropractic, or kinesiology careers, and we’re proud to be the steppingstone.
What never changes is the method. Every coach who joins is hand-picked and trained in TurnFit’s philosophy and systems. Because this company is my baby, the bar to wear the name is high — and it stays high no matter who’s holding the clipboard. We don’t want you attached to one trainer. We want you to trust the system behind every one of them.
Every TurnFit coach is: genuinely passionate · aligned with our values · client-first · trained in the TurnFit Method · held to David’s standard.
Off the clock
The human behind the clipboard
Best company
Juhee, my Jindo
My Korean rescue Jindo. Most days off are long walks, dog parks, and forest trails with her — and a fair bit of patience: caring for a dog with chronic health needs taught me more about showing up consistently than any certification ever did.
Hype soundtrack
Loud and heavy
Hard rock and metal when it’s time to push; high-BPM house, techno, or rap when the session needs lift. If it’s quiet in the studio, something’s wrong.
Honest weakness
Pizza. Daily, if I could.
Living proof that sustainable beats restrictive. I coach real life — the kind with pizza in it — not a plan you’ll abandon by spring.
Roots
Winnipeg → Vancouver
Prairie work ethic, West Coast home. Born in Winnipeg, I built TurnFit across two Vancouver studios.
Before we begin
What we expect from each other
Real results come from a real partnership, not a transaction. Here’s the deal I make with every client — you bring the effort, and I’ll bring everything else.
- Do your homework. The work between sessions is where the real progress happens — it’s how you accelerate.
- Join our private community. Our members’ group is the support system that launches people further than they thought possible.
- Make up missed sessions. Your frequency is prescribed for a reason. Like learning a language, consistency is everything — master it once and it’s easy to maintain.
- Track your nutrition. We’ll set up your macros in MyFitnessPal so your trainer can guide you. Being mindful of what you put in your body is part of becoming a happier, healthier you.
Ready to work with us?
Three ways to train the TurnFit way — pick the one that fits your life.
In-Person Training
One-on-one and small-group coaching at our Kitsilano and Downtown Vancouver studios. The full TurnFit experience, hands-on.
Online Training
The same method, fully customized, anywhere in Canada. Programming, accountability, and check-ins built around your schedule.
Corporate Wellness
On-site, results-driven training for Vancouver teams — turning unused gym subsidies into healthier, more energized employees.
Ready when you are
Come meet your coach.
Book a free intro call at our Kitsilano or Downtown Vancouver studio. No pressure, no contracts — just an honest conversation about where you want to go.
TurnFit Personal Trainers Ltd · Kitsilano & Downtown Vancouver · 8× Vancouver Top Choice Award winner