Babes Promoting Babes – Fawn Gill Fitness

Fawn Gill Fitness

I am pleased to announce that Fashion INVESTIGATOR INC’s very own Fitness Contributor, Fawn of Fawn Gill Fitness is our Babe in the Spotlight. I had the opportunity to interview her this week for our Babes Promoting Babes Interview Series.

MY MISSION:  To motivate and inspire Boss Babes in the making. To uplift, encourage, and promote male & female entrepreneurs and to share our aspirations, goals and dreams.

To provide and build a warm, loving, and supportive community of CREATORS. Creators of art, a business, or a NEW YOU … 

M: What’s your story?  Where were you born, where were you raised?  What was your childhood, growing up years like?

F: Well, I am a BC (British Columbia) girl, born and raised but I did move around a lot when I was young. I was born in Surrey, BC and lived there, as well as in, Richmond, Clearbrook, Williams Lake, Kamloops, The Okanagan, Vancouver and then Bowen Island for 18 years. I currently reside in North Vancouver and have for the last 2 years.

My childhood was a tumultuous one. I’m the youngest of 3 girls born to my biological parents. But they got divorced when I was about 3 or 4 and my two older sisters moved to Prince George to live with my biological dad and I lived with my mom and stepdad in the Lower Mainland. I never saw my sisters again until I was 16 and never met my biological dad till I was 36.

My stepdad was an RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officer, which is why we moved around a lot. And there was a lot of stress in my household. I have a younger brother as well.

So, although there were some great times growing up, there were a lot of not great times and I received the brunt of everyone’s issues and stress.

M: What did you want to do when you grew up?  

F: Oh, I wanted to be a model, a singer or an actor. LOL

M: Did you go to college or university?  If so, what did you study?

F: I went to Blanche MacDonald right after high school to become a make-up artist and esthetician. That never panned out.

And then I worked for many years in offices until finding my true calling …. Recreation. So I went to Langara College for Recreation Management for 2 years and received my diploma in 1997.

I’ve also done a bunch of University courses throughout the years, I just never got a degree.

M: When did you move to Vancouver?  Why did you move to Vancouver?

F: I moved to Vancouver literally the day after I finished my final grade 12 exam, 1988. LOL Why? Well, if you read about my childhood …. I wanted out of that house ASAP.

 M: When did you start your business?  What was your inspiration?

F: I started Fawn Gill Fitness on Bowen Island in 2000. My inspiration was my first child, actually. We had just bought a house there and set up our basement as a personal training studio. Then my first baby came along and I thought, wouldn’t it be great to teach a mommy & me class and meet other moms?!

So that’s pretty much how it started. My business grew rapidly from there as I was also teaching fitness classes very part time. And then I opened up my own gym in 2007 and ran that for 9 years until I sold it. 

M: What do you love the most about being a Boss Babe?

F: Freedom! And creativity! I love being able to set my schedule and I really, really love the creative side of it. Being able to design and implement programs is so much fun for me.

M: What would your advice be for Boss Babes in the making?  If they are contemplating leaving a secure 9-5 job with benefits – what would you say to them? Should they take the leap?

F: My advice to (future) Boss Babes is to start smart. Keep that 9-5 job until your side hustle is capable of being a full-time hustle. And if you do decide to jump in full-time, make sure you have at least 6 months of savings put aside first.

And then network, network, NETWORK! A lot of success is a result of who you know. I’ve seen so many people become very successful simply because of the company they keep. They weren’t the best at what they do, but they certainly knew the right people.

M: Any last words? What’s our favourite positive/motivational quote or book.

F: Oh I have so many favourite quotes. Currently it’s ‘May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.’ Nelson Mandela

Fitness Feature – How to NOT set resolutions this year by Fawn Gill

Happy New Year!

Do you get swooped up in New Years Resolutions? 

Have you vowed to work out every single day this January, quit sugar, journal & meditate every single day, quit caffeine, etc. etc.

While those are all awesome resolutions that can help you live a healthier life, sometimes setting too many resolutions not only sets you up for failure, but it also contributes to you feeling like crap when the resolutions fall to the wayside.

People get super stressed out about resolutions, and more accurately, failing at their resolutions.

So instead of setting resolutions this 2020, let’s focus on other, more positive ways you can set yourself up for success and focus on what you want in your life without all the stress.

Check out the tips below on how you can reduce your New Year’s Resolution Stress.

1. Set SMART goals.

SMART goals are specific goals to help you set up a plan for what you want to accomplish. These are great when you want to do something that has an ‘end’ date, like run a 5km or 10km or a tough mudder. They are also great when your doctor has said you need to lose 20lbs. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relative or Reward, & Timely. To use it in an example…I want to lose 10lbs (specific & measurable & attainable) in 10 weeks (timely) and when I do, I’ll get a new workout top (reward). Saying ‘I want to be fit’ would not be an example of a SMART goal because it’s not specific nor measurable. What ‘fit’ looks like to one person is different to the next. I want to run the Scotia Bank 1/2 Marathon in June is definitely a SMART goal. See the difference?

2. Set Intentions

I LOVE these because they deal with more how you want to ‘feel’ and how you’d ‘like’ something to go. You can set them in absolutely any area of your life. I set intentions for my day in the morning after I mediate. It goes something like this, my intention today is to be more present. Or my intention for this workout is to feel positive about my body. My intention for this meal is to nourish my body with fiber & vitamins. My intention for this time with my girls is to really listen. Make sense?

3. Set a Theme word for the year.

Invest. That’s my theme word for 2020. I want to invest in all areas of my life; business, community, relationships, and mindset. Theme words are super cool because they help you set intentions around what you want more of in the next year. They help you streamline your goals and figure out ways to make them happen.

For example take my theme word – INVEST. Because I want to invest in myself and my business, I am adding accountability coaching to my services. Adding that into my repertoire will help ‘invest’ my life in many different ways.

So, how does one find a theme word? It’s the word that keeps coming to your attention. One that resonates with you and makes you think. Maybe one you keep hearing lately. You don’t have to have just 1 word. Maybe you have a few words that pop up at you. That’s cool too. There really is no right or wrong to choosing a theme word(s).

Take 10 mins and sit somewhere quiet and comfortable and just envision your 2020. What does it look like? Who’s in it? What do you want more of in 2020? What do you want to leave behind in 2019?

Here are some words to help inspire you:  grateful, present, courage, focus, change, joy, release, trust, seek, balance, fearless, less, enough. faith…..is there a word that pops out at you?

Remember, the whole point is to not get overwhelmed so just pick 1 of the 3 tips to start your 2020 in a positive manner.

Once you feel you’ve got that 1 tip down, then choose another.

May the turn of the decade be AWESOMELY positive for you! 

Happy 2020!


Fawn Gill is the Group Fitness Manager of Steve Nash Fitness Clubs for the North Shore. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness instructor, Pilates Instructor, Barre instructor & Accountability Coach. Fawn has over 25 years experience teaching others the benefits of living healthy and has helped thousands of people lose weight & get fit. Check her out at www.fawngillfitness.com

Want to Know a Secret to Lose Unwanted Weight? – Fitness Contributor Fawn Gill

Want to know a secret to lose unwanted weight? There is no secret. I wish there was a simple easy way to lose fat and to keep it off.

Trust me. I truly wish there was because if there was, I’d be all over it. I’d love to lose that last 10 lbs by simply taking a pill or getting rid of my cellulite by rubbing some cream on it. I’d buy that shit in a heartbeat!

But the reality is, there is no such thing. If there was, why is obesity such a major issue in our society? Science has proven time and time again, that in order to lose fat & to keep it off, you need to do 3 things:

  1. Exercise daily
  2. Eat a diet rich in whole foods
  3. Practice mindfulness

That’s it folks.

Now, within each of those 3 points are variables. For instance, there is debate as to what type of exercise is best for fat loss. But all agree that daily exercise is needed. Within the “diet” world, there is debate as to which way to eat is healthiest but all can agree that we need WAY more veggies & fruits and foods that are real and whole and not processed.

Mindfulness is a newer topic but again, all agree that in order to lose fat & to keep it off, people need to change their habits. And that is done through a mindfulness practice of some sort. Whether it be meditation or journalling or seeking the help of a counselor or all of the above. You can’t change your outside until you change your inside:)

I’d also like to add to that list “consistency” and “accountability”. Those are two subfactors that are just as important. We can all lose weight through radical dieting and sheer willpower, but it’s being consistent that will keep it off. You can’t change your diet, lose the weight, then go back to your old way of eating without gaining it all back. And you need to be accountable to someone other than yourself. Be that a support group or coach or online FB page, you need to be accountable in order to stick to your goals.

This is why the latest “fad” diet or weight loss supplement or whatever is being hocked out there at the moment does not work. They may temporarily work BUT if you don’t make lifestyle changes to support the change, it will not stick.

The diet industry preys on our pain. Our pain of feeling fat. Our pain of not fitting into our jeans anymore. Our pain of getting older and dealing with a changing body. I get it.

As a Fitness Expert and Accountability Coach, I’m doing the same thing. I point out your pain (not exercising, excess weight, lack of time, etc.) in order to get you to exercise with me. The difference being, I coach you through lifestyle changes to help support new eating & exercising habits along with keeping you consistent & accountable. I’m also going to be straight up and tell you this isn’t going to happen overnight. That you’ll have to work hard. And I’ll probably make you do push ups and burpees.

The diet industry is a billion dollar industry simply because we are in pain. We want an easier way to feel better. And quickly. So taking something that will accelerate our weight loss or suppress sounds really great. We want instant results. We want to feel better RIGHT NOW!

But then what happens? Do we take it for life? What happens when we stop taking it? Is our life magically better for once and for all? Yes, I know I’m starting to rant but this topic really pisses me off. I wish we wouldn’t get sucked into buying shit because we think it will fix us.

So, what’s the point of this blog? To remind you that ‘”f it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Fawn Gill is the Group Fitness Manager of SNFC for the North Shore. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, Pilates Instructor, Barre instructor & Accountability Coach. Fawn has over 25 years experience teaching others the benefits of living healthy and has helped thousands of people lose weight & get fit. Check her out at www.fawngillfitness.com

5 Essential Exercise Elements – Featured Fitness Contributor Fawn Gill

As a Fitness Professional with over 25 years under my belt, I’ve seen many people start an exercise program only to quit in 3 or 4 weeks down the road.


Everyone starts with fantastic intentions but something happens along the way that makes them fall off the fitness wagon. After years of observation, I’ve decided it comes down to 5 Essential Exercise Elements that people don’t take into account when starting an exercise program.


If you are a beginner just starting out on your fitness journey or returning to fitness after a hiatus and you want to be successful at maintaining a consistent routine, follow my 5 Essential Exercise Elements.


Disclaimer: Before beginning an exercise program be sure to let your Health Provider know.  It is always better to be safe than sorry.


Here are My 5 Essential Exercise Elements:
1. Schedule Exercise into the Reminders in your Smart Phone.
Mistake #1 – What I see happen to new exercisers….they do not schedule exercise time into their daily schedule.
You must treat your exercise time as you would any other appointment in your day. Would you ever just not show up to your dental appointment? Or your work review meeting? No way!
To ensure exercise adherence, actually sit down with & SCHEDULE IT IN your phone’s REMINDERS. If it’s not scheduled, it’s not real. Meaning, if life gets busy (which it will guaranteed), the first thing you will drop is exercise. If it’s not a notification popping up, it’s also super easy to get pushed to the end of your ‘to do’ list which pretty much guarantees it not happening.
Remember that it doesn’t have to be hours and hours of exercise.  A 15 minute walk does wonders for your health. Consistent exercisers schedule exercise in as the first thing they do in the morning. That way it’s done & off your plate for the rest of the day.  AND it fills you with great energy!


2.  Start with Baby Steps.
Mistake #2 – I see people at my gym going too hard, too soon.  After about 3-4 weeks of that, I don’t see the person anymore. They went big and then they went home.
To stick with an exercise program you must start small.  Plan for 3 days a week of 30 mins of exercise. Stick with that until it becomes a habit (which takes approximately 1 month). Once you have maintained that, then add another day. Once 4 days a week is a habit, add another day.  See where I’m going with this? If you start out too hard, too much you will end up either too tired to go or injured and then you miss a day and then you feel bad about that so then you’re hard on yourself and then you don’t go again, and on & on it goes. Set yourself up for success by starting small.


3.  Get Expert Help.
Mistake #3 – Another mistake I see is people do not hire a trainer to give them a program to follow.  Maybe they think it’s too expensive or just for celebrities but I have to tell you, successful exercisers have a trainer.
Do you know what to do when you’re in a gym? Most people do not. A trainer will give you a program to follow, based on your goals so that you do not waste your time while at the gym. It’s an investment in yourself.  A good trainer will cost you the same price as a good dinner out.  Going to the gym without a plan to follow is the same as trying to follow a recipe from the picture alone – impossible & frustrating.


4.  Set SMART Goals.
Mistake #4 – Why are you working out in the first place?  Is it because you’re training for a 5 km race?  Is it because you want to take up snowboarding this winter?  Is it because you want to lose 10 lbs? Setting fitness goals will help you “see the light at the end of the tunnel”. Goals will provide guidelines so you can actually see your progress & achievements. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, reward & time frame. I want to lose 10 lbs in 10 weeks is very specific, you can measure it, it’s attainable for most people and there’s a time frame around it.  Don’t forget to reward yourself when you hit your goal (not with food, you are not a dog).  Your trainer can help you figure out your goals and write them down.


5.  Get an Accountability Buddy.
Mistake #5 – Not being accountable to anyone. If you want to be super committed to your exercise plan, workout with a friend.  Not only is it more enjoyable & fun, but you have someone else to be accountable to.  We all know how easy it is to skip our workouts BUT if you are supposed to meet your friend there too, you are more likely to not skip it.
Consistency is key to see & feel real changes in our health & physiques when it comes to exercise.  If you follow my 5 Essential Exercise Elements consistently, you will feel & see the positive results in no time.

Fawn Gill is the Group Fitness Manager of Steve Nash Fitness Clubs for the North Shore. She is a certified personal trainer, fitness instructor, pilates instructor, Barre instructor & Accountability Coach. Fawn has over 25 years experience teaching others the benefits of living healthy and has helped thousands of people lose weight & get fit. Check her out at www.fawngillfitness.com

Fitness Contributors – UPCOMING FEATURE

Fawn Gill & I at Pilates SNFC

I have some exciting news to share with you all … Fawn Gill, Pilates Instructor & Group Fitness Manager and Isaiah Freidooni, the General Manager from Steve Nash Fitness Club Lonsdale location in North Vancouver, BC will both be Contributors to our Lifestyle Ezine.

For those of you who don’t know, Steve Nash, founder of the chain of fitness clubs “… is a Canadian former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He was an eight-time NBA All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA selection. Twice, Nash was named the NBA Most Valuable Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns. ” – Wikipedia

I am a member and Ambassador of Steve Nash and love my gym! I am a foodie and I quit smoking 2 1/2 years ago and as a result I have gained 15 lbs. Sticking to a fitness routine is sometimes challenging. But I have made a commitment to myself to make Fitness a part of my Lifestyle. It helps that I have made new friends in Fawn’s Pilates class who have become my gym buddies. They keep me accountable. On the days that we have class I bring my gym bag into my office with me in the morning so it is sitting on my extra chair that faces me. If sleepy Mayumi starts wanting to take a nap after work, I just think about Alison & Linda and I HAVE TO GO! Knowing that they will be there – helps keep me motivated.

I will keep you updated on my progress. So far I have lost 2 lbs and about an inch off my waist. This is about health, overall well-being, and not a numbers game for me. I do not wish to be a size 4, 2, or 0! I am currently a size 12 to 14 and I used to be an 8 to 10. I am sharing my sizes so that you get an idea of how much weight I gained.

I am only 5’4″ so a 5 lb weight gain shows as well as a 5 lb weight loss. I am the happiest I have ever been in my life and I am grateful. But I am thinking about my poor knees that hurt sometimes when I am going up or down stairs and I know that I am carrying too much weight for my small frame. I am a small boned person so I have small wrists, narrow ankles, and slim legs (thanks Mom & Dad … lol).

The area I need to work on is my belly. My upper abs have gotten flatter since joining Steve Nash and Fawn’s Pilates class but my lower abs have always been an issue – even when I was only 115 lbs and slim.

Sooo … as it says on our green wall in our Pilates & Yoga studio, “Together We are Stronger”! – WE GOT THIS! Let’s get our fitness ON! If you would like a FREE 7-DAY Day Pass to Steve Nash send me a message right on our site at: https://mayumiizumi.com/contact-us/ OR shoot me an email: admin@mayumiizumi.com AND when you go MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM MAYUMI SENT YOU. Isaiah will be sooo happy!