David Turnbull, shirtless and tattooed in sunglasses, sitting on driftwood logs with his white dog on a Vancouver beach
Vancouver · TurnFit

They Call MeThe Bull

Optimal Longevity

Straight talk about living well for a long time. Sincere, a little funny, occasionally very serious. If it's not your thing, no hard feelings. Seriously, go in peace.

About 15 years coachingPersonal trainer

David Turnbull in a tank top and sunglasses crouching on the grass with his white dog at a Vancouver beach park
Vancouver, on a regular day.
The story

Who the heck is The Bull?

I'm Dave. I'm a personal trainer in Vancouver and I've been coaching for about 15 years through TurnFit.

Along the way I spent two years in counseling and learned from health practitioners. All of it ends up in how I think about living a long, good life.

Here's the part I actually want you to know. Over about 15 years I've tried almost every modality there is, and I'm still reading and learning how the mind and body work together. Constantly. It's a problem. It's also a hobby.

  • Brain mapping
  • Hyperbaric chamber
  • Red light therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Chinese medicine
  • Western medicine
  • Physiotherapy
  • Osteopathy
  • Chiropractic
  • Breathwork
  • Sauna and cold plunge
  • Float tank
  • Neurofeedback
  • Fasting and diets
  • Blood work every few months
  • Journaling
  • Books. So many books.

I've journaled, checked in on how I actually feel, and chased the most optimal life I can for years. I know what I'm talking about because I've lived it.

See everything I've triedHide the full list

Body

  • Massage therapy (deep tissue, sports, lymphatic)
  • Myofascial release
  • Cupping
  • Dry needling
  • Rolfing / structural integration
  • Yoga
  • Pilates
  • ELDOA
  • Tai chi
  • Qigong
  • Assisted stretch therapy
  • Posture and corrective exercise
  • Physiotherapy
  • Osteopathy
  • Chiropractic
  • Acupuncture

Recovery

  • Sauna
  • Cold plunge
  • Contrast therapy
  • Float tank
  • Compression boots
  • PEMF
  • Grounding
  • Cryotherapy
  • Infrared sauna
  • Sleep tracking and protocols
  • Hyperbaric chamber
  • Red light therapy

Mind and mind-body

  • Breathwork (Wim Hof, box breathing, holotropic)
  • Meditation
  • Mindfulness apps
  • Neurofeedback and biofeedback
  • HRV training
  • Journaling
  • Gratitude practice
  • Brain mapping
  • Counseling
  • Reiki
  • Energy work
  • Chinese medicine
  • Western medicine

Food and testing

  • Elimination diets
  • Keto
  • Carnivore
  • Intermittent fasting
  • Prolonged fasting
  • Functional-medicine testing (gut, hormones, genetics, food sensitivities)
  • Naturopathy
  • Supplement protocols
  • Blood work every few months

I've been the guinea pig so you don't have to be.

Tried it, learned from it, here's what I took away. All of that is what I put into the book and the courses.

I say my opinions like facts. If that's not for you, that's fine. If it is, welcome.

Black and white photo of David Turnbull in sunglasses and shorts walking along a Vancouver beach with the city skyline behind him
The idea

18,250days to age 90
Make them on purpose

I'm 40. If I make it to 90, that's 18,250 days left. I want every one of them to have purpose and be better than the last. And I want to help you live yours the same way: the healthiest, most optimal version of you.

Start with the book
The five pillars

Longevity isn't just push-ups

A long life that's miserable isn't the goal. These are the five areas I care about.

01

Mind

How you think, feel and talk to yourself. Emotions aren't a problem to fix; they're information to use.

02

Body

Move, train, recover, repeat. Fifteen years of coaching says the boring basics done consistently beat the fancy stuff.

03

Money

Your habits with money shape your options later. Make choices today that your future self won't roll their eyes at.

04

Relationships

The people in your life matter. Show up, be honest, and choose who gets your time.

05

Career

You'll spend a lot of days working. Make them count, and make sure the work fits the life you want.

COMING LATER

More from The Bull

Courses and other projects are in the works, with a book idea called Unrecognizable down the road. Join the list to hear first.

First product

Longevity Notes: Starter

An ebook to get you started on the 18,250-day idea: you have a limited number of days to age 90, so make your choices on purpose. Plain-language notes on longevity. Direct, no fluff.

My notes. N=1. Not a study. Not medical advice.

  • Plain-language notes on longevity, written the way I talk
  • Starts from the 18,250-day idea
  • A starting point, not the whole library
$37 CAD ebook

The buy button goes live soon. Join the list below and I'll tell you the moment it does.

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