We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Donna Fatigato a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Donna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

It was June of 1980, and I was celebrating my seventeenth birthday. Like every teenager, I wanted my clothes to look just right, and I remember going through my closet to find the perfect outfit for my birthday celebration. But I couldn’t. Everything I tried on was too snug and made me look even heavier than I felt. At 17 years old, I felt defeated, overweight and insecure. My energy levels were low, and I was extremely uncomfortable. I would frequent the local fast-food chain with my friends – and I would super-size it. I suffered from digestive issues and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Raynaud’s, an autoimmune disease that caused me to lose feeling in my hands and feet. Losing the feeling and color of my extremities was a nuisance, but the blood flow back into them was very painful, as they would tingle and remain black and blue for hours. This disease ultimately stopped me from actively participating in the sports and activities that I so enjoyed. In turn, it messed with my psyche, body-image and self-esteem. I was at a pivotal point, to take my health into my own hands or continue on a slippery slope of an unhealthy lifestyle. During my senior year of high school, I decided to eat healthy, and I joined an aerobics class at a local racquetball club. The aerobics class was inspiring, invigorating, and empowering, led by a very passionate instructor named Lynn. The day that Lynn announced that she was looking to mentor someone to teach classes, I awkwardly raised my hand. I was the only one that raised a hand and quite frankly, I remember it feeling like an out of body experience. I thought immediately afterward, ” What have I done, why did I raise my hand?” My confidence level and abilities were once again being questioned. Lynn was so excited that I was eager to get started that I didn’t want to disappoint her. We spent several weeks working together on song selections, routines, and instruction. I was hooked and the first day that I taught a class, Lynn was there to support me. This was so out of my comfort zone, but my passion to move and the positive mentoring from Lynn pushed me to instruct successfully and in turn, providing positivity in myself and in others.
I am so grateful for the mentorship and that I got my first job in the health and wellness industry at the age of 18 – the beginning of an exciting journey of group/corporate fitness instruction, personal trainer, nutritionist, cooking instructor, lifestyle coach, and author.

Donna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been in the wellness industry for over four decades and have worked with hundreds of personal training/nutritional counseling clients and thousands of group fitness participants. I started teaching aerobics in the ’80s with leg warmers and moved to ‘Let’s Get Physical’. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to follow my passion and help others live a great quality of life. I am a well-rounded, seasoned wellness professional of over forty years including corporate/group/private wellness, lifestyle/nutritional counseling, meal prep, cooking classes and an energetic group wellness instructor with specialties in yoga, pilates, kickboxing, bootcamp and cycle.
Today I can assist others near and far as I offer my services online so that I can reach people beyond my community. Through working with so many people of various ages, fitness levels, and medical conditions ~ I decided to follow my other passion of writing and I published my first book, ‘Q2~ A Healthy Recipe for a Balanced Life’. Q2 is a book of hope, healing and transformation by creating balance in your life, to feel comfortable in your own skin, and taking ownership of your health – plus, 120 healthy recipes to fuel your body and mind.
Throughout my life and career path, I have recognized that creating healthy habits in the early years is crucial, so I recently published four children’s books to help the younger generation discover self-love and self-care. Readers will discover how Exercise, Health & Wellness, Relaxation, and Eating Healthy are all connected and affect a person’s mood in ‘Bucky & Daisy’s Moody Adventures’ which also includes a Parent’s Corner at the end of each story.
I offer six different flavors of organic and gluten-free granola on my online store at Q2Fit.com.
What sets me apart from others is the experience of knowing and accepting the challenge of another level, need, and fulfillment so that I can help others achieve their goals. Also, the experience of transforming exercise and nutrition for the client’s benefit so that they can live a better quality of life.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Mindset is everything! To stay positive in every situation as there is always a solution. Every day that we wake up, we have another opportunity to be in a healthy mindset and to be the best versions of ourselves. Incorporating mind/body practices in all facets of my business has been extremely helpful for succeeding in my business and in my personal life.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Energetic events, community involvement, great products and excellent customer service. I strive to provide extraordinary services in a positive, safe and fun environment! I enjoy being a team player with other like-minded professionals and I cannot wait to see how many other people we could positively impact!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://q2fit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnafatigato/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaTheWellnessBuilder
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnafatigato/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@donnafatigatofitfoodlifest4510
• Other: https://donnafatigato.com/