Review of “the FASTer Way to Fat Loss” program. Here’s everything I learned, from intermittent fasting and carb-cycling to counting macros and how I lost 12 lbs and 21.5 inches!

2023 UPDATE: The FASTer Way to Fat Loss program helped me lose inches, and I will share everything I learned below. That said, after several months on the program, I found that my own resistance to consistency was a problem yet again.

My honest and unbiased review of the Faster Way still stands. It DOES work. But only if you do the work, like any other health plan.

The truth is, I’ve run half-marathons (even Disney ones like the Star Wars Half Marathon), committed to making health my priority, cut sugar to lose weight and gained it all back more times than I can count. I’m still trying.

Sticking with the FASTer way was challenging for me, which is too bad because I’ve never felt more like ME while on a structured eating and workout plan. I hope to find a way to work it back into my life soon!

Why did I try FASTer Way to Fat Loss?

All my life, I have longed to be one of those people who live healthy, indulge sometimes but know her limits, and exercise enough without spending hours in the gym.

It’s just that I’ve yet to really BE that person for an extended period of time. It seems to be all or nothing for me.

I know my body with too much fat and it feels bad. I know my body lean and that feels good. So with that super scientific discovery, I’m trying real hard to steer the ship toward feeling good.

This program taught me how to have my cake and eat it too.

I am learning what balance truly looks like without deprivation. Here are some of my favorite Faster Way to Fat Loss meal ideas so far.

What is the FASTer Way to Fat Loss?

I learned about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss when my lifelong friend Haven started talking about it on Facebook. Haven has been a personal trainer for years in Florida where we grew up and I have always said I wished she had an online program for those of us who no longer live there.

Once she started talking about how she got certified through the FASTer Way program to coach online, I knew I had to put my money where my mouth is. Lord knows everything else was going in there!

The program sounded complicated to me but at the same time it made sense. Use a combination of intermittent fasting, carb-cycling and almost daily-workouts to burn fat and ultimately slim down. There is even one rest day each week to give your body a break.

The FASTer Way to Fat Loss is a 6-week program initially. If you want to re-up for another six weeks the price is reduced and after that, you can go it alone or join the VIP group for a monthly fee.

They even have a Faster Way App now to help with tracking and workouts. You can see it here.

How Does FWTFL Work?

There is a bit of science and a bit of math, but what I love about this 6-week program is that there is actually a 7th week, which is entirely devoted to prep.

This is SUPER important because I really needed that week to learn what I would be doing each day, take my measurements, grocery shop and mentally prepare for my new reality of intermittent fasting, carb-cycling and training.

What is an Intermittent Fasting Window?

With intermittent fasting all you are doing is eating your daily calories within a shorter window of time to give your body time to rest and digest. So we fast for 16 hours and eat during the other 8.

In this case, my fasting window is 16 hours and my eating window is between 11am and 7pm (8 hours).

How many times you eat and when you eat is entirely up to you as long as you are following the other two key components, carb-cycling and counting macros.

What is Carb Cycling?

Carb cycling was a new term for me. I’m very familiar with cutting carbs, but what is carb cycling? Well, it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Sometimes you eat carbs and sometimes you don’t.

On low-carb days, you’ll eat a small number of net carbs (after subtracting grams of fiber) and pair that with cardio workouts. Then on regular and low macro days, you are in carb heaven!

One thing I have learned over the past few weeks is how little I crave carbs anymore. Because I’m not in fear of losing them! My low carb days are actually very satisfying and then I am ready to dig in on my regular days. And on my regular days I LOVE my carbs!

I’m especially digging these healthy oatmeal recipes because even though I don’t eat till 11am, I still like breakfast food.

Potatoes are in. Rice is in. Spring  vegetables are delicious. Life is good.

Counting Macros for Weight Loss with My Fitness Pal

Like intermittent fasting, the word macro is just a fancy way of saying something simple. In this case, macro means percentage. You’ll eat a certain percentage of Carbs, Fat and Protein each day based on your personal information and that is what you need to track.

You can either use the new Faster Way app to keep up or the upgraded version of MyFitnessPal, which is what I used for my first round.

These will also count calories for you if you are interested in that aspect, though it isn’t the focus of this program.

The above screenshot is part of a regular macro day. You can see that I am counting my macros instead of calories, but the calories are still up there.

This helps immensely because it’s all about the big picture.

FASTer Way to Fat Loss Meal Plan

My biggest obstacle to weight loss really boils down to consistency with healthy eating. When I stop honestly tracking what I eat, the wheels fall off in a hurry. And it’s not all from snacking.

I get lazy with the way I cook, the way I shop. And everything just FEELS harder.

The truth is I can make a healthy meal or an unhealthy meal, but it’s still me in the kitchen making dinner. It still takes about 20-30 minutes and there are still dishes to wash. I truly enjoy healthy food so lazy cooking is simply a habit I am still trying to break.

One thing that really helps is meal planning and prepping a little in advance.

Check out some of the best food storage containers for meal planning to make this process a little easier.

On my low carb days, I eat stuff like eggs with avocado for breakfast, pre-cooked grilled chicken and salad for lunch, and sausage kale soup for dinner. Maybe even a slice of gluten-free bread.

I also can’t wait to try these coconut chocolate chip fat bombs.

On regular or low macro days, I start with oatmeal, maybe I’ll have some tacos on corn tortillas for lunch and spaghetti with veggie noodles for dinner. I drink alcohol if I have room for it. I even have a stash of candy corn! My point is, I’m only slightly changing the foods we eat.

These alternatives to potato salad are great to make in summer and munch on all week.

It’s not the food. It was the way I was eating it.

My tip for food success is to meal plan and shop on the weekend with a general idea of what you will eat on your different types of days. Then before you go to bed, enter what you plan to eat into your app for the following day.

If you’re going out to eat, look at the menu ahead of time.

Gretchen Ruben says in her book, Better Than Before, that if you want to change your habits you should, “Decide then don’t decide”.

In other words, make the tough choices when it doesn’t matter to you emotionally, then when the time comes, you do what you already decided to do. This WORKS.

FASTer Way to Fat Loss Workout Review

When I started the program, I worked out the entire first week, a little less the second week and then things really slowed down for me. But, I was really getting a hang of the basics of the program and I knew I wanted to sign up for another round.

If you are like me and the idea of exercising 5 days a week really makes you want to cry, don’t give up. There are so many benefits to following just the eating, I think it’s still worth it at least for one round.

That said, I actually don’t hate the workouts! Well, not all of them.

I still loathe cardio but the amazing news is, you only do cardio on two of the days and while the moves change, it’s typically some form of HIIT (high intensity interval training) and rarely lasts more than 30-45 minutes. You can still enjoy low impact workouts too.

totally natural….

On the other days, you’ll be doing some form of weightlifting whether it’s using weights or your own body for resistance. These days I love! And even though I got lazy for a while, I still like it and I’ve really enjoyed being back in the gym.

My Honest FASTer Way to Fat Loss Program Review

My journey with this program has gone from completely skeptical to desperate and hopeful that something would finally stick, to surprised that it was working and I could eat the way I wanted to.

I am not in a hurry because I’m not devising ways to get out of it or counting down til I am finally my goal weight so I can stop. I finished the first 6 weeks 12lbs lighter and more than 20 inches smaller (overall).

I can’t complain about that!

I’m in my 40s now and at first, the whole process just seemed exhausting. But I decided to try one last time. I’m happy to see results and feel great.

FASTer Way to Fat Loss Before and After Photos

You don’t have to share your before and after photos with anyone, but take them. Take a full body front, side and back view of yourself wearing as little as possible (I chose biker shorts and a sports bra).

Take them at the beginning, half-way through and at the end of the 6 week program.

After the first round I knew I was smaller. I knew because I had been measuring myself but I couldn’t see it. I didn’t even see it much in my pictures! It was frustrating.

But then I looked at the photos of my back and it was completely different! All the weight I was losing was coming off my back and I couldn’t even see it!

Take the photos.

I’m not ready to share my own photos yet. Maybe one day. But here are my stats after my first round of 6 weeks. I’m happy with my results.

Sign up for 6 Weeks

To sign up for the Faster way to fat loss program, the first 6-week round will cost you $199.

That fee includes access to a private Facebook group with everyone else in your round that’s run by your coach, instructions on how to set up your macros and calories for each day, and how to use the tools that will help you succeed (like workout videos and apps).

After that, you’ll have the option to do another round for a lower rate and beyond that you can join a VIP program for a monthly fee.

The Faster Way to Fat Loss is for Women AND Men. I think it would be really cool to go through it as a couple!

Faster Way to Fat Loss Book

If you’re like me and like to learn everything you possibly can before starting a new eating plan, you may want to get your hands on the new Faster Way to Fat Loss book from Amanda Tress that was published in 2019.

This is a brand new book that explains the program and why it works so well! You can get it on paperback or Kindle through Amazon.

How to Join FASTer Way to Fat Loss

If you’re interested in trying the FASTer Way and you need a coach, be sure to sign up for the next round!

I’d love to know if you have any questions or need clarification on anything. I hope this was helpful and if you do join, I wish you all the best!

Post updated from 11/2018. I paid full price to use this program and was not paid to share my thoughts. That said, I do have affiliate links in this post which means I may earn money if you sign up or make a purchase using my links. All opinions are my own, as always.

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