I’ve talked before about how I lost 100 pounds. Tl:dr, restriction and over exercising were my go-tos there. I developed an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise to the point of injury and some serious hormone issues. Overcoming those required a little bit of therapy and a whole lot of self love.
After being on modified bed rest when I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to join Faster Way once I was cleared to workout. Here’s what I know about me: I like to be active and, more importantly, I like how I feel when I eat to nourish my body. I also knew I wanted to find a non-restrictive program that worked with being home and busy with kids. After reading about 100 reviews on Faster Way, and chatting with a friend who had done the program, I signed up not really knowing what to expect. I consider myself a bit of a nutrition nerd. I’ve read countless books, articles, and journals all about nutrition, but nothing quite like Faster Way. I signed up hoping to prove a point that I knew better.
About the Program
OK, so what the heck is it and how does it work? It’s a program that combines intermittent fasting, carb-cycling and (optional) fitness into one easy to use program. I was not new to intermittent fasting. Having Celiac disease, I have found that this is a good way to manage my symptoms. But CARB CYCYLING? You want me to eat a CARB? I don’t know about you, but I was told carbs are EVIL; that they will basically cause all kinds of inflammation. There is a quick calculation you do at the onset of the program based on your lifestyle and goals which I like. No scripted response, you get to chose your own adventure. Since I was breastfeeding at the time, I didn’t want to ‘lose weight’, but i did wish to be better active… and poof I was set up.
My First 6 Weeks
The program lasts 6 weeks, which is roughly the amount of time it takes to convert your body from a sugar burner (think energy drain) to a fat burner. I questioned everything I was told to do, including having a ‘treat’. I was eating anywhere from 2000 to 2300 a day (almost double what I ate when I lost 100 pounds). Remember how I said I was skeptical? Yeah, understatement. For the first 2-3 weeks, I was certain this wasn’t going to work. And then, I woke up one day feeling energized, without any digestive pain (a common issue of mine), and in a great mood. I carried on with the remainder of the program and found that I had lost 13 inches and around 11 pounds while still eating a LOT. Better than that, I wasn’t spending hours in the gym at the brink of injury; just a quick at home workout when I had time.
Moving Forward On My Own
One of my favorite things about Faster Way was that once you know and have the program, you don’t need to sign up continuously. I chose to do a second round and then their membership for one month so I could get a few more workouts under my belt. But, I love that that isn’t necessary. When I stopped breastfeeding, my hormones didn’t go crazy like they had previously, which was a great bonus. But most importantly, I wasn’t obsessing over food. I ate at parties, on vacation, I fed myself when I was hungry; talk about a huge change for me. And then the pandemic happened and gyms closed.
Remember when I said I had a bunch of workouts under my belt? Well they were all geared towards the gym setting. Add to that everything else, including stress, and my body was not happy… I decided to sign up for another round. Now that it’s fresh in my mind, I am recapping a little more below:
Community- This is the biggest pro. Each round is a small group of people making it easy to share, ask questions, and get feedback. There is also a larger community of users on Facebook.
Food – I have never once felt deprived of anything. One of my favorite things is there is nothing ‘off limits’. Honestly, there are days where I feel like I can’t eat any more; what a difference.
Modifications – You get to decide your own goals. This is not about unrealistic diet culture. You can also modify any workout or do no workout; right now i do anywhere from 2-4 a week when I feel like it.
Energy – The difference in a short 6 weeks of how much energy you have is mind-blowing. I didn’t hit snooze on my alarm and i was *generally* in a good mood.
Learning – The first week is a steep learning curve. You will get it wrong a lot. I am not someone who likes to get it wrong a lot, so this was hard for me.
Workouts – Not going to sugar coat it. These are hard. I modified almost all of them, and still do.
The App – I am blown away by the ease of use. There was no App my first round, and I felt like that was missing. In the app are recipes, guides, workouts, and more.
Weight – It’s not about the scale! I only have weighed myself at the start and end of each round (just for fun) and when I go to a doctor appointment! I cannot tell you how exhilarating that is.
Overall, I am really pleased with Faster Way. I have more muscle and feel stronger. I sleep better and have more energy. And I EAT, which is something that I have not always done. Want to join me? Click here to sign up!
