Welcome to what could be the start of a life-changing experience for you—the FASTer Way to Fat Loss program. Embarking on this path is not just about shedding pounds; it’s about gaining a whole new understanding of health and wellness. However, to maximize your chances for success and truly thrive on this program, having the right tools can make all the difference. In this post, I’m sharing the essentials that my clients find the most value in having as they start their new healthy lifestyle!
The Essentials for a Smooth Journey
Before you launch into the world of intermittent fasting, carb cycling, and effective workouts, it’s important to gather a few key items. And before you commit to a specific coach – be sure you like their style of teaching. I think this is an important one that easily gets overlooked!
Sports Bra: Starting any workout regimen without good support is like trying to run a race with your shoes untied—it just doesn’t make sense! A quality sports bra will keep you comfortable and focused on the task at hand.
Sneakers: The backbone of any physical activity, a sturdy pair of sneakers is vital. They’re not just for show; they protect and support your feet through every squat, lunge, jump, or step.
Strength Bands/Weights: While body weight is an excellent resistance tool, incorporating some basic weights or strength bands can add variety and challenge your muscles in new ways.
Water Bottle: Hydration is key, especially when you’re pushing your body to new depths. Keep a water bottle on hand to ensure your water intake is up to par with your hard work.
Kitchen Allies
Dry Measuring Cups & Spoons, Kitchen Scale: These tools are pivotal in mastering portion control, which is an integral part of the program’s nutrition approach.
Sheet Pans & Food Storage Containers: Meal prep is a game-changer when it comes to sticking to the weekly meal plans. Having the right containers will keep your nutritious meals fresh and ready to go.
Protein Powder: I find that most clients at some point start using a protein supplement to help build lean muscle. The trick with a protein powder is to find one that delivers protein and not carbohydrate and fat. This makes meeting macro goals much easier!
Tech Support
iPhone/Smartphone: Immediate access to the FASTer Way app keeps you tapped into daily workouts, meal plans, and the supportive community for that daily accountability boost.
TV that will mirror your phone: Totally not required, but I find that I like to cast my screen to make workouts more enjoyable.
If I had to pick just one thing
I would highly, suggest that you invest in a kitchen scale. It will be a game changer when it comes to dialing in on your macros.
Beyond the Physical Items
Having physical items on hand is wonderful, but the most important part of your success is cultivating an open mind. The strategies you will implement—like low macro days and regular macro days—are designed to elevate your metabolic rate and improve overall health, not just for immediate results but as part of a holistic approach to wellness.
Adopting the FASTer Way lifestyle means recognizing that this isn’t just a weight loss program—it’s a complete recalibration of how you view and consume food, how you move your body, and how you prioritize your overall health.
Success Stories to Inspire You
The FASTer Way has been a game-changer for many who’ve walked this path before you. Take it from our community members who’ve found success:
A Final Word of Encouragement
Remember, your commitment to this 6-week program and ultimately joining the VIP membership is about integrating these new practices into your life one day at a time. From the start prep week with your certified coach, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success.
One of the best things about this online fitness program is that it truly provides a consistent community, always ready to provide comprehensive support through social media platforms, VIP programs, and of course, the irreplaceable Facebook group banter.
You will have a wealth of resources at your fingertips—from meal plan information to ongoing access to sample meal plans and daily meal plan recipes.
Join thousands of FASTer Way veterans who’ve seen great results, and remember, becoming a more confident, healthy, and energized you is worth every step, every rep, and every healthy meal.
Are you ready to start your weight loss journey with the right tools and best support? Join me and become a faster way member today! 🌟
About Me
I’m Melanie.
I’m a chef, registered dietitian, foodie, wife and mom. If you’re looking for quick and healthy meal inspiration that supports your health goals while feeding the rest of your family (including the kiddoes) well, then you’ve come to the right place!
All foods are made of macronutrients or macros for short. Any food that makes it’s easy to identify and count macros is “a macro friendly food” in my book. But I’ve also seen it used as a way to describe foods that give you the most volume of food – which if you’re used to limiting calories and portions- is a very welcomed thing! There are a lot of macro friendly foods and we’ll go into all the details below.
The great thing about macro friendly foods is – they are minimally processed and family friendly. As a mom of two, there is nothing worse than having to make a separate meal for me and another for the kids. When I prepare meals like those described below, everyone is happy because the flavors are familiar, they’re easy to deconstruct if you have picky kids and you know exactly what your macros are for the meal!
There are three types of macros: Protein, Carbohydrates and Fat. Each one has a different job. They help us build new tissue like muscles, give our brains energy and help regulate our hormones!
Don’t confuse tracking macros or macro friendly foods with low calorie, or low fat diets. You can track macros as part of any diet plan, whether you’re gluten free, vegan, vegetarian or aiming to gain weight, gain muscle or lose body fat. Your macro goals just need to be set correctly – and by a professional!
An easy dinner that is macro friendly could look like roasted sweet potatoes, grilled chicken breast and broccoli drizzled with olive oil. A meal like this includes all three macros (is a complete meal!) and it’s easy to see where the g protein, g fat and g carbohydrates are coming from! Chicken = protein, sweet potato = carbs and olive oil = fats!
Macrofriendly salad with vegetables, chicken breast and edible flower for balanced dinner
Macro friendly sources of lean protein
If your goal is to lose fat, your goal should be to get enough protein at each meal. I recommend having 3-4 ounces of protein at each meal or snack to keep yourself feeling full.
Chicken breast
Greek yogurt
Eggs and egg whites
Lean ground turkey
Lean ground chicken
Protein shakes (check labels)
black beans
Protein bars (check labels)
As a rule of thumb, one ounce of lean protein = 7 g protein. Protein provides 4 calories per gram.
Macro friendly sources of higher fat protein
Chicken legs
Ground beef
Flank steak
Filet mignon
Chicken thighs
Salmon
Low fat or fat free cottage cheese
Unsweetened Greek yogurt
High protein snacks include: beef jerky, dried turkey sticks, edamame, hard boiled eggs, deli meats and protein shakes.
Macro friendly source of carbohydrate
Sweet potato
White potato
Brown rice
White rice
Quinoa
Bananas
Apples
Most fruit in general
Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram.
Wheat products such as bread, tortillas, english muffins, pancakes and French toast are sources of carbohydrate, however they are also sources of fat and potentially sugar which make tracking their macros tricky. One bread that I do like is Ezekiel Bread. It’s minimally processed made from sprouted wheat and has higher protein than other breads. If you want to include breads in your diet choose whole grain options where the first ingredient is whole wheat and sugar is not in the first three ingredients.
Macro friendly sources of fat
Not all fats are created equally. Some fats like those found in fatty fish, olives and avocados are healthy fats. Research has shown us that these fats promote heart health and desirable cholesterol levels. Fats that are solid at room temperature, such as those found in red meat, butter, even full fat coconut milk are sources of saturated fat which should be limited or avoided especially if you’ve been diagnosed or are at risk for heart disease.
Olive oil
Avocado
Shaved coconut
Macadamia nuts
Nut butter
Salmon
Fat provides the body with 9 calories per gram.
Tips for shopping at the grocery store
The simplest way to ensure you have macro friendly foods in your cart is to shop the perimeter! But trust me, there are a lot of amazing macro friendly foods in the center aisles of the store too.
In the produce aisle, everything is fair game. Stock up on fruits and veggies for your meals and snacks. I like to go into the week with at least three vegetable options in the fridge. My go-to’s are broccoli, spinach and bell peppers but I may get more depending on what looks fresh and how many nights I will be cooking! Macro friendly produce items: broccoli, spinach, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, leafy greens, endive, salad mixes, garlic, melons, bananas, apples, peaches, pineapples, berries and the list goes on and on.
Moving onto the deli. I like to get some deli meats for quick lunches that are high in protein. Sandwiches don’t take much time to put together and they’re a great way to create a macro balanced meal. (think bread, meat, veggies, and mayo or oil)
In the meat and seafood department, you can go with either fresh or frozen protein options. I usually get 3 protein options for the week. This gives me a chance to meal plan healthier options that will fit in my macros, and in case I don’t get to cook it all, I can just freeze what I don’t use for later. Chicken breast is always a good option to pick up for a quick baked or macro friendly grilled chicken. Lean ground beef is good for meal prep, taco Tuesday or meat loaf. Shrimp are a superfast and delicious way to be sure you get all the grams of protein you need for your goals.
In the dairy section is where you’ll stock up on eggs, Greek yogurt and skim milk. Unsweetened almond, coconut or cashew milks are other lower macro alternatives to have on hand for delicious recipes and smoothies.
When you turn the corner to the frozen aisles the macro friendly foods will be generally less processed without added sauces. (Though you can scan barcodes and manually add macro info from the nutrition facts panel to most macro calculators). My favorite frozen buys include spinach, kale, collards, broccoli, cauliflower rice, peas, chopped onions, and vegetable medley – I recommend the unsauced versions so you can add freely to recipes and track macros as needed. Sauced versions like those from Green Giant do make for convenient sides that the whole family will like- they have veggie tots that are a big hit with us too!
The center aisles of the grocery store are where you can get your basics for quick meals. Pick up 90 second brown rice packets, tuna fish, canned beans of all kinds and your favorite low sodium seasonings. Seasonings are a great option to change up your meal prepped protein throughout the week in a flavorful way. This is also where you’ll find your oatmeal, tomato sauce, bean based pastas, whole grain cereals, jerky, trail mix, nuts, nut butters and more. You just need to read labels a bit more 🙂
Is ice cream macro friendly?
When I think of macro friendly meals, I think of all three macros. I want all three macros on my plate, at the very least two macros. Having all three macros is the perfect way to ensure that you’re hitting your target numbers by the end of the day.
That said, ice cream is very high in fat, sugar with very little protein.
This doesn’t mean you can’t eat it, it just means that you want to log your portion accurately, and try to modify your eating the rest of the day to compensate. There are macro friendly ice creams out there (Halo Top and Arctic Zero) that are higher in protein, and even use lower fat milk and sugar substitutes but you need to ask yourself this important question. Am I eating ice cream to meet my protein goals? or am I eating it for the enjoyment of food. For me- when I am in the mood for ice cream, nothing else will do. So I account for real ice cream in my macros, even though it’s high in fat and sugar. I guess that’s what makes counting macros so great – you can make food choices that work for you and your food preferences!
Tips for counting macros with homemade recipes
In general, it’s easier to count macros when cooking from scratch and eating whole and unprocessed foods.
Tracking macros doesn’t mean you need a detailed recipe though. The key to tracking macros with recipes is to add to your tracker in the portions used OR follow the recipe exactly as written.
Then portion out according to the listed serving size. For example, if you make a crustless quiche and it serves 8, simply cut it into 8 equal portions and use the nutrition information to log your macros. If you’re like me and 1 serving isn’t enough, you can easily double your portions, just be sure to multiply your macros by 2 when logging them.
Weigh out ingredients using the tare function on your scale. When I’m making homemade meatballs for example – place the mixing bowl on top of the scale. Then add ingredients by weight. Hit tare after each ingredient so the scale zeroes out. My favorite part of measuring ingredients this way is that there are much fewer dished!! No need to wash measuring cups or spoons!
When cooking or combining foods during cooking, my number one tip is to use the tare feature on your scale. Not only is it accurate, but you have significantly fewer dishes to do after cooking!
Meal prep these macro friendly foods each week
hard boiled eggs
steel cut oats
baked sweet potato
grilled veggies
grilled or baked chicken breasts
Here are some easy recipes for the whole family
Bonus! Most of these recipes are from popular supermarket chains like ShopRite and Trader Joe’s that have an easy add to cart feature. Just click the recipe, select ingredients that you need for the week and send to cart!
These are easy ways to combine macro friendly foods into delicious meals! While the macros aren’t listed, these combos are easy to add to your macro tracker – and each combo includes protein, fat and carbohydrate to be sure you’re macro balanced!
Chocolate banana smoothie – 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower crumbles, 1T chia seed.
Cauliflower hash brown egg cups – Spray a muffin tin and layer 1/4 cup cauliflower, 1/4 cup frozen hash brown, 1 egg, salt and pepper – bake at 350 F until set!
Black bean bowl – 3/4 cup microwaveable brown rice, 1/2 cup black beans, 2T salsa, 2T sour cream, cilantro.
Classic chicken dinner – Roasted potatoes and baked chicken breast with steamed broccoli – just log your portions accordingly!
Warm salad bowl – Start with a bed of greens, add 1 cup of warm rice, add leftover herb chicken breast and top with diced cucumber and your favorite salad dressing
Chicken cutlet or grilled chicken with sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil for all of the flavors of chicken parmesan
You can never go wrong with a big salad – just be sure to make a meal out of it and invite all the macros to the party. Add shrimp, beans or lean steak, top with corn, onion and salsa for southwest flavors that win every time.
All of these are easily added to macro tracking calculators and will start you off with generally balanced meals. Portion sizes can be increased or decreased for your needs.
Making macro-friendly recipes is easier than you think!
How do I know what my macros should be?
A great way to find out your macro goals is to talk to a registered dietitian. Everyone has different macro goals based on activity level, lifestyle and body composition goals. It’s no one size fits all. And often, once macro goals are set, they will need to be reassessed and tweaked.
If you’re thinking about macros as daily allowance or “limits” – try to think of them as minimums in order to reach your goals!
We all have specific nutrient and macro needs based on our health and fitness goals, and tracking macros is an effective strategy to make well balanced and complete meals. Often weight loss programs focus on calories, which shifts the emphasis away from the three macronutrients and their important functions in the the body. The good news is when you include all three macros (according to your specific needs and goals) you can expect see changes!!I
I first learned about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss, (FASTer Way or FWTFL for short) in 2018. I must have noticed it in someone’s IG profile and thought – what is FWTFL?
As a foodie and a registered dietitian mom, following anything related to health, wellness, restaurants or food is up my alley. It’s my business to be in-the-know.
And on my road to becoming a dietitian, I tried every diet out there – weight watchers, atkins, keto, vegan, Mediterranean, beach body and my personal favorite and Gweneth Paltro recommended unsustainable fad – The Dr. Joshi Diet. I mean, the crazier and more limiting they are, the better right?
As every health professional worth their salt already knows – that is not the case!
As much as diet culture pushes a calories in, calories out one size fits all approach, lets face it – most of the time these are quick fixes, and unsustainable for the long term. So when I saw FWTFL, I had to investigate.
Melanie Marcus RD
Initial Research
My initial google search in 2019 rounded up mostly influencer recommendations for the program but very few health professionals had weighed in. I did find one dietitian who called the program out for being too complicated. She described it as throwing everything at the kitchen sink and totally overwhelming. Which could be true if you try to piece it together from the FWTFL website and implement on your own. That said, I just kept following The FASTer Way on IG and continued my research. I checked out the blogs, looked employees up on Linked In and learned several dietitians were on the leadership team and helped develop the program. I also took to Pinterest to see what resources I could find there. And then I found the coaches.
The FASTer Way’s key differentiator are the coaches.
Men and women, nurse practitioners, dietitians, physicians, moms, dads, teachers and more – all who live the program day in and day out, sharing their experiences, motivating new and potential clients in online but also in everyday life. FASTer Way has a certification for coaches who then facilitate the program.
Next, I started to follow a few. They shared their meals, grocery hauls, weekly meal plans and recipes. They shared what they fed their families, and what their portions looked like. It all seemed pretty normal. They talked about FWTFL strategies like intermittent fasting and carb cycling and they were living examples of how busy moms and dads, grandmothers and professionals, no matter their stage of life (even during pregnancy) were incorporating the FWTFL into their daily lives.
I even called my dietitian friends to see if they’ve ever heard of it.
After over a year of scoping it out, I bit the bullet, paid the $199 (at the time) and enrolled in the new client experience with the coach that resonated with me – Liz Baynard. She was a post partum, doing her thing, fitting workouts in daily, feeding her family well and she was reaching her health goals. Nothing crazy, nothing unrealistic – totally attainable.
My first round of the FWTFL was October 2020. My doctor cleared me for activity after Max was born and I was ready to hit the ground running. I never looked back. Six months in, I became a certified coach for the FASTer Way and it has brought me more joy as a health expert than I could have ever imagined. Working with clients in a very personal way, nudging them towards achieving their health goals – this is why I became a dietitian.
Whole food nutrition is one of the key pillars of the FASTer Way.
28 reasons why I love the FASTer Way to Fat Loss
In the food department
1. Anyone can do it. It can be completely modified to meet you where you’re at. Whether you’re a new breastfeeding mom, or a college student trying to figure out eating on your own! If you’re recovering from a surgery and can’t work out or you just had bariatric surgery and have been told you can’t do any form of fasting. Whatever the limitation is, there’s a way to talk through it with your coach to customize the program for you.
2. It’s based in science. This is where the macro tracking, intermittent fasting, whole unprocessed foods comes in. The programming is also looked at cyclically so that you’re not always in a calorie deficit – because that’s not really effective.
3. The focus is actually on building lean muscle in order to rid fat. It’s not just about becoming as small as possible. It’s about becoming strong and empowered. Teaching clients the power of their food choices and how that effects their bodies.
4. Intermittent fasting is way easier than I thought! I actually have more time!One of my favorite things is that I don’t need to worry about having breakfast. Instead, I can focus on feeding the kids, packing schoolbags, putting my makeup on and go.
5. You don’t need to purchase additional apps like My Fitness Pal to track macros. The FWTFL app has a macro tracking feature and library and makes macro tracking complete and easy. No additional apps needed!
6. Success isn’t measured by the scale. Instead we learn to look at non scale victories including measurements, photos, energy levels, how clothes fit and sleep quality.
7. You can eat out! Whether you’re traveling for work or dining out more because you don’t have time to cook – the FWTFL can work for you! We track macros (protein, carbs and fat) not just calories. Most restaurants post this info for easy tracking, plust the FWTFL app also has cool features that allow you to add personal favorites or use their library of items for stress free tracking.
8. I can still have my coffee. One of my favorite times of day is when I sit down with my cup of coffee before the rest of the house wakes up. That’s my time to get my day straight and wake up at my own pace.
9. Recipes and meal plans are delicious AND optional. People ask me all the time if I can provide them with a meal-plan for weight loss. I mean all the time. And for me as a dietitian, I love that the recipes use whole foods and are easy to put together. If you’re just not sure where to start with healthy eating, the meal plans are a lifesaver. They’re also ideal for busy people who just want to know what to eat for the week. They even come with a weekly shopping list to make your online ordering a breeze. It’s all found in the FASTer Way to Fat Loss App!
10. FOOD FREEDOM! You can eat whatever you want. And by this I mean, if it fits in your macros, log it and move on. I’m not saying you should eat a twix bar every day, but if you do choose to indulge, you can. And it’s no big deal.
11. Food isn’t emotionally charged anymore. Going through the program actually helped me undo some “diet think” that I didn’t realize I had! Food was always a very emotional, impulsive and comforting thing for me. But after truly looking at food as fuel to help my body build muscle – I’m able to enjoy foods like chocolate, bagels, and pizza without overeating, or guilt.
12. You don’t have to make different meals for yourself vs the rest of the family. Is there a bigger win for moms or dads who cook for the whole family?
13. You don’t feel deprived or hungry. There is actually a lot of food to eat every day. I often see clients struggling to eat enough!
14. Protein supplements and collagen are not required. You can get all the protein you need from whole foods. However, the FASTer Way to Fat Loss team developed a protein supplement that provides 20g per scoop with only 90-98calories. It has little to no carbs and fat, they offer collagen too. It’s not necessary, it’s only an option if you want an easy form of protein to add to your routine.
15. The macro calculation is rooted in having you eat as much food as possible – while reaching your health and body goals! For me, food provides a lot of enjoyment, so it’s a major bonus!
About the FASTer Way to Fat Loss workouts
16. The workouts are FAST. I do not like working out. I never have. I always thought I needed to be running and doing cardio to lose weight. I hated getting red and sweaty, it was never for me. I actually do these workouts during my lunch break at home or even at the office. Each day a workout video is posted in the FWTFL app. The head coaches walk you through every exercise and suggest ways to modify up or down depending on your ability.
17. Every workout can be customized. You can challenge yourself up modify down every and that’s OK! I was always completely intimidated at the gym and didn’t know the first thing about lifting weights. With the FWTFL workouts, I was able to try workouts in the privacy of my own home, modify as needed while gaining strength and confidence.
18. The workouts are effective. The combination of strength training and high intensity workouts are key to keeping your body in a fat burning zone.
19. You don’t need special equipment. There may come a time when you want to upgrade your workout equipment, but you really don’t need anything to get started. Splurge for the strength bands if you want some resistance at a low cost.
20. Workouts are constantly changing. And they are strategically paired with the macro cycle for maximum effectiveness.
Maybe the most important and the most underrated things about the FASTer Way.
21. You learn the foundations at a pace that help support new healthy habits. It takes at least 21 days to form a healthy habit. Your first six week round gives you a fresh start and lays the foundation for healthy habits. Plus your coach can help you pace things out and support you with extra trainings and resources to help you succeed, the way you need to learn.
22. You have a support system – always. This is the role of your personal coach. The head coaches at the FASTer Way to Fat Loss are constantly delivering tips through the app. It’s cool because it reminds you why you’re doing this. Also, seeing my clients support each other – in many cases TOTAL strangers, is really a beautiful thing.
23. It’s sustainable! Once you start to trust the process you’ll see that you can have an off day and get right back into it without punishing yourself. It’s all about progress, not perfection.
24. I haven’t stepped on the scale in about a year. This has done wonders for my mental health. Stepping on that scale and then allowing the number to impact my mood has been awful. And I know better than anyone that one pound of muscle is way smaller than one pound of fat. But for some reason the number that all goes out the window when I step on the scale. Now, I focus on how clothes fit, energy levels, sleep quality and even how much weight I’m using during workouts as measures for success.
25. Macro tracking isn’t forever. This can seem overwhelming at first. But I see it as a way to collect data about how you eat. It’s a way to learn what foods you lean into, and more importantly, it’s a way to learn about the portion sizes that make you feel your best.
26. You can find the coach that is right for you. If you’re going to start the FWTFL, take the time to look up coaches and see who you vibe with. Everyone is different and we are all motivated in different ways. If you take the time to sign up with a coach who you trust and feel comfortable with, your success will be that much greater. And while it’s not the norm, you can actually contact the FWTFL, to change your coach if you feel that you need to!
27. It provides much needed structure for the person that’s tried everything. I’ve had so many clients that “have tried everything”. Like me, they wanted to make progress on their health goals, they just didn’t have the structure or support to get them there. With a good faith effort, there is no doubt in my mind, you will find success.
28. Support continues even after your 6 week new client experience. The FWTFL calls this VIP membership. It’s ongoing monthly access to the FWTFL programming through the app. You’ll keep access to daily workouts, macro cycle changes, macro and water tracking, seasonal challenges with cool prizes and your personal coach.
What is the FASTer Way to Fat Loss?
It’s a digital nutrition program that combines intermittent fasting, macro tracking, carb cycling and fitness to maximize fat loss while building lean muscle. You learn about these topics at length with your FASTer Way Coach. It may be through daily emails, small online groups or through the FWTFL App.
When you first sign up you are enrolled in the “New Client Experience” which will start on a specific day. It lasts for six weeks and is referred to as a “round” of the Faster Way. As soon as you sign up you’ll get instant access to the app and your coach will get in touch with you to sort out the details.
Never in a million years did I think I’d be sharing progress photos like this! These are a result of being consistent. Not perfect. And they just keep getting better!!
The FASTer Way to Fat Loss is NOT FOR YOU if:
Staying accountable and in touch with your coach daily seems like too much.
If you like the idea of shifting your diet, but maybe you’re just not quite ready to make the change.
When you start living the faster way you realize a healthy lifestyle isn’t about being perfect. It’s about enjoying life and finding a balance with food and exercise that helps you reach your goals.
Start your weight loss today!
I’m excited to help you achieve your health goals! Connect with me on Instagram @miss_nutritious_eats or on Facebook @Missnutritiouseats. Share your questions, and let’s begin your journey to feeling your best today!
About Me
I’m Melanie.
I’m a chef, registered dietitian, foodie, wife and mom. If you’re looking for quick and healthy meal inspiration that supports your health goals while feeding the rest of your family (including the kiddoes) well, then you’ve come to the right place!
About Me
I’m Melanie.
I’m a chef, registered dietitian, foodie, wife and mom. If you’re looking for quick and healthy meal inspiration that supports your health goals while feeding the rest of your family (including the kiddoes) well, then you’ve come to the right place!
