Can my husband or a friend do the program with me?
A friend, yes. Our coaching is built for women 35+, so two friends can each apply, and if you're both a fit, you can ask for the same coach. We don't coach husbands. But a lot of husbands end up doing some of the workouts at home and eating the same dinners, and that support goes a long way.
Doing hard things is easier with someone beside you.
Right?
Here's how it works.
Can I do Forty Forward with a friend?
Yes, and I think it's a great idea.
Chris explains it like this: when two friends pair up, they share a common goal, and that tends to make it easier for both of them to keep going.
Someone to text after the workout. Someone who gets why you're saying no to the bread basket for two weeks. Someone who notices if you go quiet.
Here's how it works:
- You each apply. Mention each other in your applications so Chris knows you're coming as a pair.
- You each talk with Chris. He'll want to know your goals, your history and your week. Hers will be different, and that's fine.
- You can ask for the same coach. If you're both a fit, let Chris know you'd like to be paired together.
- You each get your own plan. Your own nutrition plan, your own goal, set on your own onboarding call.
Same team.
Two different plans.
Will we follow the same plan?
Partly.
The workouts are the same. Follow-along videos at home, about 50 minutes, with me on camera doing every workout and Chris coaching form, progressions and modifications in real time. You can compare notes on Thursday's workout, or do it together if you live close.
The food is yours. Your coach builds your nutrition plan around your body, your schedule and the foods you already enjoy. Your friend's plan will look different, because her life does.
The goal is yours too. You each set it on your own onboarding call with your coach.
What if my friend gets results faster than me?
She might. You might.
Can we please stop pretending two bodies should change at the same speed?
You're starting from different places. Different history, different sleep, different stress, a different body.
Most women come to us wanting to lose weight. What they actually want to lose is fat.
So the scale is only one thing your coach watches. She's also looking at how your clothes fit, your progress photos, how much stronger you're getting and your energy.
A few rules for doing this as a pair:
- Cheer each other on. That's the whole point of doing it together.
- Compare to your own week 1. Hers is a different starting line.
- Keep the numbers between you and your coach. If comparing makes you feel worse, you're allowed to keep it to yourself.
If her scale is moving and yours isn't, read the scale hasn't moved but my clothes fit differently. It might be telling you more than you think.
Can my husband do the coaching too?
The honest answer is no. We coach women.
Everything we do is built for women 35+ in perimenopause. Your coach is a woman over 40 who has done the Reset herself. That's who we are, and we'd rather do one thing well.
If you want to know more about who'd be coaching you, here's who coaches you week to week.
But that doesn't leave him out.
Chris often asks women on their call whether their husband is on board. He asks because support at home makes the 8 weeks a lot easier.
What do husbands usually do instead?
In our experience, plenty of them follow along.
- The workouts. The dumbbells are already in the living room. Some husbands start jumping in beside their wives.
- The food. Your plan is built around real food and family dinners. So he's eating it too, whether he planned to or not.
- The example. Kids notice when both parents are lifting and eating well.
He isn't coached, and nobody is building a plan around him. He's just along for the ride.
And for a lot of couples, that's enough.
We've helped 1,000+ women lose 10 to 20 lbs of fat in 8 weeks. In our experience, the ones with support at home tend to find it easier to keep going.
What if he needs it more than I do?
A lot of the women we talk to say this. "Honestly, he needs this more than me."
Maybe.
Here's the thing.
You're allowed to go first.
You've spent years making sure everyone else is fed, driven, packed and looked after. This one can be yours. And if he gets curious along the way, good.
If it's a "we" decision at your house, that's welcome too. I talk about that in is one-on-one coaching worth it.
Erin inspired her family
I sat down with Erin, a 41-year-old mom of two, about deciding to prioritize herself while juggling motherhood and work, and how her changes ended up inspiring her husband and kids.
Ready to bring your person along?
Whether it's your best friend or the man who's going to end up eating your dinners, you don't have to do this alone.
Start with the short video on our homepage at fortyfwd.com. It walks through why your body stopped responding after 40 and the method we use to change that.
If it sounds like you, apply for a call with Chris. If a friend is joining you, she can apply too.
He reads every application himself. On the call, he'll look at your goals and what you've already tried, and tell you straight whether the program is the right fit. If it is, he walks you through the investment then, once you both know it's a fit.
It's better with company.
Let's get you both started.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a weight loss program with a friend?
Yes. You each apply, and if you're both a fit, you can ask to be paired with the same coach. You each get your own nutrition plan and your own goal.
Can my husband join Forty Forward?
Our coaching is built for women 35+, so we don't coach men. A lot of husbands still follow along at home with the workouts and the family meals.
Will my friend and I get the same plan?
You'll do the same follow-along workouts. Each of you gets your own nutrition plan and sets your own goal on your own onboarding call.
What if my friend loses weight faster than I do?
That's normal, because you're starting from different places. Compare yourself to your own week 1, and watch your clothes, strength and energy along with the scale.
Does my husband need to be on board?
It helps. Chris often asks about support at home on the call, because it makes the 8 weeks easier, but your husband doesn't need to do the coaching.