Is Forty Forward legit? Are Chris and Elle real people, and who actually coaches me?
Yes. Chris and I are real people, a husband and wife in Toronto who've been coaching women online together since 2020. Chris reads every application and does every discovery call himself. Day to day, your weekly check-ins are with your own coach, a Precision Nutrition certified woman over 40 who has done the Reset herself.
Real faces. Real names.
And a real woman in your corner every week.
Are Chris and Elle real people?
Hey ladies, listen up. You should be asking this.
There's so much online right now that it's hard to tell what's real.
A lot of the women we talk to tell us they weren't sure we were real people until they actually heard from us.
So here we are.
I'm Elle.
A Precision Nutrition certified coach, a mom of two, and the woman doing every workout on camera with you.
In my early 30s, I finally admitted I couldn't do it on my own, so I hired the best coach I could find. I didn't know him at the time. That coach turned out to be my husband, Chris. There's more about me here.
That's Chris. NSCA certified, with three decades of coaching behind him, from professional athletes to women who've never picked up a dumbbell. He designs the training and coaches every workout on camera. Read more about Chris.
Together.
Husband and wife, based in Toronto, coaching women online together since 2020.
Chris coaches every rep. I do every rep. We both have opinions about which job is harder.
Who actually coaches me week to week?
Here's the honest version, because you deserve to know before you apply.
Here's who does what:
- Chris, at the start. He reads your application, does your discovery call himself, and runs your onboarding call, where you set your goal together.
- Your coach, every week. She's the one you check in with. She builds your nutrition plan, adjusts it as your body and your week change, and is there between check-ins when something comes up.
- Chris and me, in every workout. The follow-along videos are us. I'm on camera doing every workout with you, and Chris coaches my form in real time, with easier and harder options for every move.
So here's the thing.
Your weekly check-ins are with your coach. They aren't with Chris or me.
We'd rather you hear that now than be surprised in week two.
In our experience, the relationship with your coach is the one that carries you through the hard weeks.
Why are all the coaches women over 40?
A lot of women ask us some version of this: how is a 25-year-old trainer supposed to understand what's happening in a 45-year-old body?
Fair question.
That's exactly why we built the team the way we did.
- She's certified. Every coach is Precision Nutrition certified.
- She's lived it. Our coaches are women over 40 who've been through the Reset themselves. The hard weeks aren't theory to her.
- She's yours. One dedicated coach who knows your goals, your schedule and your life.
- She's a real person. No chatbot. No support inbox that takes three days.
Chris has a line about this: "If apps worked, everyone would be doing more of it now."
Most women come to us wanting to lose weight. What they actually want to lose is fat.
Your coach keeps you pointed at that. She watches your clothes, your strength and your energy, so the scale never gets to be the only judge.
How can I check that Forty Forward is legit?
Don't just take my word for it.
Here's what you can check yourself:
- The press. Chris and I have been on eTalk on CTV and Breakfast Television on Citytv, and Chris sat down with Dr. John Whyte, WebMD's Chief Medical Officer, for a WebMD conversation. In print, there's the National Post, The Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail. Every piece is on our press page.
- Real women, on camera. Clients tell their own stories, in their own words, on my YouTube channel. You'll find a few of them on the press page too.
- Our Google reviews. Search Forty Forward on Google and read what women wrote about working with us.
- A real call with a real person. Chris reads every application himself. Bring your questions, including this one.
We've helped 1,000+ women lose 10 to 20 lbs of fat in 8 weeks.
Plenty of them started exactly where you are right now, checking whether we were real.
What if I've been burned before?
Then your guard should be up. Mine would be too.
A lot of the women we talk to have been promised support before, then felt on their own a few weeks in.
Here's how we try to earn your trust:
- Application only. We don't take everyone. If it isn't a fit, Chris will tell you on the call.
- No pressure. The call is a conversation, and you both decide.
- The investment comes last. Chris walks you through it on the call, once you both know it's a fit.
- A guarantee. It's written out word for word in I've tried everything. Why would this be different?
You don't have to trust us yet.
You just have to have one honest conversation.
Hear it from Sarah
Sarah, a high-achieving creative with a busy career, almost didn't join because of the investment. In her story, she shares what she realized it was really about.
Want to do it with a friend? Here's how that works.
Ready to meet us?
You've been doing your homework. Good.
Start with the short video on our homepage at fortyfwd.com. That's me, walking 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.
He reads every application himself. On the call, he'll answer whatever you bring, including who you'll be working with, 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.
Real people.
Real coaches.
And a real plan for the woman you are now.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forty Forward a legit weight loss program?
Yes. Forty Forward is one-on-one online coaching for women 35+ in perimenopause, run by husband and wife Chris Smits and Elle Daftarian from Toronto since 2020. We coach fat loss and body composition through strength training, nutrition and a dedicated coach who checks in every week.
Are Chris and Elle real people?
Yes. Chris Smits and Elle Daftarian are a real husband and wife in Toronto. Chris reads every application and does every discovery call himself, and Elle is on camera doing every workout with you.
Will I work with Chris and Elle directly?
Chris does your discovery call and your onboarding call, and Chris and Elle are in every workout video. Your weekly check-ins are with your own dedicated coach.
Who are the Forty Forward coaches?
Our coaches are Precision Nutrition certified women over 40 who've been through the Reset themselves. You get one dedicated coach, weekly check-ins and direct access between them.
Has Forty Forward been featured in the media?
Yes. Chris and Elle have been on eTalk on CTV and Breakfast Television on Citytv, and Chris spoke with Dr. John Whyte for WebMD. In print, they've been in the National Post and The Canadian Press, and Chris has been in The Globe and Mail.