Episode 034: Marcie Hurlbutt - Move, Eat, Thrive with the Faster Way

Dr. Angela speaks with Marcie Hurlbutt — coach, mom, church elder, and Faster Way advocate — about her journey from chronic gut pain and menopausal weight gain to renewed energy, mental clarity, and sustainable habits. They discuss how a faith-centered approach, simple systems, and accountability can create generational change in health for busy women and families.

Look Marcie up on FB - Marcie Hurlbutt

IG Handle:  shinewithstrength_marcie

Marcie.healththefasterway@gmail.com

Transcript

Dr. Angela [00:00:00]
Hi, this is Dr. Angela. Welcome to another episode of Lifestyle MD. I have an amazing guest today, Marcie Hurlbutt — a coach for The Faster Way, a dear friend, and an elder at my church. Marcie, introduce yourself and share a bit about what you do.

Marcie Hurlbutt
Thank you, Angela. I’m passionate about helping women realize that investing in your health isn’t selfish. It’s not just another box to check — it’s a way to honor God, love your family well, and live out your calling.

Dr. Angela
I love that — it’s exactly what matters to me as a physician, mentor, and friend. Let’s start with your own story. What was the turning point for you when you decided, “I need to do something different”?

Marcie Hurlbutt
I’ve struggled with my weight since puberty. Around 2019, I began experiencing intense stomach pain. I was hospitalized multiple times, had scans, blood work, even a scope — but got no answers. It was debilitating.

As a scientist with a master’s degree, I started researching, reading Peter Attia, listening to biohacking podcasts — but it was overwhelming. I pieced things together, ate cleaner, exercised more, and got results. Then in 2024, menopause hit. I started gaining fat, losing muscle, and feeling discouraged despite “doing everything right.”

That’s when my friend Susan introduced me to The Faster Way. The program worked, it felt simple, and it lit a fire in me to help other women find something sustainable too.

Dr. Angela
That resonates with me personally. I’m also in your Faster Way program and love how it packages everything in one place. What makes this program different from others?

Marcie Hurlbutt
First, it’s designed with women in mind. Everything is in one app — meal plans, macro tracking, fasting timer, water tracker, workouts. It pairs carb cycling with intentional exercise to maximize fat loss, and focuses on hitting your macros rather than starving yourself.

You actually eat more than you expect, and the app makes it easy to track — photos, scanning barcodes, copying meals. But the real secret sauce is accountability. In those first six weeks, we build habits step by step so they actually stick.

Dr. Angela
Yes! I love that. The workouts are short, effective, and scalable. You saw success personally and then became a coach — what was that journey like?

Marcie Hurlbutt
During COVID, I prayed about making a bigger impact. In early 2025, a professional door closed, and God opened another: I became a certified Faster Way coach.

I truly believe if I can influence one woman, I can influence her entire family for generations. Research shows that when moms commit to health, kids are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood. That generational impact is what drives me.

Dr. Angela
That’s so powerful. Beyond weight, what other results did you see?

Marcie Hurlbutt
Honestly, the mental clarity blew me away. Within about 9 days, I felt sharper, more positive, more focused. I didn’t realize how much processed foods were affecting my brain. That mental shift kept me going far more than the scale ever could.

Dr. Angela
That’s what I see in my patients too — the moment they shift from “I just want to lose weight” to “I feel amazing and clear-headed,” everything changes.

Marcie Hurlbutt
Exactly. Motivation comes and goes, but habits keep you grounded. You just keep doing it — even on days you don’t feel like it — because you know how bad you feel when you stop.

Dr. Angela
You have a demanding job, you’re a mom, you lead at church — how do you make time for this?

Marcie Hurlbutt
I wake up early — 4:15 a.m. — and follow what I call my THRIVE routine:
T – Time with God
H – Hear from God (prayer/reflection)
R – Read and record what I’m learning
I – Invest in others
V – Visualize and voice affirmations
E – Exercise

Doing this first thing gives me peace and helps me be fully present for my family.

Dr. Angela
I love that. For listeners who want to join you, how can they connect?

Marcie Hurlbutt
My next round starts September 22, and I have a $60 coupon (code: BACK60). You can find me on Facebook (Marcie Hurlbutt), email me at marcy.healththefasterway@gmail.com
, or even text me — Angela has my number. I’d love to coach anyone ready to start.

Dr. Angela
Before we wrap up, how does your faith tie into your health journey?

Marcie Hurlbutt
Scripture says our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. To me, that means we honor God by how we fuel and move them. Too often, Christians separate faith and fitness — but when we care for our bodies, we’re better equipped to serve our families, churches, and communities.

Dr. Angela
That is such a good word. Any final encouragement?

Marcie Hurlbutt
Don’t wait for a health crisis. Start now. Small changes today can prevent bigger problems later.

Dr. Angela
Beautifully said. Thank you, Marcie, for sharing your story and inspiring us all.