Day Fast Mimicking Diet Prolon Experience
As a registered dietitian I preach mindfulness and reaching your highest well-being and with that being said the path to get there looks different for everyone. Having this online space I want to share what my experience on Prolon was for the curious minds and Im stating this is not an endorsement for the fast mimicking diet. I hope my non-diet culture colleagues respect and understand my decision to try out a fast mimicking diet and share the experince.
When my body asks me for; ice cream, to Van Leeuwen I go, recently my body was asking me for a reset. I thought about a juice fast but wasnt too keen on the idea. I ordered Prolon after reading some of the studies on FMD and their beneficial claims on cellular regeneration and longevity. I listened to functional doctors talk about their experience and read about registered dietitians experience on the 5 day fast. I had the box sitting in my living room just staring at me for about 2 weeks. Even though I had made an informed decision to order Prolon I was pretty hesitant to start this because whatever way you look at it, it is a restrictive diet and I am so far past dieting. I feel like I have a great relationship with food and I can confidently say that because looking back over the years that was not the case.
Things I did that are not part of the instructions: I took my Renew Life Probiotic every morning and I started making the soups with bone broth after Day 1 lunch. I had more than one coffee on some days.
Alertness And Energy Boosts
People often report during prolonged fasts that they begin to feel particularly alert, especially after 18 to 24 hours. This may be in part due to rising cortisol levels with prolonged fasting.
There is data suggesting that your cortisol or stress levels will cycle daily but rise throughout a prolonged fast. Cortisol levels reach low points when your ghrelin or hunger hormones are highest and high points in the evenings when ghrelin levels are lowest. Cortisol levels also slowly rise over the course of a multi-day fast as your hunger slowly dampens. This is your body telling you to hunt for food, just as cortisol tells birds caught in a sudden spring snowstorm to stop singing, suspend reproduction, relocate and making finding food a priority.
In other words, cortisol can be a great thing in healthy doses. It can increase energy levels, alertness and the activity of brain cells as long as it doesnt become chronic. The key is how long it stays elevated, and when. In one study of healthy young women, increases in cortisol were significantly associated with a subsequent rise in activeness, alertness, and relaxation, and a trend-level reduction in stress and nervousness. It helps to consider that exercise also temporarily raises your cortisol levels in ways that prompt your body to adapt by ramping up stress reduction and anti-inflammatory processes.
Prolon Review: Why Prolon May Work For You
Since Prolon fasting state is not very harsh on your system like other means, chances are high it will work on you. Here are more reasons why Prolon should work on you:
You May Like: How To Make Coffee Creamer With Milk And Vanilla Extract
Who Shouldnt Do The Fast Mimicking Diet
The fasting mimicking diet is gluten free and lactose free. With that said, it does have a few ingredients that some people may prefer not to consume:
- Nuts & Soy;Intolerance. The bars contain nuts, and there are small amounts of soy. So people with allergies or sensitivities to tree nuts or soy should probably not do the diet.
- Vegans: FMD is plant based. But, the bars have honey, and the supplements capsules are made from gelatin.
Also, FMD is probably not for you if:
- You are at a low body weight: considering that you are likely to lose more weight during the diet.
- You have a medical condition or take medication: your body behaves differently during the fast, which can affect your condition or the way the medication works. Always speak with your doctor before you start the ProLon diet.
- Pregnant & breastfeeding are times where you need to nourish your body, not fast.
Is It Normal To Lose That Much Weight In Such A Short Period Of Time
Yes. Whenever you are in a calorie deficit, weight loss can be expected. Similarly, when your body is under that much stress and is not receiving energy in the form of calories, weight loss again can be expected. Some of the lost weight will be from water however, the scientific studies behind the 5-day diet have shown real results in the reduction of visceral fat of mice. That is the fat located around the abdomen.
On average I used to lose around 6-9 lbs during every fast. My body fat percentage was relatively low at the time so I did see 3-4 lbs of weight gain post fast that must have been due to water. I have worked with clients who achieved almost 10-12 lbs of weight loss and then continued to see the weight drop even after the fast was completed. This was because we approached the fast strategically by first prepping our bodies for the 5-day fast, and then programming our return to the gym and diet as soon as the fast was done. Committing to something like a 5-day fast is hard enough as it is, so why not continue the effort after the hardest part is done.
You May Like: Where Is Bones Coffee Made
Whats Included In The Prolon Plan
ProLons packaging is stellar. The sleek, modern, glossy white kit reminded me of unboxing a new MacBook or iPhone. Inside sits five smaller boxes, marked Day 1, Day 2, etc. Each contains all of the food allowed for that specific day, which is made up of 73 carefully chosen plant ingredients. The protocol does not allow you to change the order of the days or swap foods from one days allotment to another. You can, however, decide how youd like to arrange your daily meals, although a suggested menu card is provided.
Foods provided include dried soup blends , proprietary nut and cocoa-based bars, pouches of olives and kale flax crackers, and a few supplements, including algal oil for plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, and a multivitamin/mineral. The kit also contains herbal teas and a large water bottle used to sip a flavored glycerol-based drink, which is used days two through five to help maintain fullness.
A very straightforward instruction sheet is provided, which lays out how to follow the plan. An FAQ on the brands website answers additional questions about things like coffee , adding lemon to water , sprinkling herbs into the soup , and drinking sparkling water .
RELATED: The 5 Best Weight-Loss Tips if You’re Over 40
Can I Exercise On Prolon
Some light exercise, such as slow-paced walking or office work, is safe to perform during a ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet. However, fasting is typically a period of rest and recovery. Aerobic exercise or moderate exercise could cause injury and be uncomfortable during a fast.
Consequently, its probably a good idea to take a week away from the gym while youre tackling your 5-day diet. This way, the food youre eating can interact with your body the way its meant to.
After all, its challenging to treat sunburn if youre still going outside into the sunshine unprotected. Fasting works similarly. Youre less likely to see positive, restorative results if youre putting too much strain on your body.
You May Like: Where To Buy Kopi Luwak Coffee In Usa
Thoughts On Day 1 Of The Fasting Mimicking Diet:
- Day 1 seemed easy. I felt the body needed a break from eating a lot.
- It takes some research to understand the caloric content of foods and some dosing to get the totals to match the daily energy intake goal.
- I did not take Omega-3 supplementation today because I didnt have it at home. This is a miss, but I had salmon the day before, so I think it is OK, all things considered.
- I am also doing the fast while drinking coffee. It is black coffee, no sugar, milk or cream added, but I feel I need it for this exercise.
Fasting Mimicking Diet: Can You Eat & Fast At The Same Time
Have a look at the image above, as this can give you an idea of the nutrients you will be getting in a typical 5 day ProLon fasting mimicking diet plan.
The inventor and brain behind the FMD is Dr. Valter Longo, director of Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Longo is one of the world top anti-aging experts. Myself just like many of my coworkers have been following his work for years.
The idea is simple. For five days you eat and drink scientifically researched meals and drinks in precise quantities. These nourish you, but are not recognized as food by your body, therefore mimic a fasting state.
The calories are still very low, so you basically get the benefits of fasting and calorie restriction while still eating a balanced meal plan. As a part of the ProLon diet plan, supplements are also included.
Can You Eat & Fast At The Same Time? How is it Even Possible?
Dr. Longo work has shown that when we consume certain foods and natural ingredients, our body still acts as it didnt get food. As a result, the body activates the same longevity genes that are triggered during prolonged fasting.
These are exactly the ingredients you will find in the Prolon fasting mimicking diet.
That, in my opinion, is what makes the diet so promising.
Also Check: Is Decaf Coffee Good For Constipation
How To Reduce Caffeine Before You Detox
If you think youll have trouble giving up coffee or other caffeine sources during the detox, reduce the amount you drink at least a week before you plan to start the detox.Here is a sample plan to reduce your caffeine intake before detoxing:Day 1-2: Reduce the amount of coffee you drink by HALF. Day 3-4: Limit yourself to one cup of coffee or one matcha latte using Power Matcha.Day 5-7: Drink only herbal tea .
Fasting Mimicking Diet: Cost
The fasting mimicking diet cost is around $250, or less if you order 3 boxes .
This includes all the foods, drinks and supplements you need for the five days fasting, minus the water.
As a reference, the average American spends around $150 on food per week. One in 10 Americans say they spend $300 or more per week..
And that doesnt include weight loss or anti-aging shakes, supplements or other specialty foods. So, not that far.
Keep in mind, anti-aging and weight loss is a billion dollar industry. This is a drop in the bucket compared to most fad diets, risky weight loss pills, or anti-aging products that have no science behind them. The ProLon fast mimicking diet plan has research on its effectiveness and safety, with an army of medical doctors who back it up and recommend it to their patients.
You can read the reviews on ProLon website.
Recommended Reading: What Does Caffeine Withdrawal Feel Like
A Need For Electrolytes
Its important to stay hydrated on a prolonged fast. For one, drinking water and unsweetened teas will keep you feeling more satiated while you are in a calorie deficit. However, its very important, especially as you will likely increase your fluid intake while fasting, that you also consume electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium and potassium in order to avoid overhydration and electrolyte imbalances. Insulin also affects renal sodium handling, such that your body sheds sodium when your insulin levels drop as they will on a prolonged fast. This helps explain why high insulin levels are associated with hypertension and why blood pressure lowers during intermittent fasting.
You can address your electrolyte needs while fasting by drinking teas with some pink salt added and taking potassium and magnesium supplements a daily multivitamin may also work if it contains these electrolytes. Also look for packets of electrolytes designed for hikers and runners for example, and water that contain electrolytes .
Guidelines for recommended electrolyte consumption for adults over the age of 18:
- Potassium: 1000 to 3,500 mg per day
*Sodium needs may be a bit higher for individuals on a keto diet or prolonged fast, when low insulin levels cause sodium to be flushed from the system. You may want to increase your sodium intake to closer to 5000 mg per day. Speak to your physician about this if you have hypertension.;
Whats In The Prolon Meal Carton
This carton contains a 5-day supply of the ProLonmeal plan program. Eat and drink the food as instructed for five continuous days . No other food or drink should be consumed during the 5-day period, except water and herbal teas.
5 boxes labeled: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 Each box contains all that you will eat on that day.
1 Bottle for mixing the L-Drink
Patient instructions
You May Like: What Is The Best Ground Coffee Brand
Prolon Fasting Mimicking Diet: Taste & Feel
People usually find the taste of the meals to be pleasant. I personally enjoyed the meals and drinks and liked how they made me feel.
With that said, I did feel like I wouldnt mind to have some extra protein with the meals. Nothing major, and to be expected. This is one of the core ideas behind the diet. To promote autophagy, the diet per design has to be low in protein. Animal proteins can stimulate an increase in IGF-1, so this is why they are eliminated during the 5 day period.
Save Even More Money On A Fasting Mimicking Diet
The fasting mimicking menus here were designed to create some variety, because fasting is hard enough as it is. But if you want to save even more money, simply repeat soups and snacks.
A box of Imagine Organic soup, for example, has at least two or three FMD meals in it. So if you can handle the same soup for two days, youll save some money. Similarly, one small tub of hummus and one cucumber can be a 75 calorie snack a few times, one box of tea is cheaper than three, etc.
You May Like: What Machine Makes The Best Coffee
Does The Prolon Diet Work
Weve reviewed hundreds of nutritional supplements, diet plans, and health products. It is very rare that we can say a diet works with 100% certainty. In the case of Prolon, we will make an exception. When followed properly, the Prolon Fasting Mimicking diet will absolutely work! We can say this with certainty because there is plenty of research on the effectiveness of fasting.;
Fasting is an excellent way to burn fat, improve performance, and rejuvenate your body at a cellular level. The Prolon FMD makes it easy to reap the benefits of fasting by providing users with a strict, foolproof regimen.
Weight Loss And Fat Burning
While your resting energy expenditure stays the same during a fast, your body quickly learns to switch to burning fats for this energy. By 18 to 24 hours into a fast, your body begins to rely heavily on fat breakdown for energy. This is a great thing if you have fat youd like to lose while preserving lean muscle mass.
After 12 hours of fasting, energy mobilized from adipose tissue stores was approximately two times that available from glucose production, whereas after 72 hours of fasting the energy released from adipose tissue was sixfold greater than that generated from gluconeogenesis . Klein et al., 1993
Our LifeOmic employees lost an average of 5.5 pounds over the course of a 5-day fast, or an average of a little over 3% of their body weight. The percentage of weight loss range was from 1.5% to nearly 7% body weight loss over the course of five days.
Our CEO dropped almost 9 pounds over the course of his five-day modified fast .
Fasting Tip: Doing light to moderate resistance activity during your prolonged fast can help to preserve muscle mass while helping your body to burn fats for fuel. Exercise will also further promote ketone production and autophagy, and may help you feel energized through the tougher periods of your fasting. Consider going for walks, rock climbing, swimming, or doing some strengthening or slow flow yoga.
Going on a multi-day fast, whether a water fast, a low-calorie or Prolon fast?
Download the LIFE Fasting Tracker app here.
You May Like: How To Reduce Acid In Coffee
Caffeine & The Digestive System
Caffeine affects both the digestive and excretory systems. Those who consume caffeine often report experiencing heartburn. This is because caffeine increases the amount of acid in the stomach.Ever wonder why you always have to go after drinking your morning cup of coffee? Its probably the caffeine! Excess caffeine is processed in the liver and is removed through urine.At the same time, caffeine can also wakes up your bowels. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it increases peristalsis, the contractions that move food through your digestive tract.