Been doing ProLon 3x/year for a couple years and enjoy it when I need a kick and want to reset. Have a wedding coming up - where I’m officiating - and want a reset and to lose a few lbs. First, is doing ProLon for two weeks (on weekdays, break on weekend) too much? Second, is there a cheaper alternative to ProLon with similar benefits that isn’t building your own FMD? Thanks!

Just wondering if my experience is normal. I'm 41, F, 153cm/5ft tall, 52kg at start of the diet. Initially I wondered if I should be reducing my intake to 800 calories on the first day and 500 on the other 4 because of my comparatively low weight, but concluded I wouldn't manage it - and now I know I would have failed! I feel like I'm shutting down. I normally eat about 2500 cals a day, I cycle a lot and have a very physical job so I think I would have collapsed.

Day 1: a doddle Day 2: I felt hungry and weak but just about coped Day 3: I started off the day feeling weak and hungry but started to feel ok around lunchtime and only felt weak/tired at night

But today I've just crashed. I feel so weak and all I can think about is food. It's 5:30pm and I've eaten my last soup and choco crisp bar of the day. I can't imagine getting through tomorrow - i have to work at 8 and I am worried I'll just pass out. I thought that by day 4 I'd get the clear head that everyone talks about but instead I just feel like a zombie. Is this normal? Is it common to feel fine on day 3 then worse on day 4?

Any advice and encouragement would be really welcome!

UPDATE: I made it! Day 5 morning was awful (as nearly all my mornings were on FMD) but after my nut bar my energy came back reasonably well. Hunger was tough all day and at night but I didn't feel faint. It's day 6 and I am eating my first real breakfast - overnight oats with raspberries, strawberries, chia seeds and quinoa. I'll be having kimchi and rice for lunch and a tofu vegetable stir fry for dinner. I want to use this experience to kick my dependency on dairy and eat cleaner. Will report back on if it worked in a month or so. Thanks for all the kind and helpful comments and yes - a pinch of salt really helps with weakness on FMD!

I want to start the FMD and will be heading out to the grocery store soon. Will this plan work you think? It’s mostly Imagine soups, avocado, grain free crackers from Trader Joe’s, SO Delicious Coconut based “yogurt”, vegan ranch, cucumbers, and apples.

If you haven't seen it, there was an article in the NY times about Valter Longo, who created Prolonn (gift article link below):
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/world/europe/italy-aging-valter-longo.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pk0.U4lW.4tIFtZ_ZWf37&smid=url-share

I also read his book and have personally done 12 cycles. I joined their affiliate program because I was already telling so many people about how prolon has changed my life that they were asking me if I had a discount/referral code.

Code for 15% off ANY purchase: FLORA1026

Link to buy: https://prolonlife.com/products/gofast?rfsn=7867473.eb0d2a&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=7867473.eb0d2a

Happy to answer any questions anyone has about my experience. I find that it gets easier each cycle, which I do once a quarter, and I actually start looking forward to doing it. I find that Day 1 is a decent amount of calories, Days 2 and 3 can be tough but Day 4 I feel amazing and Day 5 I feel like I could go on forever! Also wish I could buy that Choco Crisp because it's SO GOOD.

I have found this site: https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/diy-fasting-mimicking-diet/

another site had too much non DYI, such as order official Prolon bars.

& I’m also curious about just individual menus, ideas, from anyone here.

I know for me, complication can overwhelm me, so I’m going to try and start with something super minimal.

My relative has cancer, and got the OK from her oncologist to try this, my roll is to make it happen, I’ll also do at same time.

thanks

I'm feeling very low energy and tired, I postpone small efforts like going to the kitchen to grab my meals... But other than that I'm finding it all doable so far. Thinking of doing this for three more days does feel like it's going to take forever.

I'm not taking the glycerin drink or the supplements, just because I don't have access to either of those at the moment. I'm kind of curious if taking those would make a big difference in my fatigue. Anybody here have any experiences with this?

Is there a lower limit for beginning the FMD? Like, if your bmi is below 20 you should not do this? Thanks

Anyone partake in some sugar free jello? Seems like an easy way to dull the cravings with very low calories.

Hi everyone! I’m new to this community and curious about others’ experiences.

I did my first round of ProLon in March and am doing my second round now. I have three more kits on hand, with the intention of doing this every 4-6 weeks for the next few months. I’d like to switch to the DIY version at that point, but figured it would be good to collect a few experiences with the controlled kit so that when I do the DIY I’ll know if my experience is confirming to expectation.

My first round was easy - very little acute hunger, but I could eat. No nausea. I actually think I discovered a dairy sensitivity - I have kept it out of my diet for two months and my chronic GERD has vanished.

My current round (I’m on Day 4) has been much more difficult. I was ravenous on Days 2 and 3. Yesterday I had some very uncomfortable toilet experiences. Today I’m nauseous. It’s just a very different experience, but I don’t know if it’s typical to have a different physical response over successive rounds. I’m curious if the feelings of nausea are typical, because of the Prolon foods, or if they’re also present in a DIY version, or maybe just me and my defective guts. Would love to hear others’ experiences!

I’m in the monitoring and evaluation field and tracking data is second nature so I’m doing that. I’m hoping that will help me when I do start a DIY version down the road.

My reasons for doing this are: 1) I have celiac disease and I am hoping for intestinal health (including anti-cancer) benefits; 2) get more control over my metabolic responses and food cravings; and 3) weight loss, but more specifically to lower my weight set point gradually without yo-yoing.

Thanks everyone!

So I’m on day 4 of ProLon- there’s been some nasty spring cold going around all my social circles and yesterday I started to feel a little off- well today I definitely am feeling it (and no, it’s not keto flu). I’m not sure whether to push through and finish or break the fast - I have a tattoo appointment on day 6 and would obviously like to get rid of the cold as soon as possible. Any experts/experienced individuals with answers/advice?

My blood sugar was getting low very early day 5 but before I would eat on a new day, and I was spooked so I had 11-13 carbs mostly from some hummus. There was about 20% protein in those calories. I was worried that I might wreck the autophagy. Is there any way to test that it started ? I believe it starts between days 4 and 5.

Anyone do Prolon, then start on 5:2 fasting? I’m doing the FMD for weight loss. 5:2 was effective for me years ago, but I haven’t felt strong enough to do it since. Hoping the 5 days will help me kickstart.

This is a fun post like what are you dreaming of eating but serious replies (as in if there are restrictions to what you eat after the fast) also welcomed. I didn’t see any guidelines so far besides “ease into it”

Just wondering if anyone knows what Longo says about the reasons for day 1 being higher than the other days. The only reason I can remember is that it's a transition day, but I'm really wondering if there's still an autophagy benefit from the more modest restrictions of day 1? .... Tldr my day 3 has been more tough than usual and I've ended up doing the day 1 macros again :/ wondering if it's undermining the autophagy benefits

I completed the Prolon fast! yay for me 😉 I’m on day 6 now and ate an assortment of nuts for breakfast. I’m actually a little confused about what to do next and honestly I’m extremely tempted to go back to bad eating. I’m going to try really hard not to, but I’m surrounded by it, but the temptation is everywhere.

Anyway I’ve been in ketosis since day three. 👍

Should I try to stay in ketosis with a keto vegetarian diet? Or gradually reintroduce healthy carbs over the next few days like small serving of brown rice, other healthy grains and some fresh fruits? (I’m struggling not to gorge myself on an organic, locally grown wheat, loaf of sourdough bread on our counter right now. So far so good…🙏) Don’t know what to do next. Been reading about longevity diet. I would love to hear about other people experiences and food choices after completing FMD.

I only used higher sugar veggies so far like onion and carrots, but I would love to just eat broccoli every meal. It's too much protein. How are you guys using broccoli and other veggies with more than 10% of their calories from protein, successfully?

So I just measured my ketone levels and they are between 80 and 160 mg/dL., I used test strips, and it looks closer to 160. I’m on day five of Prolon. Does anybody know if this is good or safe? I just keep reading that high levels ketones are dangerous and mine are definitely high .

I'm wondering if I can appeal to those of you who have a better sense of the FMD than I do for help. People always say "Read the book"--I tried but had trouble with a lot of it!

I do FMD purely for Alzheimer's prevention (my BMI is towards the low end of normal). This is about my sixth round. They've all been DIY. I find them pretty challenging, but I bought a blood ketones monitor this time and that has been reassuring at least that something is happening.

One question I have is whether I could end the round a day early and still have gotten many of the benefits. According to my new monitor, I was in "light ketosis" (.5 mmol/L) on the morning of the second day and deep ketosis (2.5 mmol/L) on the 3rd day. That makes me feel as though already by the 3rd day I might be getting lots of benefits--but I'm not sure, because one of the things I'm still confused about is the relationship between ketosis and autophagy--which makes me wonder if I could just go through Day 4 and not fast on Day 5. Probably you will say "no." I know the subreddit says if it's not 5 days, it's not FMD!

The second question is what ending on/after Day 5 means. I ate a late snack on Tuesday night. So I counted Wed as Day 1, Thurs as Day 2, Fri as Day 3, today Sat as Day 4, tomorrow Sun as Day 5. Typically what I do is wait until the morning of Day 6 to break the fast. Is that correct? Or could I eat tomorrow evening?

Thank you!

Hey all,

I’m on day 4 of my FMD and was eating a seaweed Kirkland snack when I looked at the package more closely and realized that I ate the entire package on day 1 and day 2 without realizing that it is 5 servings. So it turns out that I went over protein on day 1 by 6g and day 2 by 3g.

Did I completely ruin those two days FMD benefits? Have I been starving myself for nothing? I’m so angry with myself and want to rage.

Idk if it helps but I went for numerous bike rides and hit the gym on Day 1 and Day 2. If that offsets the protein in any way.

Any guidance would be very appreciated.

Just complaining - I’m on day 3 Prolon and feeling kind of tired and hungry, but now I have to go food shopping!!! It’s going to be so hard, I’m totally dreading it. But I have to do it. I also have to cook for my family. If I do this again I’m definitely going to prep food for the whole family ahead of time.

Anyone started yesterday or today or starting tomorrow? I could use some encouragement/accountability. Not looking forward to this one.

hi fasters, I was wondering if anyone has succesfully subbed out Prolon Fasting Shakes for both soups during a Prolon fast. Reason being I skipped one last night after forcing down the other yesterday and my brain is saying "absolutely not" to the idea of eating more of those soups today.

I generally only eat two meals a day anyway (I do IF on the regular) so eating more meals during the fast is always a little weird to me. So I'd be good with one shake instead of 2 soups. I havent checked the macros quite yet but the calories are close, though I may need to skip an olive as well, which would be fine with me.

So frustrating! I paid so much money for this fast and just really struggle with the soups. I've done DIY but not had the same results so I totally get the idea of staying within the box, and all the other box items are fine, its just the durn soups.

Hi

I'm at day 3, and the two other times I don't really suffer. This time though, my salad + tofu + nuts + Coffee DIY version makes me almost tremble. Feel super low, even though the measuring sticks show deep ketosis. Taking electrolytes but still feel damn low.

Any ideas what to do? Give me your best tricks

Should I jump and eat some carbs?

Edit: I also eat olives and take multivitamins

Edit: I made an anonymous google account and copied over the spreadsheet meal plan I was using in case you want to see the most recent version: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1R55IhSWaK0twZLBD3vN3kHLgV96JsU9W/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107157568989375498948&rtpof=true&sd=true

I ended up tweaking days 2-5 to use mostly veggies as per day 1 because I was tired of soups. I print off each meal plan on day 1, so I was manually updating it with pen and paper and a calculator, but basically everything I ate is on this spreadsheet.

I did 3 rounds of Prolon in 2023 - I got sick during Round 1 with RSV (February). Was on immunosuppressants for Ulcerative Colitis but during that month of being sick they told me to stop taking the immunosuppressants... after about a month I started to become symptomatic again. So I did another round of Prolon and by day 4 my symptoms were entirely gone and did not come back. I did a 3rd round a month later because i was enjoying the weight loss. Each round it got harder to eat the soups. For my 4th round, I couldnt eat the soups so I diy'd Amy's. At that point I decided to move forward with DIY. My next round (first DIY) I did not lose any weight. I decided to not do any more rounds because they were difficult. Felt great for 6 months (no medications for UC), then things got weird. Not UC symptoms, but something else. However, whatever that something else was, the symptoms were triggering some on and off UC symptoms. So I did a round of DIY in January. No weight loss, no symptom improvement, no skin improvement. I tweaked it and did another round in February. Same... no improvement, no weight loss, no skin improvement. March, tried again after tweaking some more. Same results. So Im back on the Prolon. Btw I have also been seeing dr's and have been diagnosed with NAFLD and based on the studies I read last night I am positive that my digestive symptoms triggering UC symptoms are related to NAFLD. Im not obese, actually pretty skinny but could lose 15 more pounds, despite exercising 6 days a week i wasnt seeing any weight loss. so hoping another round of prolon will fix me up and help me lose 5 lbs or so as usual.

To calculate my DIY I used chronometer and/or google to look up food macros and whatnot and used an excel spreadsheet I found I think on this site to put together meal plans. Here is a screenshot of my last round's days 2 and 3 (which were the same as 4 and 5): nevermind, its not allowing me to insert a photo here.

At any rate, it was basically oatmeal and amys soups, then i went to an oatmeal and cooked vegetables version with broccoli, peppers, onion and buckwheat. Some meals I had pacific vegan soups. avocado, cherry Kind bar, nuts. i like variety so tried to shake things up within the framework of allowed foods. I own the book and have done a ton of reading about the diet over the last year so i feel confident I was not eating anything to trigger the pathways and my macros were all calculated and within range. but... ? it didnt seem to be working DIY.

Im on day 2 of Gen 3. Anyone else not get results from DIY?

I usually take before bed 175mg magnesium glycinate and 300mg magnesium citrate, and I don't want to take any less since I have a pinched nerve and any muscle cramping may be real painful.. Do you think this magnesium dosage is too much for the fast?

I’ve tried to do some research on using red light therapy (red light and NIR, BioMax 450) while fasting but wasn’t able to find much. I wonder if the red light therapy while fasting can enhance the benefits of fasting and autophagy as red light therapy is supposed to improve cellular production. I’ve done prolon many times since ~2018, but last month was the first time I did prolon with my new red light therapy device. I did feel less appetite and more energy after using the red light!!

Does anyone know anything about this or have a similar experience? TYIA

Wondering if anyone has increased anxiety and depression on day 3 of prolon? I am really struggling to make it past Day 3. I already suffer from depression, anxiety and PTSD and have been able to manage it in recent years with diet and exercise and am no longer on medication. I wanted to do the fast to help reset my body and brain hoping that it would help with some of these issues. Day 1 and Day 2 were easy for me. But I am in the middle of Day 3 and the anxiety is becoming unbearable as well as having a pretty bad depressive episode and I'm considering breaking the fast not sure I can make it to day 4 and 5.... anyone else experience this?

Anyone have experience completing FMD while on blood pressure medication?

I don’t want to diminish the difficulties that some folks have with this around days 3-4 since lots of people don’t fast regularly, but have any other regular fasters done this and felt like it’s pretty easy?

I feel like the toughest part has been choking down those disgusting bars.

I’ve lost count on what round I’m on, but likely around 10 or so - always done pretty well. I’m very active and always struggled the most w decreasing exercise. After noticing improved healing from a high ankle sprain after one of my rounds, and a decrease in knee swelling after a meniscus injury, I’m now aligning my rounds w a deload/recovery week from lifting and running. I am 41F, 5’8”, 175 lb, no health issues like diabetes/HTN/HLD etc (working on continued weight loss).

Day 1 is easing into fast and caloric deficit is minimal. I tried doing a recovery run this morning to accelerate my glycogen depletion, as I knew I’d be fine on Day 1, and I run fasted anyway since I wake up at 4am. Rest of the week I plan on doing light weights and stretching (deload program on Tonal). The light weights is really for mobility and recovery. I plan on enjoying a nice return to running on day 7 or 8, depending on my energy levels.

What are others’ experiences with exercise on FMD? I know what Prolon says and I know everyone’s experiences will be different. I always have a lot of energy on the FMD and want to use the week productively to deload, recover, and optimize my prep for my next training round.

UPDATE: doing a 3 mile low intensity run morning of day 1 felt just fine, and I think it did work to burn off glycogen stores - may have helped fasting transition today. Today (day 2) I did deloaded weights (basically, limited sets, moderate reps, and about 30% reduced weight) + mobility work and my heart rate stayed below 100 bpm most of the workout. Felt just fine as expected. Again, I’m a conditioned person, exercise 7 days a week for years, no chronic health conditions.

UPDATE #2: finished the fast with no adverse reactions. Of course there’s no way to know if this really impacted me negatively or not. I will say that on day 5 I didn’t feel up to even light weights and just did yoga. Moving forward I don’t think I’d experience with light/deloaded weights again. Definitely a fan of the day 1 light fasted cardio but I’d take the rest of the week easy as I have in the past.