I’m partial to a fast
I’ve been heading to The LifeCo in Bodrum for the past couple of years, so when ProLon® dropped into my inbox promising a five-day diet that mimics fasting, lets you eat, and claims to shave years off your biological age, I thought, why not? Especially after the last few weeks (okay, months) of pure overindulgence – martinis and more, you get the picture.
ProLon® is the world’s first patented Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD). My journey began with a call from one of their team to assess my needs and make sure I was good to go. A few days later, a sleek white box landed at my door, containing five smaller boxes – one for each day. Inside: your daily ration of plant-based goodies, mostly nut bars, soups, herbal teas, olives, crackers, a funky-tasting syrup, and a couple of pills. It’s all low-calorie and low-protein, designed to trick your body into thinking it’s fasting while still getting some nourishment. Sounded simple enough.
Then, pure coincidence: the weekend before I started, I bumped into a mate at the pub who’d just done the fast. “It felt like someone took my brain out, washed it, and put it back in,” she said. Considering I’d been feeling fried – thanks to burning the candle at all ends, the news cycle, and a job change – her words were all the motivation I needed.
I kicked off on a Tuesday (after a Monday filled with food and booze. Note: not advised, makes it a lot tougher). Day one was pretty easy, apart from the small issue of having eaten my breakfast and lunch by 11:30am. I was hungry but functioning. The saving grace? One daily black coffee is allowed, which helped keep the caffeine headache away (a huge win compared to other fasts I’ve done).
Day two was much the same – energy levels lower, brain a bit foggy. Being at home surrounded by food, especially for work, made it even more of a challenge. Still, I managed a workout and even dragged myself into the office. Day three? Brutal. I felt fully in the fasting zone, and not in a cute way. I wanted to kill someone – my husband, several times more than usual. My mood was…not ideal. I lived vicariously through my little sister and friends at Glastonbury and on social media too, which definitely didn’t help with the dark brain clouds.
Day four came and went. I became addicted to hibiscus tea. I was low, groggy, and constantly checking for signs of weight loss.
Then came the final act: day five. I was ecstatic to find crackers in the box, and even though my energy was low, I managed to squeeze in a Pilates class and a big walk in the hopes of shifting a bit more weight.
By day six, I was done. Weirdly, I woke up not even feeling hungry, despite going to bed ravenous every night. I got on the scales – down 2.5kg, which felt pretty satisfying. But really, ProLon’s not about weight loss. It’s about the inside job. I can’t tell you I feel younger (I always think I’m 21), but I can say my brain feels clearer, and my insides definitely feel fresher.
For me, fasting is all about the reset, giving my cells time to repair and, frankly, giving my liver a much-needed break. It helps set new habits too, even if they only stick for a few weeks (hey, every workout counts).
And it’s pretty good value starting from £170 for the full five-day programme. That’s about what you’d spend on a week’s groceries and one dinner out in London. Worth it if you’re looking to break the cycle.
ProLon® is available via prolon.co.uk