Beulah P.
I’ve used the Prolon Fasting Mimicking Diet Kit 10+ times and weight loss is the least interesting part.
In 2019, a colleague introduced me to a book called The Longevity Diet by Dr. Valter Longo. Based on 25 years of research on aging, nutrition, and disease, Dr. Longo developed a dieting technique called “Fasting Mimicking Diet” (FMD).
The proprietary “ProLon” FMD uses specially formulated plant-based foods to mimic a 5-day water fast.
I ordered the Prolon Fasting Mimicking Diet Kit the very same week.
Since 2019, I have done the Prolon 5 Day FMD at least twice a year. My most recent cycle was in July 2026. After a dozen cycles, the Prolon diet continues to work for me, but my reason for doing it is probably different than yours.
My experience with the ProLon FMD Kit
My gut struggles with normal food. Wheat, rice, dairy, lentils, sugar, and even high-sugar fruits cause bloating. The FMD diet gives my gut a break.
Yes, I lose at least 5lbs every time I go through the Prolon FMD kit, but that’s not why I keep coming back to it. I come for the mental clarity, reduced rumination, uninterrupted sleep, and waking without any aches. Hunger also hits differently after the 5 days.
That being said, my first experience with the diet was very tough. I started without any prep and initially ignored the support emails, groups, and texts. Once I started using them on Day 2, I found them to be helpful. There was even a “Transition Day Meal Guide” to help with transitioning back to my normal eating plan.
Prolon FMD Kit 5-Day Journey
Day 1
The first day is fear and learning the rhythm of the food breaks in the Prolon kit — I worry I won’t have enough to eat, but by, evening it fades away.
Day 2
The second day is yearning — I look forward to each food break: the fasting bar with tea in the morning; the algal oil pill, crackers and soup, and nutrition pill for lunch; the olives in the afternoon; and the soup and choco crisp at night.
Day 3
I feel assured: even though the food combinations and quantities change, I enjoy sipping the glycerol drink throughout the day, and I feel confident that I’ll be having the most efficient meal shortly.
Day 4 and 5
Day 4 and 5 feel normal and settled. They go by fast and I don’t miss the reduced calories. The fear of not having enough quietly disappears and it doesn’t come back for a few weeks after the fast ends.
I don’t fear hunger the way I used to. It’s like I made a truce with hunger.
-Beulah, on her Prolon FMD experience.
Between meals in the Prolon FMD kit
My favorite aspect is actually the period between the FMD meals. To me, these are the best parts of the whole experience. I love the clarity. I seem to solve work/personal problems I was stuck at or struggling with before, I have clear and crisp conversations, and my mind doesn’t race in 100 different directions. My head is clear and unburdened, and it stays that way for a good 2+ weeks after the diet.
I always plan my Prolon 5-day fast
I make sure I pick the right time to start my Prolon FMD kit. While the diet clears my head and helps with sleep, I steer clear of doing it during really busy times or hectic periods of work.
I did try the Prolon FMD once during a busy time at work. I took the soup and cracker packets to work and used the breakroom microwave to heat them. Although I finished the 5 days, the explanations I had to give to colleagues and friends for skipping lunches or drinks in the evening drained me.
So I usually pick 5 days when I don’t have anything major planned. I also intentionally reduce my daily workout routine to walking and stretching, as the program recommends. Training hard while eating less than half my daily calories does not make any sense to me.
Other diets that didn’t work for me
I’ve tried a few different things:
- “The 5-Day Reboot: Jump into Juicing Plan” by Joe Cross, from the documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. I remember feeling a lot hungrier and juicing everyday was a pain.
- I’ve also done several DIY fasting mimicking diet options I found on Reddit. The one with store-bought cans was easier to do than the one where I had to make soups for all 5 days ahead of time, but I gave up by day 3, as the prepping put me off.
- The “10 in 20 Detox Program” by Joel Fuhrman (author of Eat to Live). I was overwhelmed by the number of lists I had to read, ingredients to shop, and supplements I had to research. The cognitive overload was too much and I didn’t last more than 2 days.
My Three Cents: The Prolon FMD kit suits me
Needing to prep is the deciding factor in a diet for me, and that’s the thing I like about the Prolon FMD kit. All I do is open the soup packet, mix it with water and heat it and eat it! For my most recent kit, I picked the “Next Gen” version, which contains ready-to-eat soups, so it’s even simpler.
Overall, the Prolon diet works for me. I find that the benefits outweigh the cost and the 5-day “emotional or hunger” wave I ride. I will continue to do it 2 or 3 times a year as long as it fits my budget.
For a complete breakdown of the Prolon FMD program, including the meals and the science behind it, visit their site. But, below are some of the questions my friends ask me the most.
Prolon Kit Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the ProLon FMD kit cost?
For my most recent order, I got one Next-Gen box for $299. The original cost $187. The Prolon website has the most recent prices and their newsletter sometimes has deals for new users.
Is the FMD hard to do?
Yes, I was quite intimidated by the idea of fasting for 5 days. But once I started, I was surprised by how little food I could get by with.
Do I need to tell my doctor?
I always did. So I recommend talking to yours.
What do you eat the next day after finishing the Prolon FMD kit?
I still follow the “Transition Day Meal Guide” that Prolon shared in 2019. It recommends things like avocado toast, kale-chickpea-and vegetable soup, and roasted carrots and veggies. I recommend reaching out to Prolon or your doctor to discuss what that plan looks like for you.
Does the weight stay off?
After I did my first Prolon FMD kit, I switched to a plant-based diet, and that continued the weight loss. I switched back to eating meat, fish, and eggs in 2023. Since then, I still lose 5lbs during the FMD, but the weight tends to return once I go back to my regular diet.
Can you have coffee or tea on the Prolon diet?
I recommend reading the guide from Prolon. I sometimes sneak in black tea or coffee, but I recommend following the instructions from Prolon.
How often is the Prolon FMD recommended?
I am not a doctor so I cannot advise you on it. I have done it twice a year till date, simply because that works with my life schedule.
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