We did the ProLon five day fast-mimicking longevity diet from Valter Longo. Here's what happened.

[@njpaddler]

Ok, I'm at my limit. I've fasted for 25-minutes 18-seconds. Now it's lunchtime (potato-carrot-onion-kale soup & a salad). Thanks for the video, it was good to see.

[@martinextejt3453]

I only made it until 15:07 until I decided this was not for me.

[@tonimacaskill6533]

I said on camera on the 5th day that I had no desire to ever do this again. Well, it's a week later and I have changed my mind. Losing the visceral fat was worth it. Next time, though, I want to make soup without garlic and onion because I don't like them Sam I Am.

[@sally3570]

That’s great to hear! I hope I have the same results and get rid of some visceral fat. I’m so glad you posted this comment! Cheers!

[@Utoko]

Did you all have CT scans before and after? or how do you specify that it was visceral fat you lost?

[@chrismartin7579]

@@UtokoI was thinking the same thing. A few months ago, I had my first DexaScan done in Chapel Hill NC. I know to 3 significant digits what my Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) weight and to 5 significant digits what my VAT volume is. I lost over 60 pounds since 2020 and kept it off. The visceral fat is definitely harder to lose. My guess is that lean people on this 5-day FMD will lose quite a bit of water weight, kind of like the first 5 days of being in ketosis. It would be interesting to get a DexaScan before and after the FMD to see exactly where the loss came from. BTW, the scan and the Resting Metabolic Rate test (I have +14% higher RMR than average) cost me less than the 5-day FMD 'kit'. So, Chris, if you do this again, you may want to get a DexaScan to see how your body composition changed.

[@strAwrlD]

Hey Chris, I'm really thankful to have found your KZbin channel through plant-based news - really love your content, your style of editing and I respect the huge amount of work you put in each and every video! I have so say that I always get a bit sad when I hear people or the media talk about fasting - there is so much fear, wrong assumptions and half-truths out there about that topic. It sometimes feels like there is an interest in certain industries to burry that subject altogether. I did my first water fast when I was around 15 years old with absolutely no knowledge and it was horrible - duh. During my work and travel year in Australia I worked on a dairy farm for 3 months and only ate between 2 - 4 pm because of the work load and working hours. Unknowingly I started intermitted fasting this way and lost a lot of weight ~15 kg/33 lbs (ofc I worked a lot ~50-70 h, moved a lot and ate healthier, at least the first 3-6 weeks). When I came back to Germany, I was curious about fasting, especially because I knew it’s a part of three big religions and was totally normal hundreds of years ago. I bought the book "The Complete Guide to Fasting" from Jason Fung and Jimmy Moore. It took away a lot of wrong information and fear regarding loosing muscle, damaging my metabolism, “starting starvation mode”, loosing vitamins/minerals etc.. The book promotes a keto diet which I’m not a big fan of, but the explanation about the processes in our body is really good. I’m in no way a “fasting pro or expert”, I simply belief in educating and trying it out for oneself. Not eating for 1 to 3 days is easy for me now, not easy easy but I don’t think about food 24/7 now when I’m fasting, I’m not joking and crying all day about it or telling it everyone around me. Of course, it’s a bit tuff when all your colleagues or your family members are eating around you or when you’re not busy enough and the times goes by slow- but I’m simply not eating for 1 or 2 days, that’s no big deal now. We have enough glycogen in our liver and muscles to go without food for one day, there is nothing to worry about. I think I did around 6-8 5 days water fasts now and a lot of 1,2 or 3 day water fasts. Your body gets used to it over time and you get to learn how your body reacts and what you can do to overcome the first day which is often the hardest. I work in the chemic industry which includes a lot of moving, I was really surprised that it is not that hard to go without food and live a “normal” life - while biking ~20 km/12 miles and hitting 15.000-20.000 while working. Just try to keep your heart rate at a normal level and don’t ask to much from your body. Slow cardio or 2-4 hours walks are great during fasting. After a 5 day water fast with a lot of biking and longer walks I loose around 4-5 kg(a lot of water, glycogen “binds” water”), I gain 2-3 kg back when I start eating over the next 2-3 days. So, I loose around 1-2 kg fat, give my digestive tract and my liver a break, improve my blood values and, like your wife and you mentioned in this video, get to really enjoy and appreciate food again. I’m 6”4/1,96m and weigh around 230 lbs/105 kg, for a smaller or slimmer person the experience and results may differ ofc. If someone here made it this far in my comment, I highly encourage you to educate yourself about fasting and giving it a try. My dad managed 22 days last year and decided to fast every Monday of the week this year which he managed 80% of the time till now. It costs no money, you don’t need to go shopping, no need for cooking or washing up, you have more time and will be surprised about how much time we as humans spend thinking about food, making and eating it. Fasting was totally normal hundreds of years ago - and still is in other cultures. For some odd reason truth and honesty don’t get a lot of attention and clicks in our world, usually there is not enough sensation or the possibility to make money. The truth is often simple, slow and costs nothing - I think that’s why the answers to the problems we humans are facing don’t get the attention they need to really make the necessary difference - I count your KZbin channel in on that Chris -Quality content which is well checked and researched, combined with decency, humour and a little bit of salt : ) Greetings from Germany. Michael

[@Viva-Longevity]

Thanks, Michael! Fascinating. The science is certainly on the side of fasting. Do you think you do better on a complete zero-calorie water fast or might you see the same or improved results on 800 healthy calories a day?

[@elanfrenkel8058]

@@Viva-Longevity Its probably just a matter of extent of the benefit. More fasting = more autophagy, more natural ketosis etc. Eating 800 calories on 5 days is equivalent to a water fast on x days. I don't personally know the value of x, but maybe between 2 or 3? Another thing is a lot of the logic behind fasting comes from our evolutionary history, where we literally had to go days without food sometimes. So just based on that, it seems like the next step in your journey is to precisely mimic that. Since you are more science minded, you no doubt can also read about the numerous studies on water fasting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd assume there are much less studies on this precise type of 800 calorie fasting you did. Not saying it doesn't work, it probably does. Its a matter of extent. One thing to note from my research is that the nausea and headaches from fasting can sometimes be greatly alleviated by consuming magnesium potassium and sodium. Its an electrolyte imbalance.

[@geoffreymentink9570]

Wow, Michael, that was a long comment. I have done several 5 day water fasts and was taking my blood glucose and ketone levels daily (that’s being a engineer for you). I had the same response as you, I lost about 1kg per day , not that I was trying to lose weight. I also put about 1.5kg back on over the next day. Well clearly I did not eat that much food (some people might) I just ate normally and I calculated that this weight was due to me only having water for the 5 days. So I had lost a bit of salt as sweat etc (I was biking 15km a day commuting) and with a salt loss was also water loss and this is why things rapidly readjusted with normal eating. I agree fasting is normal, continuous food is not. People rabbit on about the Paleo diet, but don’t include fasting, which is more normal. My glucose and ketone levels changed on the third day, I did not feel any different apart from the boredom of not eating, and felt a bit colder. Actually eating anything would delay the glucose/ketone change so it would be interesting to see what happens to Chris blood-wise over the five days.

[@teru797]

@@Viva-Longevity So you literally just drink water? What about vitamins? Seems borderline dangerous? Couldn't electrolyte imbalances mess with your heart?

[@jdamianc7]

30 secs in and I gotta say that you have a wonderful family, Chris

[@tonimacaskill6533]

Thank you! As the grandma of this operation, I wonder every day how our daughter does everything she does. She is amazing.

[@maureenheiden7348]

Great video; I hope people try Prolon after seeing this. I've done 10 Prolon 5 days fasts and agree that it's a great thing to do. I did it for 3 primary reasons: losing visceral fat, autophagy and cell regeneration. I found each experience was a little different. Only one time did I feel hungry the entire time and thought about food. But I found I enjoy actually feeling hunger and that a small amount of food takes the feeling away. Same as you all, I felt an appreciation for food and flavors. I'm always excited to eat fruit, salads and stews when it's over. One other benefit I found was the simplicity of it and the mind space I felt from not making any decisions about food. I slept great and can really feel the difference. The only thing I don't like is that I can't do resistance training for 4 days in a row. I do it the first day of the fast since it's the most calories and I normally work out fasted. Longo has tons of science behind this.

[@kellicardaras2805]

This is one of the best channels on KZbin. Thanks for your time and effort, it is so very appreciated! I just bought my ProLon kit and I’m looking forward to giving it a shot.

[@petemason1093]

I rarely if ever comment after watching a video, but couldn't help myself here. Loved the video - well put together, informative and entertaining. You have a fantastic family.

[@JaxObsessed]

How about an update, Chris? Did you fast again in the year since this video? Did you try freestyle, and if you did, which one was easier? I've been doing omad for several weeks and have actually pulled off a 48 hour water fast in that time. Autophagy, weight loss and antiinflammation are my goals, and I think it's working. Thanks, man!!! Your deep dives are inspiring.

[@LordFuzzandBeak]

I've done many 5-7-10 day water fasts, and also two mimicking fasting mimicking fasts (i.e. DIY FMD). I have to say, I found the water fasts to be much easier psychologically - no spending half the day anticipating a miserly portion of miso soup and an avocado piece. No food at all, so just forget about it. Energy is on demand when fasting, if you lie down, you feel lethargic, but if you do a steady mid intensity type of activity like cycling, could keep going all day. Staying awake nights browsing recipes for after the fast is classic for the genre. This is not to denigrate prolon or supervised water fasting. This is just my thankfully positive experience, that water fasting is better, and the few side effects (like orthostatic hypotension) have gone away after the first couple of fasts. But besides better safety, there are actually some interesting biochemical advantages to prolon vs a water fast.

[@rwilsonweir5697]

I have done several short term water fasts, anywhere between 36 to 84 hour fasts. I find it reasonably easy except when my husband eats dinner in front of me during a fast. I am curious though, what are the biochemical advantages of prolon?

[@LordFuzzandBeak]

@@rwilsonweir5697 yt has now deleted my reply twice. Maybe it's the link. Try searching for "The Fasting Mimicking Diet, as opposed to the more traditional water fasting, results in a decrease in intestinal diseases in mice and in systemic inflammation in humans"

[@rwilsonweir5697]

@@LordFuzzandBeak Thank you

[@davidhogg1216]

Right on. Water fasts are for RESTING the body. Best to go for that. I did a 23 day water only fast and it was magical. Recovery took time - as long as the fast itself. It wasn’t a fast for curing anything but rather as as an upgrade on my 70th birthday. Worth every bit of the “effort”. Avoiding food altogether makes it easier and the key is to keep hydrated - minimum 8 pees a day. Keep tabs on ones bp and temperature. Take guidance from an expert if you have that luxury - it gives reassurance. I lost 12 kg which I didn’t need to lose and recovered it back to bmi of 21.5 after a month of recovery. It is YES magical

[@DaleYuzuki]

Hi Chris - great videos, keep this up! It was at AACR 2023 (Orlando FL) where I heard Dr Longo give a talk about FMD, and he gave some remarkable data about the RCT's being done. I did three rounds of a DIY FMD, like your spouse did. I felt great, however of course my BMI is not nearly as low as your family's! Great for you to bring this important information to your audience - and would be really interested in your IGF-1 numbers after your second round. Thank you again for all the work you do - it makes a difference!

[@michelle_cen]

LOVE the ending of this video! Thank you for documenting your journey and learnings. Your enthusiasm is infectious 👏

[@nancysueleske7819]

You research is outstanding, and your family ❤️

[@jonbarlow3542]

Love your commitment to quality/content, great video. That acknowledged I doubt I'll be fasting, I'm a whole planter/vegan, six years gone and I cant see how I could possibly feel any better!

[@bradcazden8624]

My first round of the FMD was difficult. I really white knuckled it. The next time, I was worried I was heading for another round of the same, only to find it was much much easier. I took that to mean that the metabolic reset lasts. I've done the FMD at least 6 times.

[@VeryLikeLeigh]

You're so goofy, fun and good natured Mr. Chompers. I love your videos and those cute grandkids! Always great content and I always learn something. I think about fasting but I'm pretty skinny already so I hesitate. I did fast once back in the 80's for 3 days so I know I can do it. If you do come up with your own freestyling program, please let us know what it is.

[@jmm3688]

Congratulations !! Your videos are so well done. Love how you jump from one scene to another. I’ve done two semi long water fast. A 15 day , which I had a hard time. Then attempted a 30 day but quite on the 19th day. Was in too much pain. Started last week not eating Mondays and fridays. That’s easier. I was thinking wow 5 grand children and they seem to be in love with you. The positive about your videos together. When you’ve made the journey on to the next world. And they’re missing you. They will be so happy to be able to just pull up your videos. But hopefully with your excellent diet , you’ll live to 110.

[@AverageMomma]

I'm turning 34 on the 7th, and my birthday present to myself is to fully envelope a plant based diet and lifestyle. I want to feel good again, I want to finally lose the weight and enjoy life again. Watching you, and your family, helped me feel inspired to do so again. I live in a very tiny town in the middle of the desert, in the middle of nowhere. It's currently 111 degrees Fahrenheit and my vegetable garden persists! Eating whole foods plant based is going to be a challenge when the only restaurant in town is a famous Drive In that serves burgers. Luckily, being a small town I know the owner and can make silly requests to plantify my food. And the closest grocery stores are 40 minutes away, so keeping fresh food fresh can be challenging. (the advice to stock up of shelf stable items and replenish fresh foods has been great so far) But this is my birthday present to myself... hopefully a present that redelivers on my next birthday!

[@Viva-Longevity]

Awesome, Amanda! Last month I was in a small desert town too, eating rice, beans, oatmeal, etc., and that got my family and I curious about more shelf-stable inexpensive options. So I filmed a grocery run and a comparison of various shelf stable foods for future episodes. Good luck on your journey!! Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[@AverageMomma]

@@Viva-Longevity Thank you! We eat A LOT of rice and beans.

[@pauldi7268]

Look unto sprouting, fesh tasty greens every day, cant be beat and its cheap to get set up, and sprouting seeds are cheap too!

[@lynhart6067]

I found your channel today and have now watched 3 of your videos. . . and really enjoyed them. This video does not delve into the science of fasting that much, but I'll have to say that I laughed and laughed. For me, my first fast came soon after a cancer diagnosis. I have lost track of how many fasts I have done over the years (I'm 70), but at least a dozen of them were for 7 or more days. For me, "fasting" meant "water-only", but I've also found "water-only" to be much simpler physically and especially psychologically . . . to have less attention on what I "get to eat". I find that the first few days are the hardest and it becomes much easier after the 3rd or 4th day when my obsession for food calms down, my head becomes clearer than ever, and my energy stabilizes. I see no need for medical supervision (unless the person is quite ill), though I've generally tried to set aside the time to "fast" more than just food. While fasting I also allow myself to sleep as much as I want, and though I don't purposefully "exercise", I try to spend most of the time outdoors in nature or at least in the garden. Maybe its all in my head, but I find fasting in an urban setting to be a lot more difficult. You obviously spend considerable effort producing your videos. I subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos!

[@k.h.6991]

I agree that many people can do water fasts without supervision. However, it's hard to know in advance which people will or won't get into trouble. The advantage of the FMD is that it's safe for more people.

[@lygiabird6988]

This reminds me of the Brooklyn 99 episode when Terry, Gina, and Amy go on a crazy diet program 🤣 I respect your ability to do this I think I wouldn’t be able to personally!!

[@Truth15freedom]

Thanks for the info...live your sense of humor.

[@aliciamacdonald6581]

Great video! Please don’t hate me for saying this; I am on day 4 and it has been an absolutely blissful walk in the park. It must be because I am whole food plant based, do intermittent fasting and did a 30 day water fast 3 years ago. So, this is really nothing to me. I feel great, and I will definitely do it two more times this year. I loved your story and your beautiful family.

[@Viva-Longevity]

I hate you for saying that... 🤣 Congrats, that's awesome!

[@yolandapagan5656]

I've just finished a 4 day fast on fresh ginger and fresh cilantro tea, lemon water, fresh lemon water w 1 teaspoon of olive oil, supplements, and organic veggie bouillon. I added a sprinkling of Himalayan salt here and there to some of the drinks when I felt weak. My longest fast before this was 45 hours. On day 3 I woke up and got up out of bed very fast and was dizzy and sweaty. I was going to the loo but on the way I took a rest stop with my back on the wall and and then layed down on the floor. I got up after a few minutes and was no longer dizzy but felt weak. On day 3 I started adding the teaspoon of olive oil to my lemon water to get more calories bc I was concerned about the dizziness. I didn't drive anywhere on days 3 or 4 based on my day 3 experience. I had my husband order food out for days 1 & 2 bc I didn't want to torture myself with cooking food. By day 3 I was ok with cooking and food wasn't pulling at me. I never felt euphoric or particularly fantastic. Tired and needing sleep yes. And even took a short nap here and there during the day. I walked at least a mile to 2.4 miles a day with standing yoga poses during my walks. On day 2 I did a lot of errands to keep my mind off food and that was a good strategy. I was going for a 7 day fast but decided that I needed food that I wasn't feeling good and ended the fast early. I would do the fast again and perhaps add a little more calories to make it easier on myself. I enjoyed listening to your experiences with Dr. Luongo's fasting diet. I might try it sometime. Thank you so much for all the valuable information you provide in your videos. I found you today and am a fan. I've subscribed and have watched 4 videos so far. You're better than Netflix!! Loved seeing your family included on this video!! Thwbknuiu, thank you, thank you!

[@vickisuiter]

Great video thanks for the honest and real shares. I’m on day 4 and ready to be done!

[@thehistoryprof6750]

Love your videos and those grandkids are awesome.

[@Jarisha9]

I've been solidly WFPB for 8 years. 3 months ago I bought and read Longo's book. Then I watched a lot of youtube videos (though I somehow missed this one) and did a LOT of online reading (you know; what most people euphemistically call "research"). Before I bought the Prolon package, I looked at the ingredients, and as someone who ONLY eats whole foods (the WF in WFPB), I was appalled. Knowing what I do about highly processed foods and their harmful effects, I've been shocked by Longo's and Prolon's use of highly processed foods (this was briefly mentioned in your video, but you brushed by it without serious comment). Not only does this mean that their customers are not getting important phytonutrients but it's also really dumb not to make greater use of fiber's ability to keep someone feeling full without adding a lot of carb calories. Another stupid mistake Prolon made was not having different calory targets for people of different weights (you mentioned this in your video). The book DOES do this and I'm sure Prolon didn't just because it would've cost them more and complicated things if they were to stock different sized packages. Finally, I looked for alternatives online (the DIY efforts). Having read the book thoroughly, I was able to identify problems with each of them (where they didn't conform to the book's guidance or more recent comments by Longo). So I put together my own DIY version of FMD. The only thing in my version that isn't completely WFPB is glycine (the drink) and I decided to make that one exception, given the benefits and lack of alternatives. Glycine powder is readily available and inexpensive. When I finally experienced my FMD, I was very happy with it and I will absolutely repeat it. I encourage everyone to not simply accept Prolon's version of FMD just because it's "easier" than figuring out a WFPB version. I'll be glad to help anyone who is looking to do this (including you if you decide to "freestyle" as you mentioned at the end), but it is absolutely not as simple or easy as it might seem.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Great response, Jerry. I agree completely. I'm gonna pin your comment. How can we find out what your DYI recipe is?

[@carenseagraves5683]

I think it’s glycerol not glycine. Glycine is an amino acid. Glycerol is a polyol with a sweet taste. Glycerol is called “glycerine” outside the US. Glycerol is a clear liquid, not a powder.

[@stargazerbird]

@@carenseagraves5683 Yes. If you supplemented glycine you would blow the whole diet as it needs to be very low protein.

[@Control747]

Interesting video. I look forward to the update in six months.

[@swizacx715]

I do my fasting when I'm traveling. It spreads over 2-3 days. I quit eating the day before traveling after lunch, on travel day I don't eat, and I start to eat next day after noon. That way I don't need to pack food, I don't carry food / I travel light, I don't buy expensive food on airports, train & buss stations and I use public toilets only for number 1. It's a 2x win-win for me. I travel like this 2x a month.

[@Acetyl53]

For a fast ideally your caloric intake is close to 0. I did a 7 day water fast quite easily, after 2-3 days the sensation of hunger and low energy goes away. If you're still eating it's more intermittent fasting + calorie deficit.

[@jordixboy]

yep, true. I did a 4 day fast and all good. Next I plan to do a 7 day fast.

[@g1cast-ReginaToday]

Easier after one has succeeded in quitting added sugar and processed food. It took me a month of last year to do it. Then going on a fast is easy and the only hindrance will be the social issues (birthdays, parties, etc). I make use of a stop watch in my smart phone and aim for 24hrs minimum fast. If I feel like it, I aim for 120 hours. Hunger and cravings is not a problem. Boredom is. imagine watching tv and not eating...:).

[@MatthewMartinDean]

I did a few rounds of FMD a few years ago. This motivates me to resume trying a few more rounds. I clicked subscribe so as to follow how the whole thing goes for the next few years.

[@stargazerbird]

For anyone interested you can do this DIY and save money and eat better and feel less hungry because you get more fibre. There are blogs that post the DIY versions and also on Reddit. Be very careful about portion size though. Weigh everything. You need to get glycerol off Amazon for the LDrink (which does help) but otherwise it’s just nuts and seeds and olives and honey and a ton of low protein veg. Or for a compromise they sell the Lbars only on their website so you could do those and then make your own soups. The DIY soups are delicious.

[@elimcjones9771]

love these videos by the way

[@ronnyz10]

What a great family. You make great videos also.

[@dinamariea61]

Last summer I spent 15 days at TrueNorth in Santa Rosa, California and completed a successful 5 day water fast. This year I decided to try prolon. I received the box a few days ago and it is under my bed waiting while I eat my way through what I have in the fridge first. I am excited to try it. I will miss my workout classes though, as I really enjoy them but as mentioned in this video and also what TrueNorth says no strenuous exercise. This video was helpful.

[@Viva-Longevity]

I'm about to do a video on True North!

[@jaybird089]

I’d love a blood test update!

[@mmmmmwha]

For those that have issues with fasting, I can say that getting a CGM, (continuous glucose monitor) was a game changer for me. Knowing when my cravings were not real was very helpful. Learning that even when I thought I was hungry, I had very sufficient blood sugar, was enlightening. It let me push through. Also outside of the fast, seeing that sometimes my blood sugar would not even return to normal before my next meal was a wake up call. Fasting is not a weight loss strategy (as Chris noted), but its effects on health and longevity are well documented, and I think the caveats on the FMD outlined in Dr Longo’s book, around BMI, and age, are very smart. Good luck!

[@samanthab5006]

This was really interesting. I've always been curious if at a certain point the extra calories you have to eat to maintain weight with extreme exercise (CrossFit, ultra endurance events, even 70.2 and longer iron man events) defeats the benefits of the exercise.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Me too! The longest-lived people in the world are active (they don't sit for long), but they don't go to the gym or run marathons. I was encouraged though to see that former Tour de France cyclists live on average 8 years longer, according to their death certificates, than the general population. On the other hand, if you're going to eat 6,000 calories a day of junk... I noticed one of the Western States 100 winners said she ate butterscotch frosting the whole way... Steve Larsen died at 39 of a heart attack and he was a world-class cyclist and triathlete.

[@vitamin9165]

@@Viva-Longevity U gotta take PEDs into account

[@FA-tq9ip]

Really inspiring, would be great if you could do an indepth video on the science of multi-day fasting and autophagy activation.

[@dinooliva]

Thanks for the interesting video, I always enjoy your content. I did 3 rounds of the ProLon FMD in consecutive months - the first round was challenging (particularly sleeping) but the second and third rounds were a lot easier. I'm curious what your experience will be since it will be so long between rounds. For my second and third rounds, I got a glucose/ketone monitor and took readings every morning - the results were different than I expected, I wish I'd thought about it for the first round because I think the readings would have been even more interesting. It's about time for another round but the packaging does put me off - they should offer a 'returning customer' option to send everything with minimal packaging (and no water bottle).

[@soniashapiro4827]

I fast. I started a couple of months ago in January 2022. I try a 72 hour water fast twice a month. A total of five attempts so far. I've never made it all the way to 72 hours. The closest I ever got was 71.5. I have Crohn's disease and it seems important to me to give my bowels a rest. I quit the fasts early not because I get hungry at the end but because at about hour 62 or 63 I get nauseated and dizzy and cranky. I remember the feeling of hunger with fondness. Feeling hungry actually feels pretty good to me. It feels like health. I have had stretches of time lasting many months when ate in spite of not feeling hungry but because I was underweight and knew I would feel better if I ate. I gained a lot of weight taking my prednisone for the Crohn's flare-up and so I am not afraid to lose weight these days. I choose to fast to give my guts a break and to give autophagy a chance. I think that the last few hours of the 3 day fast my kidneys and liver get a real workout and I quit fasting a few hours after feeling crappy and almost immediately the moment bmy kidneys start to ache. My first meal after a fast is so delicious. For a few days after the fast I have zero interest in anything spicy or interesting. Boiled potatoes drizzled in olive oil with a little real salt is perfectly satisfying. I get plenty of exercise on the first day but take it very easy on day 2 and day 3. I am not sure I can do this in the swimming season (May 1 to October 15 around here) because I get too hungry after swimming but the rest of the year I think I'll continue this. I wouldn't go longer than 80 hours without medical supervision but feel good of anything shorter than that. I watch KZbin food channels when I get really hungry and I like to cook food for other people on day three. When I can't eat I become very interested in food. I'm loving this KZbin channel I just discovered a few days ago (when I was on a water fast).

[@Acetyl53]

Try a vitamin C flush while fasting, optionally add minerals. For me the sensation of hunger etc goes away ~48 - 72 hours in. After that it's easy, I fasted for 7 days. Aside from vitamin C flushes and things like marshmallow root and slippery elm, eliminating grains may be helpful for you chrohns. Not drinking halogenated tap water as well.

[@lvr07]

Love the content

[@Freedom27401]

I’ll start by saying I’ve been a meat-free eater for several years now. What began as a year-long fast from anything that “died so I could eat it” turned into a new lifestyle. I’ve never wanted to return to being a meat eater. As a result of this dietary change, fruits and vegetables became the main source of nutrition for me. But I never gave up the vegetarian junk food that soothed my soul. Ice cream, popcorn, homemade desserts of all kinds. My sugar addiction knew no bounds. And in the past 3 years I gained an additional 23 pounds to go along with my already 5’7”, 220 lb frame. I was miserable. To add to my poor health outlook, I had been very sedentary while trying to heal from ankle and spinal fractures suffered in a fall. My body ached all day and all night. The idea of getting exercise seemed more of a remote possibility than flying to the moon on a camel’s back. Then I came across the famous doctors promoting intermittent fasting and extended fasting as a way to reduce insulin levels and thereby trigger weight loss and autophagy. Unwilling to give up my plant based eating, and knowing that fasting would be tremendously easier if my body was in ketosis, I quit drinking sugary soda drinks and got rid of ice cream and candy bars, and started a weeks-long journey toward trying to achieve ketosis on a wfpb diet. I began intermittent fasting on a 16:8 plan (16 hours daily fasting, eating during the remaining 6.) After getting comfortable with this time-restricted eating plan, I took the plunge and fasted, water only, for 138 hours (5 days+). Since that fast, I’ve been accomplishing 42 hour fasts twice per week, and monthly 5-day fasts. My reasoning is two-fold. I need better insulin levels and to decrease insulin resistance and the tendency toward high glucose levels, and I want to loose weight. All the while I’ve remained in ketosis, consuming only whole foods and plant oils such as avocado and olive oils. To keep my body making ketones, I have temporarily left behind breads, pasta, rice, and starchy veg like potatoes and most fruits. I’m rapidly losing weight. In 12 weeks I’ve lost 26 lbs. And just as wonderful, I feel so much better. I no longer take medicine to reduce my heart rate or any anti-inflammatory medicines, which were a twice a day habit for more than a year. And I’m able to exercise. I’m not ready for a marathon, but I walk for exercise, and do KZbin workout videos for seniors. I look forward to reaching my goal weight loss and reintroducing fruits of all kinds, baked potatoes, and a little bread. But for now, I’m feeling great and hoping autophagy will clean up the mess my sugar addiction had made of my body. I’m saying all this to say that fasting is working for me, no meal kits required. Just water and salt, with some electrolyte drops added to water when I’m 5-day fasting. Keto is working for me…but not the standard version of keto. Plant based keto. And a keto-mojo monitor is keeping me on track and aware of my actual ketone and glucose readings.

[@willeizlini]

wow that's excellent!

[@jbidwell605]

I've done about 9 rounds of Prolon FMD. I always feel great afterwards. I've also gone to fasting clinics in Germany. What is so bizarre is how the longevity doctors tell us we need more protein and fat as we age - as people who have little body fat do not age well at all, and if they do become ill, they do not have any reserves to maintain their strength (?) Anyway, there are SO many contradictions. You mentioned that your coach recommends a plant based Keto type diet. I've tried to go that route a lot, but,...ugh, just too difficult to get the right kind of protein in my body. All I know is the Prolon makes my joints stop aching and I sleep more soundly. I highly recommend it. I just ordered the Buchinger-Wilhelmi Fasting Box today. I'd like to give theirs products a go, too.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Wow! I didn’t know about that fasting box. The packaging looks more earth friendly. Let me know how it goes: plantchompers at gmail.

[@jbidwell605]

@@Viva-Longevity That is what I thought, too. Far less packaging and the soups are pre-made in glass jars (by Demeter) which is so nice.

[@sonja4164]

Other than the lack of fresh produce, my only other complaint about the program is that the soups all contained so much sodium. I'm sure there's a reason behind it, but I didn't like that. I generally don't eat that much sodium in a day.

[@jd01665]

I think electrolytes are important but if you are in good health, I understand the kidneys will hang on to the sodiaum you have already very effectively. However, if sweating, your skin will still lose some. I don't see any problem with drinking water where you grind your own salt into it, but taking a powder from a plastic bag makes me tend to agree with you. A fast with water only and nothing processed just as nature meant it to be should be fine to achieve autophagy and all the benefits of ketosis. But I've never needed to take any calories on a fast, so I find it curious that this fast has 500 and 800 calories. Doesn't seem like a fast. Seems more like a restricted calories process, which is different.

[@sonja4164]

@@jd01665 well, the idea is to mimick a fast. The research behind it is fascinating actually.

[@rajkumar-to3cp]

I feel that chewing every bite of food for a minimum of 32 times to 40 times can really help us all since now one is eating less quantity of food and still feeling satisfied. I've heard that this technique of chewing food so many times until it literally becomes water before gulping it down helps us in even faster digestion. Even though it means we are sitting on the dining table for time longer than 10 minutes, we are digesting food quicker inside the stomach since we are chewing it so many times. Please make a video covering this topic as well. BTW your channel is amazing and I really loved your grand children. I wish I could come down and play with them!

[@bjorsam6979]

I fast sometimes, usually 3-4 days in a row. After two days all blood levels are into starvation mode and to hasten the process I usually do low intensity excersise to kick start the fasting. To me, my first try was the worst. By now, I'm used to feeling hungry and as anything you get used to it doesn't bother me as much anymore. If you tell me to stop eating right now I'd be like "Sure, no problem my dude, anything else I can do for you?" When fasting I indulge with some cream in my coffee and tea, home made salty miso soup with some low-carb veggies in for dinner, and perhaps a cherry tomato or even a few cashews as a cheater's snack. It amounts to some 100 calories or so per day. I can instantly tell if I'm out of energy because the feeling in my head when sugar's out and I switch to ketones is pronounced. Some people swear by it, saying it increases focus - which was why I initially tried it, to ameliorate my ADD - but nah, no such thing for me. At least I learned not eating for a while won't make your thinking muddy or anything such. The thought of not having food used to create more panic and the expectation of hunger making me sour, stingy and lazy; well that's gone. Fasting isn't fun. But I think it balances out, because only doing fun stuff means fun stuff feels like boring stuff; and in the same vein doing hard stuff makes normal stuff feel like fun. Same as taking a swim in 4C water.

[@prieten49]

I remember when I went on a seven day trip to a primitive area of Romania where there were no shower facilities. By the seventh day without showering, I reached a mysterious level of euphoria...

[@ElinorRumming]

I eat OMAD and I’m addicted to it. I try to eat 2MAD but always fall back to one meal. I work in a dirty environment and have an active job with a very short lunch break. I enjoy being at home and winding down to a plant heavy meal. I would love to know more about Dr Greger’s suggestion of a five day above ground storage vegetable fasting mimicking… interesting topic!

[@liamtaylor4955]

Lifted from another website, I found what one might call a fasting mimicking, mimicking diet. A couple of avocados and a couple of green powder drinks per day for five days and you've basically done the same as ProLon. There, saved someone $195. :)

[@simonrooney817]

Hello from New Zealand! What a lovely family, another great video from a struggling vegan - I try to get my family to go more plant based with mixed results! But not giving up ;)

[@tinyjungle_]

My personal experience with an unsupervised 5-day water only fast with no added electrolytes was interesting and rewarding. I'm a 6'3" male and at the time I was 42 years old and about 215lbs. I ended up losing about 12 pounds but that wasn't the reason for the fast. I was inspired by Dr. Longo and the other benefits of fasting. The first two days were the most difficult. Mostly because of hunger and insomnia. I had insomnia every night of the fast. Late in the third day my hunger had subsided and I felt really good (that euphoric feeling). My only craving during the fast was pickles. I assume because of the salt. I didn't start getting ravenously hungry until the end of day 5 which was an excellent sign that it was time to start refeeding. Which was perfect because my goal was 5 days based on the research I had done. My first meals were whole foods vegan blended soups with no added salt or oil. They were amazingly delicious and simple. I didn't crave anything junky. My body only wanted clean whole foods. I feel like my taste preferences were reset after the fast and I didn't crave any refined sugars for a long while until I started eating things with refined sugars again. I absolutely plan on doing it again but will probably add some electrolytes to my water. I'm glad I had the experience. It taught me many new lessons that were invaluable. I would like to do a 5 day water fast at least once a year going forward. Do your research!

[@inventorofsalt]

Interesting! I seek the truth and try out a lot too. My mind has shifted my focus on a raw vegan diet. Its not just about calories or the biochemical compounds. The biophysics of living food is where the energy comes from. It makes sense to my brain. Real salt from the primodal sea like himalayan salt got dried out by the sun, has hexagonal crystal structure and is able to change water in the right way to get the structure back to living water. The salt concentration of the primodal sea was around 1% which is very interesting because it is the same concentration of our blood. The saltwater is where everything started for the human. The primodal sea had everything out of the periodic table of elements in it. Its not just about energy in food or water...the sun or the clean air of nature also has the ability to fullfill us with energy. There are so many factors that we should consider...if you are in love with someone that wavelength is really powerfull too. Depression on the over hand makes you stay in bed. The matter is nothing without energy.

[@cooperparts]

I do 2-3 day fast every month love it

[@guillermob.irizarrydiazphd5]

Very cool family adventure!

[@angelazeman1375]

I can't imagine your son-in-law over 300 lbs! He looks so healthy now! I would love to hear more about his story and plant based journey.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Isn't it crazy! And he's 40 but looks 32. When he gives dietary advice to overweight patients, some of them write him off because he's clearly naturally slender so he can't understand...

[@angelazeman1375]

@@Viva-Longevity I thought he was naturally slender! I have 100 pounds to lose and have been trying to be wfpb for 4 years now. I would love to know how he overcame cravings and social situations.

[@isabellezablocki7447]

I did a week of fasting in France and was fully prepared for that. The first five days were wet fasting and I did it with flying colors. People suspected I was visiting the fridge at night. I was not. The last 2 days were dry fasting on the suggestion of my guide at the center. Boy, I went down very fast, no energy and nightmares at night. Was not ready for dry fasting. Very intense experience.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Wow, amazing. It's time for me to try another 5-day fast and I'm kinda dreading it given how hungry I got last time...

[@isabellezablocki7447]

@@Viva-Longevity Yes you have to not do so much activity like you did. Just go slow and it will be much easier.

[@peterz53]

Thanks. I've done the Longo FMD a few times several years ago. Then transitioned to my own version using the macro data from the packages and making plant only meals. Based on tracking my glucose and ketone levels (Keto-Mojo) and how I felt they were equivalent. I felt really good mentally which seems to be a consequence of the lower glucose and elevated ketones. I see no reason that free-styling should not work provided ingredients are quality plant based. And if you're already eating well (I've been WFPB with a little fish for 10 years, 68 yo, BMI 25) it seems you can go straight into the 750 calories per day and just go 4 days, but you can check that by getting your own glucose and ketone monitor.

[@robz.3225]

Kristin was my leader as well although they no longer offer the 20 minute initial consult. I loved the program and will be doing it again

[@oliveohyeah]

Hey Chris, did you ever do the second round of Prolon and get those tests? I liked hearing your perspective on the FMD!

[@Viva-Longevity]

Not yet! Gah. I need to do that. I just don't like 5 days with little activity (and I hate the hunger).

[@orenabudi7058]

that was very helpful. Thanks

[@cutabove9046]

In 2014 I did a 33 day water only fast unsupervised. I swore I would never do that again. I wasn't hungry after the 3rd or 4th day but I obsessed about food and everything to do with food. In that 33 days I spent $3,000 (all on credit cards) in kitchen equipment, cook books and dried food like various noodles in preparation for when I could eat. I also binge watched cooking shows and shows like Diners, Drive ins and Dives. In 2016 I did 5 cycles of DIY Fasting Mimicking diet. That wasn't too bad, but frankly besides a bit of weight loss I didn't see, feel or get any great blood work results from the experience. Of course all my numbers were excellent from years of eating a plant based diet (actually Pritikin). I'm currently on day 7 of another DIY cycle of Fasting Mimicking and will push it to 10 days giving me 2 back to back cycles. What I do is eat one meal a day of 715/725 calories and it's much more doable than tying to break up that small number of calories over three meal.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Impressive! I don't know how you do it.

[@cutabove9046]

@@Viva-Longevity When you have health problems desperation is a powerful motivator. I had and have a cancer called Multiple Myeloma. The long water fast in 2014 was part of an effort to kill the cancer. In early 2016 I had a major heart attack that turned 30% of the left side of my heart to scare tissue. The five cycles of FYI Fasting Mimicking in late 2015 was an attempt to see if stem cells would fix the damaged part of my heart and improve my ejection fraction. It didn't. Oh, and don't let them tell you that a total cholesterol of less than 150 will make your heart attack proof. In my case my total cholesterol was 134/141 for years and it didn't prevent my heart attack. My current attempt as Fasting Mimicking is because the cancer came back after being in remission. As I said when you're very sick desperation is a great motivator. There isn't much you won't try. Stay healthy and the best to you and your lovely family in this new year. Oh, I'm 73 and it's heck to get old. My mother is still alive at 98. I don't think I'll make it even close to that age.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Wow, holy cow. Thank you for letting us know and godspeed. Your heart attack was due to build up of plaque in your arteries? Were you on statins or was it naturally that low?

[@cutabove9046]

@@Viva-Longevity No statins, it was very low due to the diet. In fact LDL after three years on the program was 55/60. What they told me was it was an unstable plaque in my artery that ruptured and caused a clot in that artery. They were able to stent it, but there was considerable damage to the left side of my heart (the artery that had the blockage is called the widow maker.) The plant based doctors tell you not to stent arteries with stable plaque. The problem is that plaque is stable until it isn't. And considering the between 40 and 50 percent of first time heart attacks are fatal it really is foolish not to stent arteries that are blocked considerably. In any case Dr. Essy's claim that total cholesterol under 150 will make you heart attack proof wasn't the case in my situation and I had been under that number for over a decade. However, I remain on the Pritikin program because I believe plant based eating is the only way to go. In fact the latest study on something called The Protein Leverage theory confirms that. The researchers who developed this theory wrote a great book called, Eat like the animals. And there are many interviews with these researchers on You tube.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Fascinating, @Cutabove , but I'm so sorry this happened to you. Thanks for the lead on David Raubenheimer & Stephen Simpson. Their book looks fascinating, but first I'll listen to a podcast interview of them this afternoon as I ride my bike. There's a fantastic new video out from a scientist I admire about LDL and why some people with low LDL still get heart attacks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npfdpYZ9rqeZldU I'd love to know what you think.

[@KevinSheaO-]

We are on the trail end of this Prolon FMD and we are vegan and slender. I didn't expect euphoria, and didn't get it. I had similar symptoms that the gentleman had considering my active life and consumption. I am glad it is over. Would do it again. Freestyle and using the extra liquid and soups. Question to the community, with the relative high calories of the bars and crackers, does that not shut down ketosis and autophagy? If yes, what was the purpose? And when does it turn back on after eating the calories? If no, what reaction in our body after consuming those calories prevents those two processes from shutting down?

[@Viva-Longevity]

I think it’s just caloric restriction. I’m reading another book, From Roy Taylor who is a reasonably famous diabetes researcher, and he’s been able to show that whatever the food, if it’s 700 calories/day, which Prolon approximates, it leads to complete remission of Type II diabetes in as little as a week for many people, and almost everyone by week 8. I’d hate to do it that long!

[@chuckv8838]

Done three prolon rounds. Didn’t get easier and HARD time convincing my wife to do a second round. Would be interested in your future ‘freestyle’ since the kits are limited in variety and quite $$.

[@philyogaeveryday321]

I did a 3 day fast in a cabin (no power) in the forest with only black tea. Very nice easy fast. Read, meditate, walk in the woods, sit by camp fire.

[@eoj8603]

Wonderful episode, any chance of the recipe for the soup your daughter make for her mum ?

[@StoptheplanetIwanttogetoff]

I’d be really interested in the recipes for the freestyle version! I’ve done the Prolon box a few times and the cost feels steep, I miss fresh veg and landfill issues eg the drinks bottle are bothersome. I think it makes it very easy to have a go at fasting and if there is support as you had (seemingly not available in the UK) it makes good sense but ongoing I don’t think it’s going to be affordable for most.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Noted! We oughta persuade Anne to post in on her Feed Them Plants blog. I'm interested too for all the same reasons.

[@StoptheplanetIwanttogetoff]

@@Viva-Longevity yes please it looked really tasty!

[@stargazerbird]

There are recipes online that follow the exact ingredients of the box. You need to get food grade glycerol for the L drink but otherwise it’s all easy to make. DIY soups are much better.

[@ronnyandersen6733]

I did a five day fast drinking water with ceylon cinnamon and raw honey, some years ago. Not vegan but it curbed the hunger quite nicely. Doing intermittent fasting now and omad twice a week. Trying to get back into it and to have a wfpb way of eating.

[@beachspirit2455]

Valter was not a fan of my recipes back when I started but I have 18 FMD recipes that I can draw from now in my Cronometer app and I design new ones every year. Be happy to share them

[@DebraComfort]

Please share

[@AllToDevNull]

I water fast for 3 days every month and break it on the middle of the 4th day. After some month, you start to looking forward to it - no hunger, no problems. I only drink tea, water, one larger cup of vegtable broth and kimchi juice.

[@Mimulus2717]

I have done three rounds of FMD, 2 with Prolon kit, 1 freestyle over the course of a 2020…roughly 3 months apart. I did not do extra coaching, as I am a physician and have had training in supervised fasting and am familiar with Dr. Longo’s work. I eat a WFPB no SOS diet and am in generally good health with the exception of genetically elevated lp(a) which has caused some CVD (I’m currently 62). I consistently run a fasting glucose of 120s on waking for ten years. (Maybe longer, but that is as long as I have been checking). My HgA1c are always 5.2-5.6. I consider myself T2DM however, as I would flunk a OGTT. Eating WFPB and exercise keeps my A1c and glucose levels pretty normal though…as evidenced by CGM (which I have done several months apart for 2 weeks at a time with Abbot Libre). My experience: I lost on average 5 pounds per cycle. I gained back 2 pounds within the first few days of free eating. And I was pretty much back to my baseline weight within two weeks. I was disappointed in that, as I really do need to loose about 35 pounds but as a menopausal woman with strong genetic tendency to obesity it has been very difficult. I felt constantly hungry. Sleep was very difficult, both fallings asleep (usually never an issue) I would wake in the middle of night with my stomach growling and gnawing hunger and lie awake for hours. Day two was the worse for fatigue. I still kept up with my normal walking, gentle yoga. I had a hard time concentrating on my day job which requires alot of mental decision making. I was slightly irritable. I thought about food alot. I never felt euphoric. I did not notice after 3 rounds any change in my fasting glucose. I should say I am homozygous for a SNP in MTNR1B (rs10830963) which does likely elevate fasting blood sugars to a suppressive effect on insulin release. I had plans to do a OGTT to see if my results improved but with Covid and other issues, I never got around to it. Likely for me, I would need to do several years of cycles to loose enough visceral fat. Or do a radical weight loss diet longer like what Roy Taylor recommends or water fasting to get faster results. I had plans to continue this practice…but playing around with macros while keeping calories same. I lost interest in that and never carried out due to other life issues. I think there may be a personalized genetic component to FMD that may explain the variation in response. I personally always felt the high fat component was robbing me of more volume in my daily food allotment. I would have preferred the fat calories from the chocolate, olives or bars could be used for low calorie density veggies that might take me feel fuller longer. And maybe that would work better in my personalized genetics. I think it is very complex as so many variables. Satiety, as well as signaling pathways that rely on nutrient sensing can be highly variable. I too missed fresh vegetables and fruits. Maybe as a WFPB eater I am used to more volume and that puts us at a special disadvantage when doing Prolon? I would be curious to hear other WFPB no SOS eaters experiences. I thought the packaging was excessive. (But I still use the boxes for organizing craft supplies). Love your channel, recommend it to patients and colleagues.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Thank you so much, Dr. Green, for a thoroughly informative review! 👏 Mostly same experience for me, except my fasting glucose is typically around 82. I don't like not exercising for 5 days during the fast and I don't like how little I can sleep - or how I go crazy over food for the next few days. I'm thinking about doing it again for the autophagy but I wonder, do these fasts lower your metabolism and put the body in a lower energy conservation mode? I've seen some references to that but haven't found anything definitive.

[@Mimulus2717]

@@Viva-Longevity Hi Dr. MacAskill, I am not a subject matter expert, but I would think the short duration and fact that one is hopefully losing mostly visceral fat and not lean muscle then your RMR would stay the same after a single round of FMD. I know I read a paper once that RMR was the same in observant Muslims during Ramadan as compared to their free living RMR...but that is a different type of intermittent fasting and not necessarily calorie restricted. But if using FMD every 3 months a person loses significant weight over time then I think yes your net energy use/RMR would decrease, but perhaps not as much as one would see in the biggest loser model (prolonged CR with greatly increased activity). Especially as you age it is harder to loose and keep it off but some people manage to do so as we know. They seem to be very disciplined to be able to do so as even with lower metabolic demands at lower weight. Exercise and food discipline seems key for many, but the constrained energy model is proof it doesnt work for all. PMC4803033. The new GIP-1 and GLP-1 meds seem to work so well in part due their ability to decrease appetite and increase satiety. Patients with hungry brains are now happy with fewer calories per day which is a great match with their decreased RMR. As you know, I am interested in the outliers too....who due to microbiome, genetics, etc have results that vary from the norm. I read James Gleick's Chaos book in my first year of medical school and have been struck how medicine doesn't pay enough attention to initial starting conditions (in a wholistic way) when dealing with nonlinear dynamical systems like human physiology and biochemisty. Fun aside: I got my BA in Geology from Northwestern and one of my life's questions is what my life would have been like had I gotten my PhD in Environmental Geochemistry (the path I was on before switching to medicine). I probably would have been depressed as would be involved in climate science and I understand those folk not the most cheerful. But geophysics was way to complicated for me. Another fun aside: Interested in autophagy too and using fisetin as a senotherapeutic/neuroprotective agent to good effect. And time restricted eating.

[@nemodot]

I graduated as biochemist and everywhere else these are called medical pathologist. I remember a fasting test that considered normal to have a stable blood glucose for 72hs without eating. If you want I can find it. But just to be aware if you may have issues with glucose homeostasis.

[@ReasonablySpeaking9808]

Nice video, warm and heartfelt. My concern is the cost for the box. Is this video more about purchasing the box or for teaching others about optimal health? This diet can be created in almost any home kitchen by making low calorie vegetable soups with minimal ingredients. I’d like to see you promote this diet in your home kitchen with your spouse. Mimic the fast homemade recipes in a more economical friendly way that a broader audience can replicate. I hope you do!

[@cypriano8763]

Did the master cleanse, the maple syrup lemond and cayenne pepper cleanse, 3 times 21 days with just that homade lemonade. Was biking and ski touring thru it. Lost some weight but felt good. Good way to same money! No fancy boxes, tripple wrapped processed foods.

[@elhant4994]

Hello there! Loved the video (as all of your videos, you have production quality and scientific rigor on a level that is mostly unheard of on youtube). Can you share any update on your subsequent fasts?)

[@Viva-Longevity]

Thanks! I, ehem... Still haven't done another installment and my box of fasting materials is sitting in my garage... Ack! But I have excuses. No legit ones tho. 😳 Okay, big breath: I'm gonna do it next week or two. 💪

[@elhant4994]

@@Viva-Longevity Then I will gladly anticipate you sharing your new expirience)

[@johnsonlow6528]

@@Viva-Longevity whenever you are ready! Also, I would like to hear your views on Dr Longo’s finding that the fast mimicking is more beneficial to the 3-5 day water fast (benefits of fasting with reduced downside to longevity) Great work by the way! Have been following your videos since early this year and appreciated your attempts to back your findings with science

[@DrJuliusG]

I have fasted 100 hours in conjunction with dragging a 50-pound sled through the snow for miles each day. Lately, it’s been 24-28 hours of fasting in conjunction with a 9-mile hike with a 20-pound pack and 2,000-feet elevation gain, topping out at 11-13,000 feet. Feel fine through it all, but I don’t do plant-based.

[@mreverydaylife259]

Getting to OMAD by intermittent fasting first would have made this so much easier because you look forward to having one satisfying meal versus teasing your hunger all day. And then cut that down to under 800 calories to mimic prolonged fasting...

[@icebear_]

Im surprised you struggled so much. I have done a couple three day fasts in the past and had no issues with it. I think were still eating some food tricking your body into thinking it is meal time? Tiredness starts kicking in on fourth day for me so I dont do longer. But then again I thrive on skipping breakfast (makes me feel very slow and foggy if I eat) and only eat lunch and often skip dinner. Also did OMAD for couple weeks without issues other than I love food :D

[@grimeyhonkyracing3938]

I stumbled across your channel after finding Alan Goldhamer and watching all his interviews I could find. Love your content, I have been on a winding path in search of long-term sustainable health through food,fasting, fitness and cold exposure. I've hit many dead ends but have also learned many helpful things along the way and there is always more to learn. I have been 100% drug and alcohol free for 7 years and have never consumed much meat simply because I couldn't afford it. My diet has consisted of apples, peanut butter, oranges, lots of nuts and salt free sardines in water type stuff. I recently tried keto and carnivore and felt quite ill, my bowels slowed down to a stop and my heart seemed to occasionally feel strange like it skipped a beat and made me cough. Anyways I am eager to learn more and figure out what works best for me personally. I just want to be strong and able bodied for my kids and family as long as I can.

[@Viva-Longevity]

!! Sounds like you're a better man than me. I HATE THE COLD!!! 😱🥶

[@plant52_]

Love your channel and work! I've done 3 rounds of FMD - each freestyle - and am doing 2 more rounds to support a friend who's gotten into this too. I eat a WFPB diet for the most part (not perfect) so I didn't see a ton of difference mentally but wowow my eating habits are much better, much more in tune with my hunger and not overstuffing myself as I always did, lost 9 pounds total so far and kept it off (during the fast I'll loss 5 lbs and only put 2 back). Each time gets remarkably easier and I'm at a point where I can just sit with my hunger and just be. I too thought of all those who go hungry every day. It's made me realize I am deeply impacted by that and will support those who are hungry. Lots to learn, very fascinating, thanks for this prolon review - I'm going to try it for my last cycle which will be round 5 for me 😵‍💫🙂

[@xdorothy]

Where can we buy your shirts/hoodies? Their adorable and would love to purchase some!

[@Viva-Longevity]

Thanks! I buy some of them from Spreadshirt, like this avocado hoodie: www.spreadshirt.com/shop/design/avocado+the+good+kind+of+fat+vegan+joke+mens+hoodie-D5cd861def9376403d70ff81d

[@teena4rl211]

Dr. Gun dry has a video on how to achieve the sane result on a low calorie vegan fast mimicking diet.

[@janefreeman995]

Dr. Longo also recommends the intermittent fasting to not go consistently longer than 13 hours between meals bc its hard on the gall bladder.

[@skp5737]

I did this ProLon twice, did not lose a gram, felt weak and tired, suffered through it as it forces you to think about food more than you should/would normally do. It costs too much money for what is in the box and to do it regularly/twice a year at least, and Karen greatly exaggerated when she said she doesn't know a single person who has not felt euphoric whilst doing it. The amount of packaging going into the box is in itself a problem

[@mizmia1927]

Would you be willing to share the meal plan / vitamin plan Toni used on the “real food” fast mimicking diet? And do you have any thoughts on the real food version vs the boxed version? Also, have you done the FMD since? Any new thoughts? Thank you!

[@Meanbeanmachine1988]

I am a 1.88 m 91 kg male. Done 5 times prolon but it never gets easy.

[@zeshef]

Going low carb (under 50 grams per day) for a month or so makes prolonged fasts super easy, with constant energy throughout the day.

[@RawandCookedVegan]

I love how congenial your whole family appears to be.

[@SunFellow941]

In the 1970s and 80s, for about a decade, I would fast for 7 days on juices, about two or three times a year. After that I hardly ever fasted. Lately I've been doing 2 or 3 day fasts-- juice and water, sometimes with an enema at the end of the day. What you are guys are doing seems more like light eating because you still get to chew and take the time to digest foods. Juices and water just go right through you. But it is nice to have fresh juices-- they are so vital!

[@krimo10]

I’ve done two at home non supervised water fasts by the way. With physical activity. People do do that but it requires a lot of prep and fasting training The first one was a little hard on day 3 The second one was easy It’s doable if you check in with relatives a lot

[@doctharry2397]

Love the content; but at the beginning he said they would share results of lab work at the end of the fast. I was looking forward to that comparison because he mentioned it at the beginning. Overall, helpful!

[@rachelb1449]

I see this was almost a year ago, is the second round of fasting up somewhere?

[@hockidogrel]

Thank you! I love your channel and the autophagy science is fascinating. Did/will you do a follow up? Did you do this a second time and have you continued to do 6 monthly fmd a couple of years.down the track?

[@patrickbowen8408]

I have done four or five Prolon fasts and a couple of water only fasts. Based on my experience I suspect you could have emphasized the importance of the liquids while fasting more. Seems to me that drinking three full cups of tea and a giant water bottle full of electrolytes every day is the minimum intake. Also, great channel content, thank you!

[@RXP91]

I'm warming up to the idea of doing this - thanks for posting your experience. I've been doing time restricted feeding for years and recently learnt of the benefits of doing zone 2 cardio fasted, so been going 18 hours without food and then doing 1-1.5 hour cardio. That mimics autophagy and is completely sustainable for me (without muscle loss). I have an autoimmune condition that I needed cream for every other day. Since doing the fasting/cardio I only seem to need it once a week. Pretty amazing.

[@glebzarin2619]

Great video! I always was sceptical about fasting. For some reason, it sounds much cooler than cutting down processed food/animal products and increasing fruit/veg consumption on a day-to-day basis. Besides, I do not know how fasting science applies to whole food plant-based vegans as I already consume fewer calories. But hey, maybe I should give it a chance and see how it would work for me. P.S. Footage and storytelling are superb, keep going that way.

[@Viva-Longevity]

Thanks Gleb!

[@RawandCookedVegan]

It is common when fasting for the body to detoxify. The body takes the opportunity to remove toxins that have been deposited in the body. This can lead to brief illness events over the course of the fast. I read one account of a man who had worked with photographic chemicals over 40 years ago. During his fast he smelled the photographic chemicals coming out of his body. I've done some water fasting. I've experienced a 10 day and a 14 day water fast which I did on my own which I wouldn't recommend for folks who have no experience with fasting. I also did a fast at a health facility. Each fast is a little different. During the course of one fast I had a large black head develop on my chest which became about the size of a quarter, eventually it opened and cleared up. I had smoked and drank in earlier years. I could sometimes smell alcohol on my breath. So, fasting can definitely clear the body of old deposits. Consider doing a video on Natural Hygiene Chris. There were some interesting characters in the history of this approach to health which incorporates much of what you're advocating. Dr. Goldhamer at True North in California runs a fasting facility. He would be an excellent guest.

[@rbphilip]

I do pretty regular (weekly-ish) 24 hour fasts and several times a year 4-6 day fasts. Days 2-3 are tough for me, but after that I don't even think about it. I'm about due for another long one. Perhaps I'll pay more attention and write down how I feel.

[@friend4ua724]

It's not 800 calories. I've added up the calories from the labels from my Prolon kit and the first day is closer to 1000 calories and then about 650 calories a day for days 2-5.

[@doubles1545]

I’ve been studying up on fasting since 2018. It’s been a long road with lots of “failures” but I’ve figured out how fasting works for me. I always suggest people take it slow and listen to their body.

[@MULTIMILLIONSFLAX]

City of Salem? As in Salem Oregon?!

[@Viva-Longevity]

Yeah. My daughter lives there.

[@Kristers_K]

Fasting is certainly not something for me, skipping meals alone just makes me feel awful, both mentally and physically with no energy. Even before sleep, if i feel hungry and don't get something in, even a litte bit, i'll feel like hung-over the next day. Each to their own, i suppose, considering my diet consists largely of greens and spices, lots of veg and a bit of fruit, plus like a meal or two a day of cooked dishes, be it rice, or other grains, or potatoes with some legumes. Add individual metabolism into it all, i doubt fasting would do anything good for me whatsoever, if it causes such discomfort. I have a history of fasting for short times, fel really awful every time, even afterwards.

[@Acetyl53]

After ~48 hours the sensation of hunger and the low energy goes away. I've water fasted for 7 days and only broke the fast because I had more physically demanding obligations to attend to.

[@1supersayian]

Do you get enough salt, I used to feel weak when I did intermittent fasting and worked out before eating, but then I added salt to my water and it made a huge difference

[@Truthfinder77]

I agree, food taste great after a fast.

[@alphasophist9269]

My BMI is 17.5 . Is there any benefit of doing this for people who are already underweight?

[@LeanAndMean44]

It’s probably dangerous

[@alphasophist9269]

@@LeanAndMean44 I have also experience in past from anorexia with BMI as low as 15.

[@LeanAndMean44]

@@alphasophist9269 then i think it’s a very bad idea for you.

[@justmegawatt]

I would love to have your BMI

[@allencrider]

Maybe they should make a *feasting* mimicking diet for below with low BMI!