This article is a personal review of ProLon ® Fast (a 5-day program) written for informational purposes. Please always consult with your doctor about the possible health risks of dieting and fasting.
After the age of 40, estrogen level starts to fluctuate erratically. The changes in hormonal levels play a big role in how we look and feel about our bodies. Many women begin to experience perimenopause and symptoms such as hot flashes, weight gain, and lack of sleep, all of which can weigh on emotions and overall well-being. Adopting new habits like fasting and exercising can help reduce the discomfort women feel during this stage of life.
When it comes to fasting after the age of 40, women need to know that the wrong fasting routine can work the opposite of what they want to achieve, like weight loss. When I came across ProLon® recently, I felt it was important to give this diet a try to determine if it’s a good fasting program for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. I reached out to the company to inquire about their fasting diet. They invited me to try their 5-day plan and record my experience which I was happy to do. So in this blog, I’m sharing my personal experience and offering some advice to women who want to give it a try.
(If you’re interested in trying ProLon® products, use code MIDLIFE and get a 15% discount on your entire order)
Benefits of fasting
Studies show that fasting has a number of health benefits for the mind and body of women in menopause:
Regulate sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance
A study of 10 people with type 2 diabetes showed that short-term intermittent fasting significantly decreased blood sugar levels. Consequently, this may increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin, allowing it to transport glucose from the bloodstream to the cells more efficiently.
Fights inflammation
A number of studies have found that fasting may decrease several markers of inflammation and may be useful in reducing risk factors with heart disease and treating inflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis.
Enhance heart health
One study revealed that fasting every other day can decrease blood pressure, blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Another study One review showed that fasting could reduce several risk factors for heart disease in overweight people compared to a control group. As well, a previous study indicated that fasting can lower the risk of coronary artery disease, and diabetes.
Boost brain function and prevent neurodegenerative disorders
Individuals who fast have fewer signs of depression, improved cognitive functions (primarily memory), and decreased prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Lose weight
Fasting leads to weight loss, especially in menopausal and postmenopausal women. When the body is in a fasted state, it looks for energy from fatty acids as opposed to glucose. Consequently, fat preserves are burned while lean muscle mass is not. In addition, studies show that fasting can increase levels of human growth hormone (HGH), an important protein hormone that plays a role in growth, metabolism, weight loss, and muscle strength.
What is ProLon® Fast
ProLon® Fast is a 5-day meal program that is based on 20 years and $36 Million in research and development. It provides benefits of weight loss, healthy aging, metabolic health, and more.
The ProLon® Fast is the first and only clinically tested, scientific breakthrough in Fasting Mimicking technology that rejuvenates your body while getting to eat
Real food. This diet is intended for use by healthy individuals who want to enhance their health and well-being and want to proactively manage their weight in an easy and healthy way.
Can you lose weight with ProLon® Fast?
In a clinical study, ProLon® was shown over three cycles to help individuals lose an average of 5.7 labs and 1.6 inches off their waist circumference. These Benefits are seen in a clinical study of the 5-day ProLon cycle once a month for three months.
My 5-day journey with ProLon® Fast
ProLon® Fast order arrived in a clean and sturdy box that contained 5 daily meal boxes. Each box contained everything you’ll need to eat and drink for that day. It’s very easy to follow the regime as the package contains instructions on what to eat throughout the day.
Day One with ProLon Fast: Transforming to a Fasting State
The first day packs in the most calories (around 1100) which is close to what I’ve been eating in the past few months. I actually felt full on the first day! I started the day with a snack bar and a lemon and spearmint tea. An hour later, I took Algar Oil (Omega-3 dietary supplement) which made me feel full. For lunch, I had delicious tomato soup and nutty kale crackers. As a snack, I had olives with sea salt and an NR-1 supplement (a multivitamin and mineral). Later in the afternoon, I enjoyed spearmint tea and another snack bar. Then at dinner, I had minestrone soup, an L-Bar. I wasn’t hungry on the first day. In fact, I thought it was lots of food and I felt bloated. But little did I know that the portion would be less the following days.
Day Two with ProLon Fast: Fat Burning and Ketogenesis
From days two to five on ProLon® I had a fruity-flavored L-Drink to add to a water bottle. The drink tastes good and helps stave off hunger between meals. Although the portions were smaller from day 2 to 5, the 2nd day was easy. I felt lightweight and much less bloated than the first day. For breakfast, I had a snack bar and mint tea. I took an NR-1 supplement between breakfast and lunch. For lunch, I had tomato soup which I really enjoyed. I was excited to have the Almond & Kale crackers as a snack. They taste so good that I took small bites at a time to savor the flavor.
Day Three with ProLon Fast: Autophagy/Clean-up State
I started to feel hungry and tired late afternoon on day 3 of the ProLon®. I combated hunger by drinking water with L-Drink to avoid craving food between small portion meals. I added sparkling water as well to stay full throughout the day. The meal options remained the same as on day two. But I was getting tired of drinking soup twice a day. Frankly, soups aren’t my thing but at least they were tasty. I felt tempted more than once to break the fasting and head to the fridge for cheese and eggs. I found that getting into a state of short meditation helped curb hunger. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath in, and encourage yourself to stay strong, focused, and challenged.
Day Four with ProLon Fast: Cellular Rejuvenation
That’s when hunger began to challenge my psyche and temptation kicked in. Today’s meals included 2 packs of soup, 2 packs of olives, a breakfast bar, and a small chocolate bar, along with L-Drink and NR-1 supplements. Drinking lots of water including sparkling water was my only solitude. I wanted to cheat badly but managed to distract myself with work, listening to music, meditation, taking short breaks in the backyard, and calling friends. I wondered how Jesus managed to fast for 40 days in the desert, while I can’t even handle 4 days of fasting in the comfort of a modern home. It’s amazing how fasting has such a powerful effect on the mind and thought process.
Day Five with ProLon Fast: Renewal & Change
By the fifth day, I could tell that my body feels lighter and toned! Yes, these 5 days of fasting helped me shed some fat from my muscles. And my skin was luminous! Knowing I would soon be able to eat normally again, I managed to get through the last day. Alas, I do miss the kale and almond crackers.
My Final Thoughts
This fasting program is not something to take lightly. It’s hard, yet rewarding. And although I was hungry, I didn’t feel as tired or worn out as I expected. Plus, the program doesn’t recommend rigorous exercises during the fasting period which meant spending more time stretching and meditating to avoid exhaustion.
As an active person who jogs each day and follows a resistance program, I was worried about the impact of the fasting program on muscle strength. The ProLon® Fast didn’t reduce muscle mass or my ability to work out after 5 days. After going through the program, I want to say that I would recommend it to anyone who has previously tried a detox or fasting program. If you’ve never fasted and you’re interested in trying out ProLon®, I suggest starting with the one-day program first. It would give you a good idea of what to expect with the 50-day program. Remember, you must only eat what is in the daily box. And that can be a challenge!
As well, take the time to understand ProLon® Fasting Mimicking Diet® in detail by reading the FAQs.
Free coaching sessions
I also highly recommend joining one of their fasting groups, When you order ProLon®, you get a free session with a health coach who will prep you as you complete the 5-day ProLon® Fasting program in a fasting group. Doing ProLon in a group setting is fun, and will motivate you to make healthy habits last long into the future.
ProLon® fasting programs
(Use code MIDLIFE to get a 15% discount on your entire order)