General info about FMD

[Sean]

The Fasting Mimicking Diet,

Summary from https://prolonfmd.com:

"The 5 Day Fasting Mimicking Diet™, or FMD, is the first meal program made of healthy natural ingredients that is consumed for five days – but is not recognized in cellular pathways as food. This keeps the body in a fasting mode. In simple terms, it is fasting with food!

The Fasting Mimicking Diet is shown to promote longevity, overall health, and reduce excess fat in just 5 days… allowing you the freedom to return to your regular lifestyle.

This nutritional breakthrough was scientifically developed and clinically tested at the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California. Led by Dr. Valter Longo, the USC Longevity Institute unites multidisciplinary aging research approaches to enhance the healthy years of life."

I've been following Longo's work for a while. He's one of the key researchers in this space that got me interested in committing to fasting regimes for life. I'm super keen to try out his Prolon 5-day meal pack (not affiliated with them). The only barrier for me is cost:

A whopping $249 USD per box, but for such a highly specialised and refined product it is not surprising. The amount of research that went into this and production costs must be fairly staggering. At this price though, I see it as more of a medical expense for those fighting cancer or serious illness.

I see people creating their own 5-day meal plan, which sounds plausible to me if you get the macros right, but it might involve a bit too much effort for me. For now I will stick to my 4-5 days fasts the old school way, just water and black coffee.

Has anyone tried the Prolon pack?

 

[elle_the_belle]

I'm reading his book at the moment. It's interesting, and a good counter balance to a lot of the keto articles. Down the track I might try a DIY FMD, but not sure I'd spend that much on prepared meals.

 

[Sean]

I'm reading his book at the moment. It's interesting, and a good counter balance to a lot of the keto articles. Down the track I might try a DIY FMD, but not sure I'd spend that much on prepared meals.

No doubt, kind of hoping it catches on more, then economies of scale can drive price to say $99. I'd go for it at $99 if it's just something I do 2x a year.

 

[Harry American]

Is there a TLDR on what this is? Is this just consuming micronutrients while fasting then getting macros while in your eating window?

 

[Sean]

Is there a TLDR on what this is? Is this just consuming micronutrients while fasting then getting macros while in your eating window?

Basically, a prominent fasting research scientist found huge benefits after a 5day fast, but knew it was too difficult for most people to accomplish. So he devised a way to provide just enough sustenance throughout the fast, to trick the body into remaining in a fasted state. Using this plan, you can go a full 5 day fast with some food and still remain completely in a fasted state.

 

[Swill I ams]

I looked into this and would like to add a few points.
In the beginning Walter Vongo used off the shelf products and assembled the kits manually. On his first websites there was a lot of info about the contents.

The basics premise:
Macros - Calories - Fat/ Protein/ Carbs
Day 1 - 1,110 cal - 46%/ 11%/ 43%
Days 2 to 5 - 720 cal - 44%/ 9%/ 47%

So I downloaded Lifebox images, identified the products and their 'makeup'.
Put together a 'kiwi' version, complete except for the 5 meals. Stumbled on an advocado cheat method that looks interesting and contemplated whether a 0 carb diet relies on the protein macro for staying under the 'bar'.
This might be related to reducing activation of the MTor pathway and longevity, idle speculation but this might also be a huge benefit with OMAD and lifespan.

---------------------------------------------------------
American goods

(5) Snack bars Weight - Calories - Fat/ Protein/ Carbs
Kind Nut & Spices Bar - Maple glazed pecan& sea salt 40g - 210 cal - 17/ 5/ 13
Kind Nut & Spices Bar - Caramel almond & sea salt 40g - 200 cal - 16/ 6/ 15
Kind Plus - Dark choc & cherry cashew + antioxidants 40g - 170 cal - 10/ 4/ 22
Kind Plus - Pomeregranate blueberry pistachio 40g - 180 cal - 11/ 4/ 20
Kind Nut & Spices Bar - Honey roasted nuts & sea salt 40g - 210 cal - 15/ 6/ 15

(10) Drinks
Coffee (5)
Green tea (5)

Snacks (11)
5 x Instant Oatmeal Organic Regular Flavour sachets
3 x Almonds - 20 - 100cal
2 x Pistachio roasted and salted - 42g
1 x Brad's Raw Chips - Cheddar - bradrawfoods.com - 85g - 150 cal - 6/ 6/ 24

(5) Meals x 1 each - Fat/ Protein/ Carbs
Cucina & Avmore - Quinoa Meal - Spicy jalapinos and roasted peppers 225g - 220 cal - 8/ 6/ 31
Cucina & Avmore - Quinoa Meal - Mango & roasted pepper 225g - 220 cal - 4/ 6/ 36
Vana Life Foods - Green chickpeas, chipolte black beans, sweet corn 284g - 12/ 11/ 37
Vana Life Foods - Green chickpeas, kale, potato, tomato, rosemary 284g - 11/ 9/ 35
Natural Taste Bite - 1 step, 1 min - Madras Lentils 285g - 12/ 14/ 36
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Zealand version

(5) snack bars
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Double Choc 40g - 212 cal - 13/ 6/ 17
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Peanut Butter 40g - 216 cal - 14/ 6/ 15
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Nutty Crunch 40g - 210 cal - 13/ 5/ 18
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Caramel 40g - 213 cal - 13/ 6/ 17

(10) Drinks
Coffee (5)
Green tea (5)

Snacks (11)
5 x Instant Oatmeal Organic sachets
3 x Almonds - 100cal Mother Earth Batch Roasted Almonds Roasted Unsalted 50g - cal - 17/ 6/ 2
2 x Pistachio roasted and salted Countdown Pistachios Salted 90g (x2) 45g - 90 cal - 7/ 4/ 2
1 x Vege Cheddar chips - 85g - 150 cal - 6/ 6/ 24


(5) Meals x 1 each

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheats version via advocado
Day 1 - 1,110 cal - 46%/ 11%/ 43%
Days 2 to 5 - 720 cal - 44%/ 9%/ 47%

4 x advocado and 2 slices thin vogels buttered (+4g fat)
Day 1 960 cal 76%/ 5%/ 20% 87.6g/ 12g/ 51.2g
127 cal 5%/ 5.2% 78% 4.6g/ 10.4g/ 46.8g

Total 1087 cal 91.6g/ 22.4g/ 98g 212g with 11% protien

2.5 x advocado and 1 slice thin vogels buttered (+4g fat)
Day 2-5 600 cal 76%/ 5%/ 20% 55g/ 7.5g/ 32g
64 cal 5%/ 5.2% 78% 4.6g/ 5.2g/ 23.4g

Total 664 cal 59.6g/ 12.7g/ 23.4g 93.4g with 11% protein

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carnivore Version - If you're on 0 carbs then is it the protein macro that provides the trigger ?

Fat/ Protien/ Carbs
Day 1 - 1,110 cal - 86%/ 11%/ 3%
Days 2 to 5 - 720 cal - 90%/ 9%/ 1%

 

[Sean]

I looked into this and would like to add a few points.
In the beginning Walter Vongo used off the shelf products and assembled the kits manually. On his first websites there was a lot of info about the contents.

The basics premise:
Macros - Calories - Fat/ Protein/ Carbs
Day 1 - 1,110 cal - 46%/ 11%/ 43%
Days 2 to 5 - 720 cal - 44%/ 9%/ 47%

So I downloaded Lifebox images, identified the products and their 'makeup'.
Put together a 'kiwi' version, complete except for the 5 meals. Stumbled on an advocado cheat method that looks interesting and contemplated whether a 0 carb diet relies on the protein macro for staying under the 'bar'.
This might be related to reducing activation of the MTor pathway and longevity, idle speculation but this might also be a huge benefit with OMAD and lifespan.

---------------------------------------------------------
American goods

(5) Snack bars Weight - Calories - Fat/ Protein/ Carbs
Kind Nut & Spices Bar - Maple glazed pecan& sea salt 40g - 210 cal - 17/ 5/ 13
Kind Nut & Spices Bar - Caramel almond & sea salt 40g - 200 cal - 16/ 6/ 15
Kind Plus - Dark choc & cherry cashew + antioxidants 40g - 170 cal - 10/ 4/ 22
Kind Plus - Pomeregranate blueberry pistachio 40g - 180 cal - 11/ 4/ 20
Kind Nut & Spices Bar - Honey roasted nuts & sea salt 40g - 210 cal - 15/ 6/ 15

(10) Drinks
Coffee (5)
Green tea (5)

Snacks (11)
5 x Instant Oatmeal Organic Regular Flavour sachets
3 x Almonds - 20 - 100cal
2 x Pistachio roasted and salted - 42g
1 x Brad's Raw Chips - Cheddar - bradrawfoods.com - 85g - 150 cal - 6/ 6/ 24

(5) Meals x 1 each - Fat/ Protein/ Carbs
Cucina & Avmore - Quinoa Meal - Spicy jalapinos and roasted peppers 225g - 220 cal - 8/ 6/ 31
Cucina & Avmore - Quinoa Meal - Mango & roasted pepper 225g - 220 cal - 4/ 6/ 36
Vana Life Foods - Green chickpeas, chipolte black beans, sweet corn 284g - 12/ 11/ 37
Vana Life Foods - Green chickpeas, kale, potato, tomato, rosemary 284g - 11/ 9/ 35
Natural Taste Bite - 1 step, 1 min - Madras Lentils 285g - 12/ 14/ 36
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Zealand version

(5) snack bars
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Double Choc 40g - 212 cal - 13/ 6/ 17
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Peanut Butter 40g - 216 cal - 14/ 6/ 15
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Nutty Crunch 40g - 210 cal - 13/ 5/ 18
Tasti Meganuts Nut Bar Caramel 40g - 213 cal - 13/ 6/ 17

(10) Drinks
Coffee (5)
Green tea (5)

Snacks (11)
5 x Instant Oatmeal Organic sachets
3 x Almonds - 100cal Mother Earth Batch Roasted Almonds Roasted Unsalted 50g - cal - 17/ 6/ 2
2 x Pistachio roasted and salted Countdown Pistachios Salted 90g (x2) 45g - 90 cal - 7/ 4/ 2
1 x Vege Cheddar chips - 85g - 150 cal - 6/ 6/ 24


(5) Meals x 1 each

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheats version via advocado
Day 1 - 1,110 cal - 46%/ 11%/ 43%
Days 2 to 5 - 720 cal - 44%/ 9%/ 47%

4 x advocado and 2 slices thin vogels buttered (+4g fat)
Day 1 960 cal 76%/ 5%/ 20% 87.6g/ 12g/ 51.2g
127 cal 5%/ 5.2% 78% 4.6g/ 10.4g/ 46.8g

Total 1087 cal 91.6g/ 22.4g/ 98g 212g with 11% protien

2.5 x advocado and 1 slice thin vogels buttered (+4g fat)
Day 2-5 600 cal 76%/ 5%/ 20% 55g/ 7.5g/ 32g
64 cal 5%/ 5.2% 78% 4.6g/ 5.2g/ 23.4g

Total 664 cal 59.6g/ 12.7g/ 23.4g 93.4g with 11% protein

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carnivore Version - If you're on 0 carbs then is it the protein macro that provides the trigger ?

Fat/ Protien/ Carbs
Day 1 - 1,110 cal - 86%/ 11%/ 3%
Days 2 to 5 - 720 cal - 90%/ 9%/ 1%

Very cool info! Yeah, I haven't dug into this enough to understand all of the triggers. I really wish there was a home-based test of some kind that could tell us when we are in a fasted state. Like a ketostix you could pee on and it tells you you are still 'fasted'. Hmm, million dollar idea?

 

[Swill I ams]

Very cool info! Yeah, I haven't dug into this enough to understand all of the triggers. I really wish there was a home-based test of some kind that could tell us when we are in a fasted state. Like a ketostix you could pee on and it tells you you are still 'fasted'. Hmm, million dollar idea?

I don't need to test much following a zero carb diet, pretty much assured of ketosis as long as my fat/ protein ration is 2/1.

 

[Harry American]

Would it really be considered fasting then? Calorie restricted for sure and the body would be burning more calories than consumed but I guess having your stomach acid process anything at all could start some kind of metabolic reactions, even the act of chewing triggers a hormonal response. It all really depends on what the goals are for the individual. Insulin regulation? Fat Burning? But I wouldnt consider eating Kind bars a fast.

edit: nevermind. I see i missed the name, "mimicking"

either way, sounds like a tough problem to determine what benefits are similar in calorie restricted or starvation diet vs totally fasting.

 

[Sean]

Would it really be considered fasting then? Calorie restricted for sure and the body would be burning more calories than consumed but I guess having your stomach acid process anything at all could start some kind of metabolic reactions, even the act of chewing triggers a hormonal response. It all really depends on what the goals are for the individual. Insulin regulation? Fat Burning? But I wouldnt consider eating Kind bars a fast.

edit: nevermind. I see i missed the name, "mimicking"

either way, sounds like a tough problem to determine what benefits are similar in calorie restricted or starvation diet vs totally fasting.

It seems the bulk of his research is regenerating the immune system and putting cells into a fasted state to better deal with chemo. His studies seem to indicate the mimicking can achieve this, as well as offer the same levels of autophagy in a full fasted state. It's good to see some actual studies being done on it.

 

[Swill I ams]

For the background on this I recommend his podcast with Dr Rhonda Patrick.

Also a quick search for Fasting mimicking diets brings a few novel articles/ suggestions. I once found a lady blogger who'd designed a range of DIY indian curries/ vegetarian dishes that fit the macros perfectly.