{"id":235484,"date":"2026-01-09T04:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/235484\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T04:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T04:48:13","slug":"prolon-5-day-fasting-mimicking-program-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/235484\/","title":{"rendered":"Prolon 5-Day Fasting-Mimicking Program Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scouted<\/a> selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.<\/p>\n

Like many food lovers, the word \u201cfasting\u201d has always intimidated me\u2014especially since I\u2019ve committed to exercising<\/a> consistently in 2026. When I saw a food influencer post about Prolon\u2019s \u201cFasting Mimicking\u201d Nutrition program<\/a> last year, I was instantly intrigued\u2014particularly because she said she felt amazing during the entire five-day program. At the start of the new year, I was looking for a reset, but juice cleanses<\/a>, and caffeine-free programs were a hard pass for me. Prolon\u2019s program promises to deliver the benefits of fasting (we\u2019ll get into that later) while still allowing you to eat a small amount of solids and liquids. Essentially, the low-calorie diet tricks your body into thinking it\u2019s fasting, letting you reap the benefits without severe caloric restriction.<\/p>\n

Dr. Valter Longo<\/a>, founder of L-Nutra and creator of the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), developed the nutrition program to help patients lose weight and, more importantly, reduce cholesterol, lower age-related disease risk, boost metabolic health, and promote longevity. Prolon\u2019s program has also been clinically tested by the laboratory of Dr. Longo and Keck Hospital at the University of Southern California, which is a big deal\u2014something many other fasting programs and cleanses can\u2019t claim. <\/p>\n

The super-structured program<\/a> comes in one-day and five-day options. After the indulgent holiday season, I opted for the five-day reset. Proponents of the five-day diet (and the brand) say that in addition to helping you shed a few pounds, the FMD may support longevity by stimulating autophagy (inner cellular rejuvenation). Opponents argue there isn\u2019t enough data to support these claims and suggest that sending your body into starvation mode may not be as effective for long-term health as consistently eating whole foods. As a neutral observer, I decided to test the five-day program to see what happened.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Included in the 5-Day Program?<\/p>\n

When I opened the box<\/a>, I was pleasantly surprised by the organization. It contains five separate boxes for each day, each filled with your \u2018meals\u2019 and supplements. The meals come in the form of plant-based soups, bars, snacks, specific drinks, and supplements. You\u2019re also allowed unlimited water and one cup of black coffee (minus the creamer) per day. Personally, I wouldn\u2019t give up caffeine for anything, so this was a huge plus for me. Each day, you\u2019re consuming around 700 to 1,000 calories, depending on the day.<\/p>\n

\"Prolon\"Mia Maguire\/Prolon <\/p>\n

The box also includes a \u201cmenu\u201d that outlines everything you\u2019ll eat (and are allowed to drink) for each day. Day one was the easiest since I hadn\u2019t fasted the day before, and the program kicked off with a higher-calorie day. Days three and five were definitely the hardest\u2014and based on other reviews, I wasn\u2019t alone\u2014because you\u2019re only getting about 700 calories, and you don\u2019t get your end-of-day \u201ctreat,\u201d the Choco Crisp L-Bar.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s On the Menu? <\/p>\n

Each day starts with a nut-forward bar, which is pretty satisfying and helps keep you full. Lunch is usually a soup of some sort, and in the afternoon, on three of the days, you get either kale and almond crackers or a pack of olives. Dinner is another soup, and on days one and two, you get a small \u201cdessert.\u201d You\u2019re also given a glycerin liquid<\/a> to mix with water, which \u201cprovides the body with an alternate energy source to use instead of lean body mass during days 2-5 of the fast,\u201d as well as several herbal tea bags. Again, the unlimited water and tea, plus one cup of black coffee, were my saving grace.<\/p>\n

What Does the Food Taste Like?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the best food I\u2019ve ever had, but I didn\u2019t expect it to be. I was surprised by how good some of the soups, crackers, and olives were. I expected to feel famished and repulsed by the soups\u2019 flavor (or lack thereof). While I definitely wouldn\u2019t choose the Carrot Ginger soup again, I really enjoyed the Green Pea and Chives and Lentil Curry soups and would eat them even if I wasn\u2019t on the FMD diet<\/a>. The kale crackers and olive packs were also delicious. <\/p>\n

\"Prolon.\"Prolon. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m already hunting for alternatives on Amazon and Costco so I can enjoy them every day. I was also impressed by the creamy consistency of the soups. I had imagined they\u2019d be chalky (like some powdered greens supplements), but they weren\u2019t at all.<\/p>\n

Can You Exercise While on Prolon?<\/p>\n

In theory, yes. In fact, the brand<\/a> suggests you maintain your normal lifestyle as much as possible while on the program. However, I kept my workouts low-impact (i.e., walking) and skipped my usual heated Pilates fusion classes and weight training. These classes are heated to 105\u00b0F and combine bursts of cardio and HIIT. I was worried about feeling faint, and they significantly increased my appetite. With brisk walks on an incline for three of the five days, I felt OK (I skipped days three and five because I was more tired and lightheaded).<\/p>\n

My Results<\/p>\n

By day six, I had lost five pounds. While most of this was likely water weight, I haven\u2019t regained it yet. I attribute this to the transition diet (days six and seven), which is recommended after the program. The brand suggests slowly introducing easy-to-digest foods like beans, grains, and lean protein in the two days following completion. Despite the significant caloric reduction, I didn\u2019t feel as exhausted and malnourished as I\u2019d anticipated. The third and fifth days were challenging, but that was mostly due to temptation from others around me who weren\u2019t doing the cleanse. If you follow a lot of food influencers or enjoy reading restaurant reviews, I recommend taking a break from this during the program. Trust me, watching TikToks of Mukbangs<\/a> and food reviews will test your willpower. I learned this the hard way.<\/p>\n

Another concern I had was how the reduced calories would impact my sleep. I typically don\u2019t sleep well when I don\u2019t eat a good dinner, and I tend to eat later than most. I can\u2019t go to bed hungry and still function the next day, especially with only one cup of coffee. Fortunately, like many others, my sleep was OK. The fifth night was rough, and my Oura Ring <\/a>called me out for my lack of \u201creadiness,\u201d but I figured one night of subpar sleep was worth the other benefits. Plus, I didn\u2019t feel sluggish or zombified the next day, which I attribute to the FMD benefits.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Next time I try Prolon, I think I\u2019ll attempt to take one of my regular fitness classes or add a strength training session. I\u2019m pretty sure I could handle it, but I was concerned about the lack of protein.<\/p>\n

This was much more manageable than I expected, and I will definitely do another five-day program before summer. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that Prolon<\/a> is not for everyone, especially athletes, those with eating disorders, or individuals with certain health conditions. It\u2019s always recommended to consult your physician or healthcare provider before starting a new diet or lifestyle shift. <\/p>\n

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