Hello everyone,
I'm excited to share my thoughts on the Fasting Mimicking Diet, or FMD, which has had a profound impact on my body and appearance.
INTRODUCTION:
We live in a world where 45 is the new 25, and people are pushing the boundaries of age. Think of Demi Moore, who's still radiating life energy at 62. That's definitely not just about plastic surgery.
Unlike someone like Ludmila Gurchenko, whose iconic look was largely the result of surgical enhancements rather than inner radiance.
True youthfulness isn't about fillers, facelifts, and trendy outfits. It's about a holistic approach, a philosophy of life.
Today, I'm sharing a secret that bloggers, biohackers, and anti-aging gurus are willing to charge big bucks for – an instrument that can revolutionize your perception of age.
ABOUT ME:
I'm 48, and I've been following the principles of healthy eating for years, albeit with some slip-ups here and there.
I've been exploring cutting-edge methods to maintain youth and health, and that's when I stumbled upon the FMD diet. What sparked my interest? Simply put, it was the women in their 40s who regularly practice FMD and look incredible, with impressive medical test results to boot. Plus, the scientific research backing up these amazing results really caught my attention:
• Hormones in balance
• Bye-bye, unwanted fat – my weight has shifted due to reduced body fat.
• My brain is firing on all cylinders, with improved cognitive function.
• Gut health
• And the cherry on top – a genuine anti-aging effect!
Curious? Then keep reading...
So, What's the Deal with Diets?
I recently tried out the FMD diet, which was developed by Dr. Walter Longo, a professor of gerontology and biological sciences at the University of Southern California.
It's basically a clever way of tricking your body into thinking it's fasting, while still giving it all the nutrients it needs.
The diet lasts for 5 days and is repeated in cycles (usually every month or quarter, depending on your individual needs).
The key principle is to drastically cut back on calories (34-54% of your usual intake) and get the right balance of macronutrients: low protein and carb content, with a high amount of healthy fats.
How Does it Work?
Research has shown that FMD stimulates autophagy (a process of 'self-cleaning' in cells), reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and promotes cell regeneration.
This, in turn, leads to cellular rejuvenation, a stronger immune system, increased energy, and improved cognitive function.
There's also evidence that FMD can help reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even certain types of cancer.
Duration and Calorie Intake:
The diet only lasts for 5 days, and it's essential to ease in and out of it gradually, gradually reducing and increasing calorie intake.
• Day 1: ~1090 calories (10% protein, 56% fat, 34% carbs)
• Days 2-5: ~725 calories (9% protein, 44% fat, 47% carbs)
Contraindications:
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Age 70 or older
• Low body mass
• Type 1 diabetes
• Liver and kidney diseases
• Cancer - consult with an oncologist before starting
• Autoimmune diseases
• Eating disorders
Got doubts? Consult your doctor.
DIET:
I was allowed to eat fatty plant-based products like nuts, berries, olive oil, avocado, and olives. I could also have vegetables, greens, and a small amount of grains and legumes.
I had meals 2-3 times a day, at the same time, without snacking.
I didn't weigh everything exactly in grams. I ate veggies in normal portions. I looked up menu plans online (you can use apps too) and chose from available products, trying to stick to proportions and make the diet diverse and tasty using spices.
HYDRATION:
Following the advice of an experienced biohacker, I started my day with warm water infused with lemon and ginger and drank it throughout the day.
This elixir not only suppressed my appetite and gave me energy, but also stimulated bile production. Lemon and ginger, rich in antioxidants, are real warriors against oxidative stress and inflammation. Throughout the day, I also drank dandelion tea, herbal tea, or green tea, but had to give up coffee and black tea. Occasionally, I treated myself to coconut milk, adding it to my drinks.
MOVEMENT:
Walking outside is a must, but when I'm on a diet, it's not always possible. During my diet, I barely got any time to walk and I only went for a short walk once. I think my mood would have been better and I'd have lost more than 2 kg if I'd had time for more walks.
Day 1 - Adapting
~1090 kcal, 10% protein, 56% fat, 34% carbs
Weight in the morning: 76.4 kg
Sample menu for day 1 and day 5 in ~1090 kcal
Breakfast: cherry with nuts and chicory
Lunch: buckwheat with vegetables (you can have 4 spoons of dry groats per day)
Dinner: colourful cabbage with vegetables
To be honest, I didn't prepare for the diet beforehand, so the night before I had some meat. The sudden drop in calories and lack of animal fats caught up with me in the evening - I got a headache, felt fatigued, and my concentration was off. I was desperate to get some sleep.
Day 2 - Energy from Fats
~725 kcal (9% protein, 44% fat, 47% carbs)
Weight in the morning: 75.8 kg (minus 0.6 kg)
Breakfast: butter with strawberries and nuts
Butter with strawberries and nuts Lunch: Stuffed zucchini and nut salad
Stuffed zucchini with vegetable salad Dinner: Buckwheat soup (you can have 2 tablespoons of dry buckwheat a day) with mushrooms and green salad
Buckwheat soup with green saladI'm happy to see the weight loss, but I still feel a bit weak and disoriented. The third day was supposed to be tough, but I'm not giving up.
The fat-burning process is getting stronger, and my body is producing ketones - an alternative source of energy.
3RD DAY - INTENSIVE CLEANSE
~725 calories (9% protein, 44% fat, 47% carbs)
Weight in the morning: 75.6 kg (minus 0.2 kg in a day)
I've stabilized, and my body has adjusted to this diet. I've reached the middle of the journey.
The cellular cleanse is getting more intense, fat burning and ketogenesis continue.
4TH DAY - RECOVERY AND RENEWAL
~725 calories (9% protein, 44% fat, 47% carbs)
Weight in the morning: 75.4 kg (minus 0.1 kg in a day)
I'm feeling normal, and I think I'm getting enough food. Drinking warm lemon and ginger tea helps.
I've noticed a peak in autophagy, fat burning, and ketosis - it's like my cells are getting a facelift. My reflection in the mirror is starting to look like a transformed person, not just someone who's been through a tough winter.
5-DAY LOCKDOWN
~1090 calories (10% protein, 56% fat, 34% carbs)
The menu is pretty much the same as day one, with some flexibility.
I weighed 74.9 kg in the morning, down 0.5 kg from the day before.
I'm feeling great, my body has adapted to the low-calorie diet, and now it seems like I'm getting enough calories. I'm excited to get out of this diet, but the cellular renewal is still going strong. My reflection, how I feel, and the work I've put in - I'm really happy with all of it.
MY RESULTS:
• I've lost 1.9 kg - and that's not just water, it's fat, including visceral fat.
• My stomach is noticeably smaller, and I've lost some volume.
• The morning puffiness has disappeared.
• My skin on my face and body has transformed.
• My sleep schedule has normalized - I'm going to bed earlier and waking up feeling refreshed.
• I'm feeling more energetic and alert.
I'm really happy with the results of this diet, and I genuinely believe my body has rejuvenated itself by about 2 years biologically. I'm still weighing myself, and the number is pretty much the same.
I plan to do these 5-day resets once a month to prioritize my health. I'll do a check-up on my body in a few months.
It's definitely easier to do this kind of fasting during warmer weather.
I highly recommend FMD if you don't have any contraindications.
Got any questions? Leave them in the comments.
P.S. I wrote this review back in April, and now it's almost September. I did the FMD diet twice over the summer, and it was surprisingly easy - I guess the heat and the idea of eating meat just didn't appeal to me, plus I was moving around a lot and getting some sun. I didn't stick to the protocol super strictly, I didn't even measure my grams, but I just got my thyroid hormone test results back, and my TSH levels have dropped by half and normalized.
My TSH levels before doing the FMD diet.
My results after the FMD course.
It's been about a month since I finished the diet.
My top limit is 4.2, and I'm pretty stoked about these results, especially since other attempts and my doctor's recommendations didn't do anything for me.
I knew the FMD diet could do this for my hormones, and I'm glad I got to experience it firsthand - it's definitely a beneficial and effective way to heal (and it didn't exactly help with weight loss for me, but that's a different story).
How I dealt with the swelling, and in the end, I lost some weight and got rid of my cellulite.
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