I have done intermittent, 24 hour, and 36 hour fasts before. It's always hard. I never dreamed I could do a 5-day fast. And now I've done it! I can't believe I made it. And I would never try it without this program. Having planned meals, knowing there is a little something I can have throughout the day and having it ready to go (and look forward to) was crucial. This kit is great if you've ever wanted to try something like this. I would never try a 5 day fast without a program like this. It'd be too hard and painful. But ProLon makes it feel manageable! This is not something to do to lose weight right away (that is not healthy) and they explain the health benefits are over time, but I will say you experience interesting energy while fasting that is unexpected and great. I even went to some dance classes and continued moderate yoga and walking.

Fasting is not something to take lightly. But the professional quality of the Prolon products and the science behind them are impressive. We decided to be cautious, trying only one 5-day cycle because of our ages (74 and 77). Our goal was to give our digestive systems a rest, jump-start a weight-loss program and adjust our attitudes about what is "good eating" for us.

Recognizing that five days is a long time to avoid regular food, we prepared our bodies with a few days of high quality, well-balanced meals -- about 1,500-2,000 calories per day, no "junk food" and no sugary sweets. Then we launched into Prolon and were pleasantly surprised at how easily our bodies accepted the program. The taste of the food was good-to-very-good; the portions were adequate for our needs; and we felt satisfied, energetic and clear-headed the entire time.

One thing we hadn't anticipated: It's possible to pee too much on this diet and apparently deplete needed electrolytes. On day 3, I began having muscle pain in my legs and thighs. Rather than take a pain killer, I tried a sugar-free sports drink meant to build up electrolytes. My choice was to make my own -- a simple mix of 1 cup water, 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 1/8 teaspoon of Himalayan Pink Salt. I felt much better within just 10 minutes of my first gulp and gradually drank a total of 3 batches during the remainder of my Prolon Fasting Mimicking. (My partner didn't need anything.)

When the 5-day fast was finished, we slowly returned to normal food. To begin: The day 6 and day 7 meals were simple, plain meals, with a balance between protein, carbs, fiber, etc. They totaled approximately the same caloric intake as the fasting mimicking meals. For us, this allowed a seamless transition from fasting to whole foods. We are now gradually increasing our calories and the complexity of our meals.

We learned a lot about our bodies while on the Prolon Fasting Mimicking program, and we feel healthier. Looking at the way we ate before versus what we are doing now: 1) We've switched to eating four times a day, with the emphasis on lunchtime and a healthy afternoon snack. 2) We've reduced the amount we eat, knowing that we can be completely satisfied with smaller portions and fewer calories. And 3) we've made our evening meals not only smaller but also more relaxing "“ filling that time with talking and sharing, rather than overeating.

The important part of all this was to recognize that our weight loss on the fast was not permanent, and it wasn't due to water loss but more likely the reduction of bulk in our intestines. Changes in our eating habits following the fast have been critical to our continued success. Thirty days following the fast, we are continuing to be careful with how much we eat and how many calories we consume. What seemed like an adequate meal before the fast now feels like too much to eat.

I do juice cleanses about once a month but wanted something that was a little more in depth to try out. The good thing about this kit is that it is all inclusive. Everything you need for the total 5 days in there and the directions are straight forward. It is a very small amount of calories. I weight about 200 pounds and I can tell you by the 3rd day I had a massive headache and felt weak; in the instructions it tells you that if you get those symptoms to eat or drink something with sugar in it, so I had a bit of apple juice and it worked it out. By the last day I was starving but I felt amazing. I wouldn't do this cleanse every month like I do the juice ones, but once a year to keep everything running smooth is very likely.

This is a challenging process to follow. Eating such small amounts of food left me feeling hungry for the entire five days. On day 6, I did feel energized and lighter. All of the food tasted fine. The crackers were very good. Some of the ingredients in the soup did not soften and remained dried even after cooking as instructed. Instructions were clear, and the packaging was efficient. 5

I loved the simplicity of the packaging - I didn't have to question what to eat or assemble my daily food (plus, I didn't have to purchase anything additionally!). I was satisfied overall, but I didn't enjoy the headaches and lower energy (anticipated side effects).