My first attempt at fasting was an experiment in enhancing post-race recovery and a desire to reap some of the reported long-term health benefits*. A whole-food, plant-based diet plus fasting? Sounds like an ideal combination. In the end, I learned quite a lot about my eating habits …

I learned of the work of the USC scientist Valter Longo and his development of a restricted calorie fasting mimicking diet (FMD) on Rhonda Patrick’s podcast. Rather than eliminating food completely, Dr. Longo demonstrated that a five day reduced calorie diet, repeated over three months, reduced risk factors and biomarkers for aging, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease compared with a control group. Less food for five days? I can handle that!

My planned recovery week after the Terrapin Mountain 50K seemed like a good opportunity to test the FMD. I also wondered if some of the reported negative effects of ultra-endurance events might be reduced by implementing this diet as part of a post-race recovery protocol. I’ll note that, while I wish I had the means to analyze a battery of biomarkers pre-race, post-race, and post-FMD, I have no way to scientifically test this hypothesis. The in-home genetic testing and protein analysis lab will have to wait for a few more rounds of price reduction.

I felt amazing throughout the week. I was expecting to feel low on energy and find it difficult to focus on work but it never happened. There were certain times of the day when I was used to eating (e.g. my mid-morning snack) that I found difficult at the beginning of the diet. I used celery, cucumber, and seaweed as low-calorie snacks to move my focus away from hunger or the habituated need to snack during the periods between meals. Overall, my energy levels, ability to focus, and clarity of thought were consistently high.