FMD Diet: How to Trick Time and Reset Your Metabolism in 5 Days

Spring is already knocking at the windows, but instead of looking forward to the warmth you only feel like hiding under a blanket and sleeping until May? 🥱 That’s normal. After a long winter our body often resembles a computer that hasn’t been rebooted for months: tabs freeze, the system slows down, and the “battery” dies by midday.

My name is Anna Bertoldi, I’m the founder of Better With Anna, and today I want to tell you about the most elegant way to press the Reset button for your body. This isn’t just a diet — it’s scientific biohacking that lets you trick the biological clock and trigger powerful restorative processes from within.

I’m talking about the FMD (Fasting Mimicking Diet) — a diet that mimics fasting. And the best part: I invite you to take this journey with me as part of our March marathon "Spring Reset". 🌸

What is FMD and why is the whole world talking about it? 🧬

If you’ve ever heard about the benefits of therapeutic fasting, you probably also know its difficulties. Water fasting is stressful, socially isolating, and risky for health without medical supervision. That’s why Professor Valter Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California (USC), spent years researching to create a “golden mean.”

FMD is a nutrition program low in calories, proteins, and sugars, but high in healthy fats. 🥑

The secret is that your body _thinks_ it’s fasting. When the level of certain nutrients in the blood falls below a critical threshold, cells switch into “survival” mode. But because you continue to eat specially selected foods, you still have enough energy for normal life, work, and even light walks.

Foods for the FMD diet: healthy fats, nuts and avocado for cellular cleansing.

Autophagy: The cellular cleanup that won a Nobel Prize 🏆

Why do we aim to mimic fasting at all? The main goal is to trigger the process of autophagy.

Imagine your cells are small factories. Over time they accumulate “junk”: damaged proteins, old mitochondria, remnants of cellular structures. In a normal state, when food is abundant, cells don’t have time to clean up. But as soon as “hunger” sets in, the body starts using this internal waste as fuel.

What do you get in the end?

Cellular-level rejuvenation: The body gets rid of the old and builds new.
Reduction of the aging marker IGF-1: Insulin-like growth factor 1 is directly linked to aging processes and the risk of various diseases. FMD is one of the fastest ways to normalize it.
Metabolic flexibility: Your body relearns to efficiently use fat stores for energy.

Why is March the perfect time for the marathon? 🌱

March is a transition period. We’re already tired of heavy winter food, but we haven’t yet gotten enough vitamins from fresh vegetables. The FMD program helps “clean up” the consequences of winter indulgence and prepare the ground for an active spring.

Our marathon “Spring Reset” will take place from March 28 to April 6. 🗓️

These are 10 days that will completely change how you feel. We’re not just “on a diet,” we’re going through a comprehensive transformation:

Preparation: A gentle entry into the regimen.
5 days of FMD: The main phase of cellular cleansing.
Stabilization: Exiting the program based on my favorite method The Better Plate (Harvard Plate).

What you’ll see in the mirror and feel inside? ✨

FMD isn’t about temporary restriction; it’s an investment in the future. But the short-term results will impress you:

Minus 2–4 kg: You lose mainly visceral (internal) fat and excess fluid, not muscle. ⚖️
Energy boost: After day 3 many report incredible mental clarity and lightness you can’t get from coffee. 🚀
Glowing skin: Cellular cleansing always shows on the face — inflammation fades and complexion evens out. 👱‍♀️
Taste reset: You’ll start to taste the sweetness of a regular apple as if it were a gourmet dessert.

Radiant appearance and vigor as a result of the spring reset with Better With Anna.

How does the marathon work at Better With Anna? 📋

I know how scary it is to start programs like this alone. That’s why my marathon is first and foremost about support and community.

In the program for 7900 RUB / 79 EUR you get:

A detailed menu: No complicated searches — I’ll give a clear shopping list and recipes.
A cooking guide: We’ll use only plant-based components (nuts, vegetables, grains, healthy oils).
A community chat: A place to complain about day 2 (the toughest!) and celebrate results together on day 6.
My personal support: I’ll answer questions, encourage you, and help adapt the program to your lifestyle.

You can sign up for the marathon here: betterwithanna.health/p/fmd.

Structure of the 5-day FMD: The hero’s journey 🛡️

Many ask: “Will I faint?” No! The program is designed so you remain functional.

Day 1 (Transition): About 1100 kcal. We let the body know the rules of the game have changed. Carbs are reduced, fats are our fuel. 🥑
Days 2–5 (Deep phase): About 800 kcal. This is where the real magic starts. Autophagy runs at full power and active fat burning begins. 🔥
Day 6 and beyond: We won’t leave you with a slice of pizza in hand. We’ll learn how to build the ideal plate to maintain results.

Example of assembling a plate using the Harvard Plate method to maintain health and metabolism.

The secret ingredient: Stabilization on the “Harvard Plate” 🍽️

The biggest mistake of any diet is a wrong exit. If after 5 days of restriction you dive into your usual food, the body will panic and start hoarding everything.

That’s why in the “Spring Reset” marathon we pay special attention to stabilization. I’ll teach you the The Better Plate method, which will stay with you for life.

The principle is simple:

Half the plate — vegetables and greens (fiber).
A quarter — quality protein.
A quarter — complex carbohydrates.
Healthy fats — as dressing.

This approach allows you not just to lose weight but to permanently forget the feeling of hunger two hours after eating.

Who should NOT do FMD? ⚠️

I support a mindful approach and honesty. Despite all its benefits, FMD is a powerful tool and has contraindications:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Age under 18 and over 70 (without special medical supervision).
Type 1 diabetes.
Active eating disorder (ED) episodes.
Severe kidney or liver diseases.
Acute infectious diseases.

If you have chronic conditions, I strongly recommend consulting a doctor before starting the program. Health is our top priority! 🩺

Why is it worth trying at least once? 🌟

We spend huge money on cosmetics, gadgets, and clothes, but often forget to "service" the most important tool — our body. FMD is like a major house cleaning we do once a season.

This is your chance:

To feel lighter.
To see your clothes fit more loosely.
To wake up in the morning with a smile, not a thought of “again…”.
To become part of a community of people who choose a mindful approach to themselves.

Lightness in the body and great mood after completing the body reset marathon.

Price of participation: ~~12000 RUB~~ 7900 RUB / 79 EUR. 💸 This is less than one restaurant visit, but the effect will stay with you for months.

March is the time to wake up. Let’s do it together, gently and scientifically.

Join us here: betterwithanna.health/p/fmd.

See you at the start on March 28! We’ll make your spring truly light. 🌿✨

_This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Results may vary depending on individual characteristics of the body._