PARTICIPATED ONCE

"I did 5 Day Fast together with three colleagues. I already ate healthy, but a lot of bread. And I regularly do intermittent fasting, also because I don't always take the time to have breakfast in the morning.

Our colleague Mellany had done 5 Day Fast at the beginning of this year and was enthusiastic. One day we talked about doing it with the team as a challenge. We then invited Ramon from 5 Day Fast to first tell us more about what it entails and what the short-term benefits and long-term effects are. I have actually never done a nutrition program or weight loss program before. I do exercise regularly and often cycle, among other things.

We started together on Monday. It was the week that many people suffered from hay fever and that also bothered me at first. Regarding work, I found it difficult the first few days. You're a little hungry, lack of focus and sometimes it was difficult to concentrate myself. But because you do it with your colleagues, it was also fun.

However, on days 4 and 5 I realized that with some nuts, an apple, a few dates and a tomato soup I could function fine and even feel good energy. The realization that you don't need that much food at all is the most important positive point that I take away from this challenge. Of course you already know that somewhere, but you don't do it. During the five days you experience this and actually feel it. The latter really creates awareness.

So the 5 Day Fast breakfast with nuts & apple was great and I just kept it. Another advantage is that I have breakfast but don't spend too much time on it in the morning. Nice energy by the way, nuts and fruit instead of bread. With bread you have more of a peak in your energy, followed by a downer, which you then try to fix by taking more coffee.

I found all the food surprisingly tasty. For example, a week later we made the lentil stew at home again, which was simply delicious. My girlfriend joined in a bit. She is also involved in nutrition and supplements. It was nice that we also did this together at home.

The vital employee
Now afterwards I still feel fitter, more energetic and I have a good focus. There is awareness, not only with regard to food, but also sleeping on time, getting up early in the morning, having a light breakfast and feeling nice and energetic. In the context of vital employees, I would certainly advise other teams to do this as well, something different from communication training. It would be great if employees could do this with their training budget. I think there is enthusiasm for that.

Finally
Would I do it again? It was an educational and positive week, but I also thought it was a bit expensive, at least if you were to do it more often per year. But I won't say no!

“5 Day Fast: Our quest is to get people to do this three times a year for a structural improvement in their preventive health, with the long-term goal of people living healthily for longer without becoming chronically ill.”

“Oscar: yes, you're telling me something. I noticed that I mainly only looked at the short-term benefits. But if you look at it this way, what is 500 euros per year to live a healthy longer life without those diseases? Then it might not be expensive at all.”