By Henri Schmidt, CEO and Founder of Vbtec/Visionbody, Muscle Expert, and Cancer Survivor
I was devastated to hear that I had cancer, as is the case with any bad news. I knew I couldn't let cancer beat me, even though I have to admit, it took me a while to come to terms with the news emotionally. I still had many years ahead of me and a family I couldn't leave behind, so I wanted to live.
My years of experience in muscle science led me to conclude that strict diets or generic workout plans wouldn't work for me and that I needed to develop a personalized approach to help my body fight cancer.
Why I Created a 7-Day Plan for Survival and Strength
I needed to maintain my muscle mass and energy, and keep my body strong enough to withstand the constant pressure from the cancer cells.
That’s why I created my 7-Day Metabolic Cycling Plan and combined it with Visionbody EMS training and regular infrared sauna sessions.
For me, this routine became more than just a nutrition and fitness plan; it became a survival tool, a way to maintain my muscle mass and ensure that my body would become a battleground where cancer couldn’t survive.
What Is Metabolic Cycling?
Basically, metabolic cycling involves alternating between fasting periods, carb-loading days, and keto diet days. I can’t think of a better way to explain it. This nutrition strategy has been around for years, so I’m not exactly reinventing the wheel here, though I did have to make some adjustments to tailor it to my specific needs.
I didn’t want my body to get used to a single diet or schedule, because I didn’t want the cancer cells to feel comfortable. And by alternating between different diets and combining them with EMS training and infrared sauna sessions, I made sure that my muscles got everything they needed to grow, my immune system stayed strong and functional, and the cancer cells were constantly under pressure because my body wasn’t providing them with a favorable environment in which to thrive.
Here's what each day of the cycle helped me accomplish:
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Keto days: helped with fat burning, reduced inflammation in my body, and also helped my body get rid of diseased cells (autophagy).
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Carb boost days: helped me stimulate recovery, replenish my muscle glycogen, which aids muscle growth, and regain some of my strength.
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Fasting days: also helped reduce inflammation, but most importantly, during the fasting days, I was able to maximize cellular repair and increase the metabolic stress on the cancer cells.
My 7-Day Metabolic Cycling Plan
| DAY | NUTRITION | WORKOUT/SAUNA | GOAL/EFFECT |
| Day 1 - Keto | 1 meal: avocado, egg, fish, vegetables, healthy fats | Light EMS + sauna | Deepen ketosis, reduce inflammation |
| Day 2 - Keto | 1 Keto Meal | Moderate EMS for 20 minutes + sauna | Fat burning, muscle preservation |
| Day 3 - Keto | 1 Keto Meal | Stronger EMS 20–25 min | Enhance fat adaptation, protect muscle |
| Day 4 - Keto | 1 Keto Meal | Moderate EMS + sauna | Keep burning fat and preserve lean muscle mass |
| Day 5 - Fasting | Water, electrolytes, lemon, and baking soda | Sauna + Light EMS | Maximize autophagy, detoxification, and immune reset |
| Day 6 - Carb Boost | Rice, sweet potatoes, berries, with protein and fats | Light exercise or rest | Replenish glycogen, promote recovery |
| Day 7 - Fasting | Water and electrolytes only | Sauna + Light EMS | Deep cellular repair, strong anti-cancer effects |
➡ After Day 7, the cycle restarts with 4 keto days.
I was completely shocked when I found out that four tumors were growing into my spine, but I knew I had to do something, and I had to do it fast. So I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: I decided I had to go on a 25-day fast. It was very hard for me, and I had to draw on all my determination and self-control to get through it, but I stayed strong and managed to complete all 25 days of fasting.
And at the end of the 25 days? The results were impressive. The tumors in my spine were gone. That was all I needed to know to be sure I was on the right track.
But if you’ve also had the misfortune of having cancer, you know that it almost always comes back. My happiness didn’t last very long before a new tumor appeared. Fighting cancer is a very long battle, a battle that forces me to adapt, and to do that, I sometimes need to return to long days of fasting, and other times, I have to adjust the rhythm of my cycling routine. Even though I may lose small battles along the way, I intend to use my persistence and all the resources I can find to win the final battle.
Why This System Works
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Cancer Pressure: Cancer cells cannot survive in a body that deprives them of stability, and they cannot adapt to constant change. That is why I alternate between days of eating and fasting.
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Immune Boost: Changing environments helps me activate immune cells such as NK and T cells.
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Muscle Protection: EMS training and carb-boost days stimulate muscle growth—a very important fact, because most people lose muscle mass when they get sick, and muscle keeps the body alive.
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Sauna Benefits: Heat shocks help repair proteins and protect healthy cells from toxins.
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Metabolic Flexibility: Cycling between catabolic (fasting/keto) and anabolic (carb-fed training) states helps my body build the strength it needs to fight back
The Role of VisionBody EMS in My Metabolic Cycling Plan
Trying to keep my body strong against cancer through diet alone wasn’t enough for me because muscle breakdown can be a major risk during keto and fasting cycles. That’s when my Visionbody suit came in handy.
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The electrical impulses activate 98% of muscle fibers, even when the suit is used at low intensity.
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On fasting days, light EMS training keeps muscles active without the need to consume calories
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On carb-boost days, intense EMS training ensures that the muscles get the glycogen they need to grow
By combining my metabolic cycling plan with EMS, I was able to maintain my muscle mass and the energy I needed to keep fighting cancer
The Power of the Infrared Sauna
The sauna is another key part of my plan. Each session triggers heat shock proteins, which act as “guardians” and protect healthy cells while attacking unhealthy ones.
Other benefits of the sauna include:
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Better detoxification through sweating.
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Improved blood circulation and oxygen uptake.
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Helps with recovery after EMS training sessions.
Benefits Beyond Cancer: Why Anyone Can Give This a Try
Although I created this plan to help me fight cancer, it can also be used by anyone who wants to:
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To achieve higher energy levels through metabolic flexibility
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Lose weight by shedding unhealthy fat and building muscle mass
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Help your body recover faster after workouts and from daily stress.
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Reap the longevity benefits of autophagy and a healthy immune system.
Even if you aren't battling cancer, you can help your body stay energetic and healthy by practicing metabolic cycling.
Weight Loss Without a Sauna
Even though the sauna helps by enhancing your results, if, for any reason, you are unable to take sauna sessions, you can still lose weight by alternating between fasting days, carb-loading days, and keto days. And by combining them with EMS training, you naturally create the perfect conditions for steady weight loss while preserving your lean muscle mass.
My Personal Conclusion
What started as an experiment to see if it would help me suppress the cancer cells has now become my way of life.
My diet plan, which I combine with EMS training and infrared sauna sessions, is, in my opinion, the most effective tool I have in this ongoing battle against cancer.
And one thing I want you to know, if you’re also dealing with an illness, is that your body is stronger than you realize. And you can help it fight and win by giving it the right tools.
My 7-day cycling plan is about survival, growth, and hope, and I’m sharing it with you because I want you to know that you’re not alone, that there’s still hope.
Henri Schmidt
Disclaimer: I wrote this article not as medical advice but to share my personal approach as a former athlete, fitness specialist, and EMS innovator who is battling cancer. Remember to always get your doctor’s approval before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine.
