Back in February, I challenged myself to a 24-hour fast: 8 pm-8 pm. It wasn’t for weight loss or an operation. I simply wanted to see if I — a wicked foodie — could handle 24 hours without sustenance. That in itself was difficult, staying away from breakfast, lunch, and all the snacks in between.
The 18-20 hour mark was the toughest. It was lunchtime. Friends ate gorgeous-looking sandwiches of cold cuts, the smell of which kissed my nostrils. The bread flirted with me through its gluten and sugars. I visited the ski cafeteria to find salt packets, pouring them into my water for electrolytes. That two-hour span tested my power of self-determination.
I succeeded, by the way. It turns out that I am fully capable of fasting for a full day. Keeping busy is the key. An occupied mind is an occupied belly. The plan was to repeat this monthly for its health benefits. Hasn’t happened yet, but soon (right!?).
The real challenge was three days later in the gym. My friend, Charlie, had been helping me train. He seemed to enjoy torturing me. Near the end of our 90-minute session, he guided me through the battle ropes — two heavy hulks of braided rope you might find helping a destroyer stay near the dock.
About halfway through our movements (up and down, side to side, alternating up and down), I felt my body loosen and slow. I could have let it continue downhill and call it quits. I did. My hands slacked, and the ropes moved less. I’m done, echoed through my head.
My brain kicked in, reminding me that I am capable of more than expected. If I can survive a day without food (really not that bad in the grand scheme of world hunger), then battle ropes are easy. My muscles re-activated, I breathed more consciously, and I stared down the length of the rope to where it terminated at the base of its stand.
The human body can endure trials beyond imagination. This was nothing compared to what others tolerate. For Nick, it was a test of will and determination. I’m aiming to challenge myself more this year and in the future, to see what my body is capable of.
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