Seven Days Fasting, 2,130 Step-Ups Completed, and the Test of Mental Discipline
by: Michaelson Williams, author of *The Legacy Wife, Playground Dating Theories, YOU ARE ILLUMINATI: Psychological World War III, Trainwashing: The Secrets of Positive Brainwashing,* and more.
If you haven't read Part One of my journey yet, you can read about it here.
I didn't physically go over to Dubai to climb the 2,909 steps to reach the summit of the Burj Khalifa. That part, my imagination took care of. What I did do was set up a situation at home where I could mimic a near-identical experience. Why the Burj? The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the entire world, standing at a height of 2,717 ft (828 meters), so why not task myself with reaching its highest level? Fasting during the climb wasn't the afterthought; the climb was. I was already fasting, so the added pressure of combining the two activities felt like a good idea—and it was.
FYI, if the numbers seem like they don't match, don't forget I'm using an 11-inch box versus a standard 8-inch stair commonly found in building construction. See part 1 for detailed calculations.
Why Don't Men Test Themselves Anymore?
Look, I know that there are some men who test themselves mentally and physically frequently, but do you get the feeling that, in these "modern" times, men are soft around the edges? It's like most men have ceased to push beyond simply being comfortable. Maybe after seeing my numbers, you'll think, Well, that task was no big deal. I can do that! And I hope that you can. But the question is, will you? Will you put the pressure on yourself that I did to complete this mentally and physically—at times—draining challenge? Anyone can talk about performing this many steps while fasting the entire time, but most—maybe even you reading this—will never take it on. And by the way, I'm not done.
This morning—or the morning I wrote this entry—I performed a 22-minute slow climb, purposefully slowing down my steps. This created a slow-burn effect where sweating was delayed until enough heat and energy were established for its release. I performed these step-ups quietly and softly, as if not to wake the house. I delayed going for my morning water release and did not interact with the upcoming day mentally. It was just me and the step. My clear mind and the task at hand. The rest of the world didn't exist. With each step-up and then step-down, it felt like I grew a bit taller. Not that I needed it, but I felt even more confident than normal. As the sweat rolled down my forehead and the center of my back, I knew that every task after this would be small in comparison.
The Numbers
The chart you see here shows my step-up exercise process for my entire Burj climbing task. You'll see that I completed a few more steps than required to finish the job, but that's because I operate in ADM. For those of you reading this who are not familiar with the ADM process, it means Always Do More. This term comes from the idea that a man should never—ever in his life—engage in the act of doing the bare minimum. We regularly practice this idea in The Fit 300 Podcast live workout sessions, where male discipline is tested in real time. Trust me, The Fit 300 isn't for most men, but who's trying to be like most modern men? Not me.
What I Ate After the Fast
The first meal after my 7-day fast was simple: yogurt with local honey, fruit, and a bit of cinnamon; black coffee; and two farm-fresh eggs, raw. Oh yeah, and a pat of Kerrygold butter, cut right from the stick. If you don't eat butter—good butter like this—you don't know what you're missing.
This was more than enough to eat on a post-fasting empty stomach, but I knew the day would ramp up, as my chef mind was at work figuring out what to eat later. And no, I am not a chef, not by a long shot, but I do love cooking and baking. If you've read some of my other articles on fasting, then you know I don't like to have other people cook for me. Most people aren't controlling their mental and physical energies, so I don't want that negative energy around what I'm using to fuel my mind and body.
So, once I got cracking in the kitchen, I made this: wild-caught tuna, sticky vanilla rice, shiitake mushrooms, and baby carrots, with a fresh red onion and red pepper butter sauce. It was either to die for, or I was too hungry to tell that it was crap... lol.
What's for Dessert?
Dessert was a bit more challenging, as it was a five-hour endeavor from start—the research—to finish, including the cleanup. What was the dessert? A torte. Not just any torte, either.
This original recipe was created by Franz Sacher, a 16-year-old boy who was trying to impress his guests after the head chef fell ill. Imagine the pressure this young man had on his shoulders, and then think about the last time you felt that as a man. The year was 1832, in 19th-century Vienna, Austria, and the dessert was an apricot chocolate cake that became the Sachertorte.
The Sachertorte has layers of complexity that I cannot begin to explain, which is probably why it took me so long to create the MichaelsonEffect version of it.
I'm not a fan of apricots nor chocolate cake, so I had to make a few changes, like making a strawberry jam and changing the dark chocolate ratios. Plus, I added cream-filled cookies and fresh strawberries, which I halved and triple-dipped in chocolate.
My version of the Sachertorte isn't anywhere near what I imagine the original was the night Franz presented it to his guests, but it sure is calling to me right now. This cake is a time machine, as with just one bite, you are instantly transported to 19th-century Austria. I'm not kidding. Just the thought of having a second slice with a cup of coffee has me thinking of simpler times. However, I'm currently in a 36-hour fast, so I must wait another 20 hours before eating a second piece.
If you get the opportunity to experience the Sachertorte yourself, do so. You won't regret it.
I think that covers everything for this entry. If you did enjoy this article, don't forget to see where it all started by reading Part One. Also, feel free to click any of the other links here in this article to follow other paths of self-discovery.
Thank you.
Michaelson Williams
The MichaelsonEffect
Founder at GoVoteX Infinity
Author of YOU ARE ILLUMINATI - Psychological World War III
Also checkout The Fit 300 Podcast
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