Day 43 Back in the Salad Again

Up at 8:30 a.m. - 10 hours of sleep. weight - 167 lbs. Wow, I didn't even realize how tired I was. It must have taken about a day for the adrenalin to wear off. I feel good today but I'm even more sore today than yesterday in the triceps and shoulders. 10:15 a.m. - Had 24 oz. coffee w/ 8 grams of protein and a package of liquid Power Bar. The coffee went well with the tahini-sunflower cookie. 12:45 p.m. - Went out for lunch. Had a small salad, cup of soup, small root beer and 8 french fries. 1:40 p.m. - Drank 16 oz. chain-branched amino acid drink. 2:30 p.m. - had upper body massage therapy. 4:30 - 7:40 p.m. taught classes. In the course of the evening did 150 leg lifts, 85 sit ups, 150 side leg lifts, 70 twisting sit ups and no push ups. 8:30 p.m. - had small bowl of popcorn, two apple slices, one string cheese. 9:00 p.m. - small salad. 9:30 p.m. - 4 oz. Activa yogurt. 10:00 p.m. - 2 teaspoons of peanut butter. Now comes the challenge of eating the right foods in the right quantity at the right time.

Day 42 Conspicous Consumption

Up at 6:15 a.m. 6 1/2 hours of sleep. weight - 165 lbs. 6:20 a.m. drank 15 oz. Naked brand juice smoothie. Feeling good today even though I didn't sleep much. My left shoulder feels kind of weak and hard to raise up, but it will be fine. I'm not particularly hungry or even looking forward to eating today. However I'm expected to join the eating world again so I will. I will hate to see the fast end. Just like I hate to see eating end when I start the fast. Kind of strange. 10:00 - 12:05 p.m. - went to church. 1:00 p.m. Went to Gramma's Kitchen to eat my first meal in six weeks. They had a brunch buffet so I had a good choice of foods. If you're going to break a fast in a place like this, here's how you do it. I started with half a plate of fruit. It was watermelon, pineapple and cantaloupe cut in little pieces. Next, I had a salad with lettuce, broccoli, ranch dressing, sunflower seeds and croutons. After that, about two eggs, scrambled and a biscuit with sausage gravy. Finally, a small pastry. I had orange juice and coffee with the meal. I ate very slowly and enjoyed the food. I was satisfied but not full or uncomfortable. 6:00 p.m. - It seemed to me like we had just eaten, but my wife and daughter wanted to go out for dinner. I had a tostada, chips and salsa with a root beer. A small but enjoyable meal. I feel fine although it still a little strange to be eating again.

Day 41 The Big Day, Push Ups for Peace Part 2

It was exactly 3:00. As each of the charity representatives spoke, I listened and geared up mentally at the same time. I was there not only for myself, but for other people and organizations. Children's Therapy Center, Kids Against Hunger, Make A Wish Foundation and The Optimist Club were all there, expecting and depending on me to succeed. During Pastor Steve's invocation I allowed myself to relax yet still be geared up , ready to begin, as though I had my finger on an internal "go" button. After the pastor was done, Jennifer the emcee turned it over to me and it was finally time to start. I took the crowd of nearly fifty participants through some warm ups and headed toward my spot. The little black clock in front of me was five seconds from the twelve, the whistle blew and we were off. I didn't know what to expect. Would I have pain or even failure in my shoulder? The first set of 33 push ups went very well. With each set, I gained more confidence that I would break the world record . As the hour progressed I built my own little world consisting of a mat, a chair, a clock and a whistle blowing every minute. I was intent only on what I had to do. I was aware that there were two hundred or so people around me but I didn't see them and only vaguely heard them. Although it wasn't that warm, sweat was dripping profusely from my body after about twenty minutes. There was only 35 to 40 seconds between each set of 34 push ups to relax, get my breathing normal and get keep my mind right for the next set. As expected, it started getting a little rough about 40 minutes in to it...

Day 41 The Big Day, Push Ups for Peace Part 3

All I had to do was stick to the plan. Do 60 sets 0f push ups on the backs of my hands every minute for an hour. 40 of those sets would be 33 push ups and 20 of the sets would be 34 push ups for a total of exactly 2000. That would break the old record of 1,940 in an hour set in 2006 by Paddy Doyle of England. I knew it would get tough in the last third of the hour, but I didn't expect to fall from exhaustion on the last push up somewhere around the fiftieth minute. I really had to focus on resting and breathing to get my energy back in those last few minutes. Maybe it helped that I took an extra five seconds rest in each of the last five sets. Maybe it was that the music was blaring (I think it was the "Rocky" theme) and that the crowd was chanting my name: Mor-row! _ Mor-row!_ Mor-row! I just know there was a lot of excitement and it gave me the extra finishing energy I needed. I had done it. 2000 push ups on the back of the hands in an hour, with 5 seconds to spare. I felt great exhilaration, joy and relief as I signed autographs, thanked attendees and gave interviews. I was thankful that I had made it through the fasting, the training, the fund raising, promoting and film shooting and now the record attempt and the event. Strangely enough, my shoulder didn't even hurt during the push ups. It wasn't till about 10 minutes after I was done that it began to get sore again. With ice on my shoulder, I stood talking to people as the crowd slowly dispersed. Workers who stayed were encouraged to help themselves to some of the five complimentary pizzas from Happy Joe's. I wasn't ready to eat yet... 6:30 p.m. drank a 14 oz. Muscle Milk w/ 25 grams of protein. 7:15-8:30 p.m. Played Scrabble with my wife and daughter to unwind. I won with a score of 211 points. Up till almost midnight reading. Finally I unwound enough to go to bed after such a big day.

Day 41

Day 41 The Big Day - Push Ups for Peace, Part 1

Up at 7:15 - 8 1/2 hours of sleep. weight - 165 lbs. Feeling good so far. Today is the big day, the last day of Fastivus (a 41 day personal holiday season of fasting), Push ups for Peace(a unique charity event) and the final episode of Fast in the Life Lane, the documentary. I know my mind is ready. I just hope my body is ready especially my shoulder. 7:30 a.m. - iced down shoulder for 20 minutes. 7:35 a.m. - drank 16 oz. branched-chain amino acid drink. 7:40 a.m. - took hot bath. 8:40 a.m. - light martial art work out with 72 year old black belt student. 10:00 a.m. - taught kid's class. 11:00 a.m. - taught another kid's class at arsenal. 12:15 p.m. - drank another 16 oz. branched-chain amino acid drink. 12:30 - 1:40 p.m. - sipped on 12 oz. coffee w/ 2 packs of Power Bar liquid gels. 1:00 p.m. - Went up to Lujacks and picked up a 2012 Camaro. We used it in a scene where I am driving up in a fast car for the event. Kind of a fun mocumentary angle thrown in to this mostly serious film. 2:00 p.m. - started final preparations for the attempt - my mat, towel, drinks, chart and marker. We had to get the cameras set in the front and side view for Guinness to review later. I did the pre-event interviews and checked with the emcee. It was 3:00 and time to begin. I opened up a can of Guru energy drink took my place and prepared my mind for the next hour.

Day 40 Promise Myself To Be Strong

Up at 6:20 - 7 hours of sleep. weight - 167 lbs. Feeling kind of tired but I don't know why. I hope I don't wake up like this tomorrow. 7:00 a.m. - conducted class with a light workout. 8:30 a.m. - Went to Cup A' Jo's - Had 24 oz. cup of coffee, 34 grams of protein added. 10:30 a.m. - conducted class, did 50 leg lifts, 35 sit ups, no push ups, stretching , forms and stick work. 12:30 p.m. - drank 8 oz. of almond milk w/ 8 grams of protein. 2:00 p.m. - chiropractic adjustment. 3:40 p.m. - drank 16 oz. of branched-chain amino acid formula. 5:15 - drank 12 oz. almond milk w/ 20 grams of protein. 7:00 p.m. - drank 16 oz. branched-chain amino acid formula. 8:15 p.m. - drank 16 oz. almond milk w/ 25 grams of protein. 8:20 -8:40 p.m. - iced down shoulder. 9:30 - 9:50 p.m. - iced down shoulder again. 10:10 p.m. - Shoulder feeling good now, I don't know what else I can do. Right now I'm thinking about what I have to do tomorrow. I keep reading numbers 1 and 5 of the Optimist Creed: (1) Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. (2) to think only of the best, to work only for best and to expect only the best. If I can keep that promise, I'll be fine no matter what. See you tomorrow.