I lost outside the ring – did boxing break him forever? Artur Szpilka.

The fasting protocol emerged from Kosta's influence. Every Saturday at 20:00 they stop eating, drinking only water. No coffee during the fast. By Sunday morning (8:00) they break it. Szpilka reports extreme productivity and absence of post-meal drowsiness. In the evening he gets very hungry and watches food videos; this is part of the ritual. He emphasizes that a single 36-hour fast does not cause weight loss; any lost weight returns quickly. They experimented with longer fasts but settled on this weekly rhythm. Initially they made the mistake of overeating at the break and felt sick; now they reintroduce food modestly. Szpilka plans to resume after stopping for antibiotics.

Szpilka bought a wooden barrel for his garden. He and Kosta mix a 'mikstura' (turmeric, pepper, etc.) and drink it immediately before plunging. The key is no hesitation: if he pauses to brush teeth or drink regular water, his brain invents reasons to skip. He compares it to a 'pozytywny wariat' (positive madman). The routine is part of a larger morning structure: pre-plunge mixture, plunge, then wait 30 minutes for breakfast, then wait an hour after breakfast before coffee. Szpilka credits Kosta for making this non-negotiable; without him, he would skip often. The feeling post-plunge he describes as so euphoric he screams 'Wow!', and it makes him forget about coffee. However, he still drinks coffee later out of habit. He did this 3x/week during training for fights but currently paused due to laziness.

Szpilka describes a gradual change starting at 30, accelerating at 33. He now deliberately avoids situations that could provoke the 'old Szpilka' and admits that occasionally the old temper flares (e.g., during a tennis match with his friend Piotrek). He now sees value in speaking without swearing and finds public trash talk embarrassing, especially at freak-fight conferences. He refuses offers to return to High League because the atmosphere made him feel uncomfortable and the verbal abuse disgusts him. He also stopped reading all comments years ago after they caused him high blood pressure during his boxing career, a habit he says saved his mental health.

Immediately after the fight, Szpilka felt unusually calm and thought he had matured. Within a week, however, old traumas resurfaced, including cravings to party in Colombia. He consulted psychologist Andrzej, who bluntly advised against a Colombia trip. Szpilka acknowledges the fight wasn't even a fight—it lasted 14 seconds and he cannot rationalize it away because he wasn't hurt by a low blow or a series of shots; he simply fell after his own Superman attempt and got finished. He re-lives the moment constantly, but does not blame Wrzosek. The inability to make excuses (his pre-fight motto was 'no excuses') makes it unbearable. He still thinks about a rematch, but knows it won't erase the pain.

Szpilka describes watching recent conferences with embarrassment as participants insult each other and throw objects. He contrasts this with his experience in KSW, where the focus remains on sport and athletic achievement. He believes that although freak fights initially attracted him, the current level has crossed into vulgarity he cannot stomach. He also compares Conor McGregor's trash talk, which was backed by elite skills, to the hollow trash talk in freak fights. He now turns off such conferences when his partner watches them. He leaves open a single exception for a potential fight with 'Diablita' but otherwise refuses to rejoin that world.

With KSW career nearing its end, Szpilka wants to secure an alternative income. He observed that men typically use minimal grooming products, but awareness is shifting. His brand 'The Balance' aims to be premium yet accessible. The razor is produced with Swedish technology, featuring a design that won't clatter against the sink and avoids cuts—something he cares about as he's shaved his body since age 15. The antiperspirant is without aluminum, which he calls harmful to DNA, though it requires reapplication 2–3 times daily. He also makes antifungal/antibacterial shower gels. A biotechnologist assured him the products contain exceptionally high amounts of active ingredients—'no woman could envy you'. He is currently waiting for production to finish.