Ramadan, fasting, MFP, and you. A guide

Ramadan Kareem. Yesterday was the first day for us (I know some cities/countries started the day before). Anyway, I learned a lesson yesterday. I have to slow the heck down when i'm eating because after I ate, I was miserable. I didn't necessarily eat a lot, but I ate fast and I was stuffed and wanted to just fall over and have someone wheel me out of the house.

Tonight, I will be more aware and do better.

How are you all doing?

Edited to add: I learn this dang lesson every year too!

. However, the workout... is there any harm in working out around 1.30am or 2? I feel that is when I feel I have digested enough to workout without feeling ill... my workout is JM 30 Day Shred. I have odd timings, I stay up and eat and pray fajr and then go to bed.

Can you still get about 7 or 8 hours of sleep around your workout time? Lack of sleep slows down your metabolism and will really hurt your weight loss plan. I'm able to fall asleep very easily (too easily) so I would be able to exercise and then go back to sleep... Reading that you're doing it makes me feel like I should try! I have an old elliptical machine in the garage I could use to get in a 20 minute cardio which would have to be better than nothing. Plus if I shower after then go back to bed I can just go right back to sleep and skip my morning shower.

As a non-Muslim, can someone tell me why some of my coworkers start their fast a few hours earlier than others here in the office? We're all in the same light locations but at least one of the girls said she and her husband start their fast around 4:20AM while sunrise isn't until 6AM?

THANKS!

As a non-Muslim, can someone tell me why some of my coworkers start their fast a few hours earlier than others here in the office? We're all in the same light locations but at least one of the girls said she and her husband start their fast around 4:20AM while sunrise isn't until 6AM?

THANKS!

Fast starts at dawn, not at sunrise. Maybe that explains it?

Ramadan Kareem, everyone :-)

I'm not muslim, but I have always wondered about the sunrise to sunset rule, particularly in Northern countries like the UK, or, even worse, Alaska, where you might find yourself facing Ramadan at a time of year where the sun never sets? Surely that rule was set in a country much closer to the equator, where you would not face such extremely long days as one would in a Northern summer. Conversely, if you were very far south this month, you could find yourself in the enviable position of not having to fast at all for Ramadan lol (though I understand that there is a minimum fast period prescribed by Islamic law).

I've always wondered why the hours weren't prescribed as to those applicable at, say, Meccah, for that particular lunar month, then everyone is following the same fast.

then on Wednesday I was mixing up fresh goat cheese with a little salt, and it was only after I was remarking on how wonderful it tasted that I realized what I'd done.

Actually, if you eat by mistake (truly forgetting that you are fasting), you haven't broken your fast. "Whoever forgets that he is fasting and then eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for verily, it was Allah who gave him to eat and drink" (Bukhari and Muslim) Of course, this isn't meant to be abused .

So actually no major errors in reality .

For me, who doesn't follow any faith, thank you for such an informative post.

I'm so enjoying celebrating Ramadan! Don't get me wrong, just like starting a new exercise, like running, there is a LOT of physical discomfort involved. And just like starting a new habit, I'm having to struggle to fit my life and my friends (and their expectations) around my fasting. But the reason for Ramadan is so beautiful and the effectiveness of the fasting is amazing!

I have been praying more in the past eight days than I prayed in the previous eight years. For non-religious folks think of meditating much more often. I've become more centered and I'm very much more epithetic of those who go without food due to their circumstances, and I feel their pain acutely when I'm finally able to enjoy a meal at night. Knowing that there are millions of hungry who don't have that luxury? As I'm drinking my first glass of water after dusk and turned to night, I can feel what a blessing it is to have water I can drink from my tap (even though it's stinky well water). I've been nibbling on two or three dried dates or figs and they taste so amazing as they dissolve in my mouth! Last night I stuffed three dried dates with goat cheese and it was like heaven! How can I enjoy that without thinking of all of God's children who went to bed with nothing to break their fasting?

On three of the nights I've eaten WAY too much, but over all I'm doing well! I drink my water and eat a few dates or figs, then I drink some more water while I put a meal together. Generally I'm having a mixed greens salad with goat cheese and pistachios plus a fresh fruit like strawberries! If you're wondering what's up with all the goat cheese, we have four dairy goats and making chevre is the easiest way to use up any extra milk I pour myself a 32 oz. mug of green chai tea, which I take to bed and drink throughout the night until it's just before dawn - then I get up and have a light breakfast of yogurt and fruit or an egg and spinach, plus a cup of coffee. I'm down five pounds!

Thanks EVERYONE who's been helping me out and answering my questions!:flowerforyou:

Last year was brutal for me. Ia had to eat breakfast at 4:30 and my next meal was at 8:00pm. I couldn't eat that much because I knew I would be asleep in a few hours. I don't know how anyone does it. I was tired and exhausted, and I couldn't work out at all. I tried swimmig which helped but it is still so difficult when you can't drink water.

Bumping for Ramadan 2014. Salaam alaykum, all! :flowerforyou: We have less than 4 weeks to go. How is everyone preparing? I've been eating less during the day so the hunger isn't such a shock to my system. My workouts are on hold, though I may take a brisk walk after sunset each night. I think Muslims are the only people on Earth who get excited about NOT eating. :laugh: It will be an amazing month, insha'Allah (God willing).

Ramadan Kareem!

just over two weeks to go i'm looking forward to Ramadhan.
dont think i will be working out at all though as here in the UK the fast will be lasting 20 hours this year!
i'd be happy to maintain, not going to worry too much about having a weight loss every week.
Ramadhan Mubarak everyone

Ramadan Kareem to you in advance Meryem!
I also try to lower my calorie intake the last weeks before Ramadan so that my body starts to be used to it :-)
I don't think I'm going to eat all those yummy traditional Moroccan dishes and specialties lol If I ate just 2 spring roll with chicken I would be at 1200 kcal!

Thanks and same to you! I've REALLY dropped my calories in preparation, so if I start losing too much weight, I may have to stop fasting and donate to the poor instead. I'm the type of person who doesn't gorge themselves at iftar, by that point I've lost my appetite. I don't have much weight to lose so I tend to get very sickly very quickly. :frown: I'm going to try my best though, isA, planning some high calorie meals. Sounds like you have a good plan! :bigsmile:

Best wishes to all those practicing. Please join the MFP Muslims group for more discussion if you haven't already.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/2543-mfp-muslims

Scary

You posted that in the other thread about Ramadan too.

How on earth is it scary for good dietary advice to be given about a religious practice?

No different to people posting about giving up foods for Lent, for example.

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Cannot wait for Ramadan to come! We're almost there guys!