Religious fasting- how to manage exercise during?
NotJustADieter
Posts: 229 Member
I am fasting for the next week for religious reasons. I can drink calories, but not eat, during this time period. After sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, nothing to eat or drink except to take my meds. There's no "cheating" (no protein powder in milk, etc) but I will be drinking a lot of water and juice, etc. How should I limit my exercise while I'm fasting? Any advice?
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Replies
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Just.. donl't exercise? You'll be doing your body more harm than good by increasing the caloric deficit you will be experiencing this week. Unless you drink so much milk and juice that you are able to reach your caloric needs... doibt you'd feel good enough to work out.0
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It depends on how strenuous your exercise is.
The longest I've fasted (water only) was 4 days. I felt fine, but I don't think I would have had the energy for more than a brisk walk each day.
If it's just for the one day, you *might* not notice much of a change. Just stop if you feel tired, dizzy, or faint. Or skip a day... that won't hurt you any.0 -
Fasting is a time of rest for healing and rejuvenation. It is advisable to avoid exercise as much as possible during this time. Blessings!0
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The requirement is 24 hours without food or drink.
Not exercising is logical.0 -
Just say you have your period so you don't have to fast and you can work out instead if you want to work out.0
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Huh?Just say you have your period so you don't have to fast and you can work out instead if you want to work out.0 -
Just say you have your period so you don't have to fast and you can work out instead if you want to work out.
sighs.
dont exercise that day.
maybe use the time fruitfully for reflection and remembrance.
i know i shall be.0 -
How is milk and protein powder cheating but juice is not? What about honey? Honey dissolved in tea? Where does the line get drawn?
Personally, I would just not exercise. It's not like it's for an extended period of time.0 -
One day of fasting should have no effect at all. They studied pro athletes who do Ramadan fasting and they aren't affected. Our bodies are made to get energy from body fat, not just today's food intake.0
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Yom Kippur? That is a major holiday fast, requiring no work. It is for one day. 25 hours, not two days (-- edit -- oh, you said that. My bad.)
I will be following the fast. I will also be following the injunction to do no work. A "workout" is work. Ergo, no workouts. One is expected to participate in services, and walk to get there. I do not consider that to be a workout. Water and juice are disallowed, however each person finds their own level of observance and I do not criticize, not being anywhere near perfectly observant.
I consider the day as a recovery day. Missing a day of workouts will not screw up my entire life schedule. Being fit includes being physically, mentally, and spiritually fit. Therefore, it is an important part of a lifetime fitness plan.0 -
I religiously fast and I don't exercise during that time, I sit and meditate until its over, then when I eat normally I will exercise0
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Just say you have your period so you don't have to fast and you can work out instead if you want to work out.
You... you do realize I'm choosing to fast, right?0 -
Yom Kippur? That is a major holiday fast, requiring no work. It is for one day. 25 hours, not two days (-- edit -- oh, you said that. My bad.)
I will be following the fast. I will also be following the injunction to do no work. A "workout" is work. Ergo, no workouts. One is expected to participate in services, and walk to get there. I do not consider that to be a workout. Water and juice are disallowed, however each person finds their own level of observance and I do not criticize, not being anywhere near perfectly observant.
I consider the day as a recovery day. Missing a day of workouts will not screw up my entire life schedule. Being fit includes being physically, mentally, and spiritually fit. Therefore, it is an important part of a lifetime fitness plan.
I have a lot of **** going on, and had a looooong discussion with my Rabbi.... I'm going no solid food (shakes and such are okay) for a week due to just my life right now. I need a lot of reflection and I can't have that during this holy week if I am concerning myself more with what I'm taking than what I'm giving to the world. I will most certainly NOT be working out on the holiday itself, but for the week, I really have no choice as I have a school-required fitness class.
I know no water or juice on the day itself- I grew up in a very religious, Orthodox household. The only liquid intake I have that day is a bitter herbal tea to take my meds with, which is religiously acceptable.0 -
I would take a nice slow walk, outside in a peaceful place. It's good for the body and soul
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I'll be fasting too for religious reasons and so I'll avoid exercise all together. You probably should avoid working out on the day of atonement. I think so anyway.
Oh, sorry, I didn't see that you already said that you were going to avoid working out on the actual day.0 -
I typically don't train on fasting days, which for me (as a Catholic) are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Since those days are intended for penance and reflection, it seems appropriate to consider them "rest days."
I also abstain from meat on most Fridays, so my protein consumption often falls short of my goals on Fridays.0 -
Just say you have your period so you don't have to fast and you can work out instead if you want to work out.
is this a troll post?0 -
If it's one day then by all means take a rest. I remember during pre-Easter fast (50 days) I felt too tired during the first couple of days. After that it was okay and I could exercise without problems.0
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I personally don't find fasting on Yom Kippur makes my holiday more meaningful, so I basically just skip breakfast. It's a decision I made long ago and I'm comfortable with it. My parents and my sister are all on medication and have health issue that require them to eat, so fasting for the full holiday isn't something we tend to do in my family.
Anyway, if you are choosing to fast, you must not exercise. The purpose of fasting would be completely negated if you made yourself ill from it. Jewish law says that taking care of your health is more important than the fast. The fast isn't even a requirement, it's a tradition. But to do it correctly, you must do it safely. Don't put yourself at risk for dehydration or passing out, or using up so many calories that you can't last until the end of the day.
That said...a leisurely stroll after morning services would be lovely and probably not expend too many calories. Just don't push too hard.
Shanah tovah.0 -
If you're concerned you might consider speaking to the instructor of your fitness class. Most teachers understand that exercise during prolonged fasting isn't exactly ideal and will make accommodations for religious observance.0
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Not me - I could never fast and exercise. For religious Jews, fasting means no water at all. If you pass out, what are you proving? That you're a fool? PASS0
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As a Jew, I understand why people fast over Yom Kippur.
I don't - for several reasons 1) lack of food = migraines, and 2) I don't feel that eating makes me any 'less of a Jew'.
My question is - will going without solid food for an entire week really help you through whatever conflicts you have?
And - is this really something your Rabbi condones?
I'm not questioning your religious practices - I'm just questioning using food - or lack there of - as a soul- purifying mechanism for such a prolonged time.0 -
As a Jew, I understand why people fast over Yom Kippur.
I don't - for several reasons 1) lack of food = migraines, and 2) I don't feel that eating makes me any 'less of a Jew'.
My question is - will going without solid food for an entire week really help you through whatever conflicts you have?
And - is this really something your Rabbi condones?
I'm not questioning your religious practices - I'm just questioning using food - or lack there of - as a soul- purifying mechanism for such a prolonged time.
It's less about using lack of food as a soul purifying mechanism and more thinking less about the actual act of eating. Shaping my life, my thought, around food and myself as a negative thing, as opposed to using my time and my thoughts for other actions. I'm drinking plenty of calories but this week is a reflection time for me. I talked to him at length about this, and he said as long as I'm still taking in liquid calories and am really using it as a meditative time, it's religiously viable.0 -
I have a lot of **** going on, and had a looooong discussion with my Rabbi.... I'm going no solid food (shakes and such are okay) for a week due to just my life right now. ...
I have absolutely NO criticism. IMO, definitely go with what keeps you healthy in body and mind. I'm guessing through the discussion it was raised that it is more important, even required, to remain healthy than follow every rule laid down by someone. Maybe not in those words, but something like that.
Anyway, the original question was about workouts. Give the workout a miss and concentrate on other things.0 -
Sadly I don't think it is.... all I can figure is she only read bits and pieces of words from the OP's first post.Just say you have your period so you don't have to fast and you can work out instead if you want to work out.
is this a troll post?
" during this time period. " ??? perhaps this is where she got it?:noway: Either way it made no sense... to me.0 -
I'm on a 20-hour fast everyday, 4 hours of eating window. It's just a matter of being able to adapt. At first, you'll feel *kitten*. Then, you'll eventually you'll feel ok.
If you're talking about dry fast, which means water isn't even allowed, then disregard my earlier comment. I can't handle that.0 -
Personally, I don't feel like there is even a point in observing Yom Kippur if you're going to try to exercise during it. It's one of only a few days each year for you to take the time and reflect on your relationship with others (and with God if you believe in it/him/her). You will not be improving your body drastically if you are pushing to work out on that day, but you will be missing out on an opportunity to improve your inner self. Take the opportunity to put the "daily grind" on the backburner and don't worry about exercise and weight loss for this day. You have 364 other days in the year to exercise.0
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Personally, I don't feel like there is even a point in observing Yom Kippur if you're going to try to exercise during it. It's one of only a few days each year for you to take the time and reflect on your relationship with others (and with God if you believe in it/him/her). You will not be improving your body drastically if you are pushing to work out on that day, but you will be missing out on an opportunity to improve your inner self. Take the opportunity to put the "daily grind" on the backburner and don't worry about exercise and weight loss for this day. You have 364 other days in the year to exercise.
Reread what I said- I'm most certainly NOT working out on Yom Kippur, however, I'm doing a mini-fast leading up to it for personal religious reasons.0 -
If it were me... I might try to get a decent amount of calories (like 1200 at least) a day from those liquid calories you said you can consume, then I'd feel free to do around 30 mins of exercise a day (even something like workout DVDs). If your doing that, then I think you'd be ok - but you should listen to your body and make sure you feel okay while doing it. Stop if you feel light headed!
You may feel better doing more exercises earlier in the week and cutting back as the week progresses...
Also... I'd keep a bathroom nearby - for the exercise poops! Which a liquid diet won't help.
Try to make shakes from milks, yogurts, veggies, fruits (but not too many fruits). I'd recommend trying to make your own shakes rather than only having water and juices. Just so you can balance out the sugars a bit.0 -
As a Jew, I understand why people fast over Yom Kippur.
I don't - for several reasons 1) lack of food = migraines, and 2) I don't feel that eating makes me any 'less of a Jew'.
My question is - will going without solid food for an entire week really help you through whatever conflicts you have?
And - is this really something your Rabbi condones?
I'm not questioning your religious practices - I'm just questioning using food - or lack there of - as a soul- purifying mechanism for such a prolonged time.
It's less about using lack of food as a soul purifying mechanism and more thinking less about the actual act of eating. Shaping my life, my thought, around food and myself as a negative thing, as opposed to using my time and my thoughts for other actions. I'm drinking plenty of calories but this week is a reflection time for me. I talked to him at length about this, and he said as long as I'm still taking in liquid calories and am really using it as a meditative time, it's religiously viable.
i was intrigued by the answers you might receive and i have to say that i am humbled by your spiritual convictions. i am not Jewish and i know you are not doing this for any outside affirmations, but i admire your strength and convictions. it really inspires me. :flowerforyou:0
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