Anyone else fasting?
Aw0627
Posts: 82 Member
I'm trying to lose 30lbs before my sisters wedding in August, but it's Ramadan and I'm fasting for about 16 hours a day from 3:30am to 8:30pm, so I'm having a hard time with exercising, finding the right time to do it and it's a bit rough to exercise right after I break my fast. So I wanted to do some exercises that burned a lot but I didn't have to do for hours. Is any else going through this and did you find the right time and way? Or does anyone have any tips on a short work out that burns a lot of calories?
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Replies
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hello...i just started intermittent fasting today. i used to do it years ago and had great success with it. (not for religious reasons) i am fasting for 18 hours per day, with feasting window of 6 hours.
when i used to do it, i would wake up in the morning, have BCAA (powder mixed with water) and go work-out with weights at the gym, along with a bit of cardio. then i wouldn't eat until 12:00 noon. that would break my fast and eat until 6:00 p.m. when i would eat my final meal of the day.
you are doing an opposite schedule, so to me, it will be easier. personally, i would NOT eat before working out. i would find a nice BCAA powder (try GNC and ask for a good flavor and one that dissolves well) and drink that directly before working-out or exercising. then follow your work-out with your first meal at 8:30 p.m.
lifting weights is an excellent way to burn calories and you will build nice muscle that will continue to burn calories long after you've left the gym. follow-up with a little cardio if you want (bicycle, treadmill, etc.)
when you eat your last bit of food at 3:30 a.m. (assuming you are awake) make sure to take-in alot of protein to sustain you through your fasting window.
HTH 0 -
So you're saying when I break my fast drink the BCAA, exercise then eat my meal, right? Also this BCAA powder, I heard it makes Women gain weight, a lot of people told me to stay away from it. So what the exact kind that you use? because I don't want to start gaining weight.WeddedBliss1992 wrote: »hello...i just started intermittent fasting today. i used to do it years ago and had great success with it. (not for religious reasons) i am fasting for 18 hours per day, with feasting window of 6 hours.
when i used to do it, i would wake up in the morning, have BCAA (powder mixed with water) and go work-out with weights at the gym, along with a bit of cardio. then i wouldn't eat until 12:00 noon. that would break my fast and eat until 6:00 p.m. when i would eat my final meal of the day.
you are doing an opposite schedule, so to me, it will be easier. personally, i would NOT eat before working out. i would find a nice BCAA powder (try GNC and ask for a good flavor and one that dissolves well) and drink that directly before working-out or exercising. then follow your work-out with your first meal at 8:30 p.m.
lifting weights is an excellent way to burn calories and you will build nice muscle that will continue to burn calories long after you've left the gym. follow-up with a little cardio if you want (bicycle, treadmill, etc.)
when you eat your last bit of food at 3:30 a.m. (assuming you are awake) make sure to take-in alot of protein to sustain you through your fasting window. HTH
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So you're saying when I break my fast drink the BCAA, exercise then eat my meal, right? Also this BCAA powder, I heard it makes Women gain weight, a lot of people told me to stay away from it. So what the exact kind that you use? because I don't want to start gaining weight.WeddedBliss1992 wrote: »hello...i just started intermittent fasting today. i used to do it years ago and had great success with it. (not for religious reasons) i am fasting for 18 hours per day, with feasting window of 6 hours.
when i used to do it, i would wake up in the morning, have BCAA (powder mixed with water) and go work-out with weights at the gym, along with a bit of cardio. then i wouldn't eat until 12:00 noon. that would break my fast and eat until 6:00 p.m. when i would eat my final meal of the day.
you are doing an opposite schedule, so to me, it will be easier. personally, i would NOT eat before working out. i would find a nice BCAA powder (try GNC and ask for a good flavor and one that dissolves well) and drink that directly before working-out or exercising. then follow your work-out with your first meal at 8:30 p.m.
lifting weights is an excellent way to burn calories and you will build nice muscle that will continue to burn calories long after you've left the gym. follow-up with a little cardio if you want (bicycle, treadmill, etc.)
when you eat your last bit of food at 3:30 a.m. (assuming you are awake) make sure to take-in alot of protein to sustain you through your fasting window. HTH
no, that is not true. A calorie surplus causes weight gain. That is all.
Also, no. I think the person above drinks water and BCAAs during the day. Since it's Ramadan, you wouldn't have that option.
That said, as long as you are getting the proper number of calories/macros when you ARE breaking your fast all is well.0 -
bcaa will not cause weight gain. you will only take about a scoop with water right as you are about to break your fast, directly before exercise. so, bcaa, exercise, break fast. all within 30 min to an hour.0
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Hi Aisha,
I am fasting as well. Honestly we really shouldn't be trying to lose weight during Ramadan. But.... to answer your question I am getting ready to walk (at midnight) it seems like the only time that will work for me. Let me know what you figure out that works for you
Ramadan Mubarak!0 -
ramadan mubarak 3alako0
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I am also fasting for 14 hours. But due to severe heat wave I am not doing any exercise. I just wanted to ask has anyone lost any bit of weight this ramadan?
Ramadan Mubarak!0 -
Honesty I wouldn't even know if I lost weight. I only weigh myself first thing in the morning for a consistent weigh in. And with having to wake up so early to eat and pray I am honestly stumbling out of bed not thinking about a scale. Lol0
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man I did 16:8 for a few weeks
and I *kitten* hated it lol
but YMMV0 -
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By fasting, you mean nothing but water? And how long before you noticed the health benefits? How does it affect sleep, etc? I am thinking it would take a few 'rounds'? or not? Tell us more.BILLBRYTAN wrote: »Intermittent fasting is the best thing I have ever tried. I use 18:6 hours and the benefits to my health have been numerous...or post a link?
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I only fast overnight.
As for high-intensity exercises, they're not easy.
Doing them when low on blood sugar + it's hot outside will be even harder.
Interval training & elliptical are the first which come to mind.
Just focus on maintaining while you're in this religious phase. When you get back to normal, and aren't stressing
your body, you can work on fitness again.0 -
I would say that I fast overnight as well
but lately I've been filling my gut with casein
ahhhh yummy casein0 -
salaita1968 wrote: »ramadan mubarak 3alako
Ramadan Mubarak!!!0 -
SweetTea111104 wrote: »Hi Aisha,
I am fasting as well. Honestly we really shouldn't be trying to lose weight during Ramadan. But.... to answer your question I am getting ready to walk (at midnight) it seems like the only time that will work for me. Let me know what you figure out that works for you
Ramadan Mubarak!
Ok. Ramadan Mubarak!!!0 -
WeddedBliss1992 wrote: »bcaa will not cause weight gain. you will only take about a scoop with water right as you are about to break your fast, directly before exercise. so, bcaa, exercise, break fast. all within 30 min to an hour.
This sounds like a good idea think I'll try it, but until I can get some BCAA I'll just drink plenty of water. Thanks for the advise.0 -
WeddedBliss1992 wrote: »bcaa will not cause weight gain. you will only take about a scoop with water right as you are about to break your fast, directly before exercise. so, bcaa, exercise, break fast. all within 30 min to an hour.
This sounds like a good idea think I'll try it, but until I can get some BCAA I'll just drink plenty of water. Thanks for the advise.
yeah just hit up Amazon for a big ole tub of BCAAs (should be a good price on there)0 -
I'm a Christian but I'm celebrating Ramadan again this year. I celebrated it in 2013, in honor of my coworker who is Muslim, and was being treated for a brain tumor. I had such a good experience getting closer to God, becoming more empathetic, and feeling like I was able to master my physical WANTS, that I decided to celebrate again this year. I feel like it is a "reset" both physically and spiritually, that brings me closer to God. I respect Muslims and the Prophet Mohammad PBUH, but follow the teachings of Jesus partly due to my having been raised in the faith, and partly because, I guess, it feels more authentic to my heart. I'm not sure how to explain it. Probably cultural bias on my part.
I have found that while it's easier to count calories, since they are all compressed into only a few hours, but it's HARDER to stay under my calories. It's also harder for me to exercise, although I remember it got easier after the first week *crosses fingers*. Today a group of us from my office walked for about thirty minutes at lunch. The non fasting people kept laughing at the rest of us because all we could do was talk about what we ate for Suhur, and what we were planning for Iftar!
What I really struggle with is water. It's all I can think about all day and evening then as soon as it's time for Iftar I only want food! Last night was pure BAD CHOICES - pizza and diet soda, then more pizza (plus an egg and toast with peanut butter and berries) for Suhur, and nowhere near enough water. The salt from the pizza is killing me and I have my first bad headache.
Since I'm the only one fasting at home, the meal is made around six PM and by nine it's all I can think about! Then at 3:30, for Suhur, dinner left overs sound much better than the solid meal I always plan.
I'm going to stop at the market on my way home and pick up some figs and watermelon. My coworker who grew up in Pakistan, says that eating a lot of watermelon for Suhur seems to keep water in your belly longer.
Tonight I only have a few calories left so I'll have a slice of spinach pie, a piece of dried fruit, and an apple.
Tomorrow's Suhur is planned as follows -
Spinach salad with two hard boiled eggs, 1 oz of goat cheese, balsalmic dressing and chia seeds.
As much melon as I can eat (46 calories / cup!)
a spoon full of peanut butter.
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HonestOmnivore wrote: »I'm a Christian but I'm celebrating Ramadan again this year. I celebrated it in 2013, in honor of my coworker who is Muslim, and was being treated for a brain tumor. I had such a good experience getting closer to God, becoming more empathetic, and feeling like I was able to master my physical WANTS, that I decided to celebrate again this year. I feel like it is a "reset" both physically and spiritually, that brings me closer to God. I respect Muslims and the Prophet Mohammad PBUH, but follow the teachings of Jesus partly due to my having been raised in the faith, and partly because, I guess, it feels more authentic to my heart. I'm not sure how to explain it. Probably cultural bias on my part.
I have found that while it's easier to count calories, since they are all compressed into only a few hours, but it's HARDER to stay under my calories. It's also harder for me to exercise, although I remember it got easier after the first week *crosses fingers*. Today a group of us from my office walked for about thirty minutes at lunch. The non fasting people kept laughing at the rest of us because all we could do was talk about what we ate for Suhur, and what we were planning for Iftar!
What I really struggle with is water. It's all I can think about all day and evening then as soon as it's time for Iftar I only want food! Last night was pure BAD CHOICES - pizza and diet soda, then more pizza (plus an egg and toast with peanut butter and berries) for Suhur, and nowhere near enough water. The salt from the pizza is killing me and I have my first bad headache.
Since I'm the only one fasting at home, the meal is made around six PM and by nine it's all I can think about! Then at 3:30, for Suhur, dinner left overs sound much better than the solid meal I always plan.
I'm going to stop at the market on my way home and pick up some figs and watermelon. My coworker who grew up in Pakistan, says that eating a lot of watermelon for Suhur seems to keep water in your belly longer.
Tonight I only have a few calories left so I'll have a slice of spinach pie, a piece of dried fruit, and an apple.
Tomorrow's Suhur is planned as follows -
Spinach salad with two hard boiled eggs, 1 oz of goat cheese, balsalmic dressing and chia seeds.
As much melon as I can eat (46 calories / cup!)
a spoon full of peanut butter.
Wow that extremely interesting I never met a non-muslim who fast the whole month of Ramadan, just some who has tried it for a couple of days, but never a whole month that's great! I love Ramadan and wait every year for it's arrival it's such a blessed month and makes me feel so grateful.
Usually for Suhur I have 2 bottles of water a banana and three dates for Sunnah, I can't really eat a whole meal at that time it's just too much. But water is also the biggest issue for me more than food I want to drink, even after I break fast I drink 3-4 bottles of water eat a date and I'm practical done for the night, but I now I have to eat more than that.
My African friend told me about the watermelon as well and she gave a ton so I might eat some of that for Suhur instead of the Banana.
Ramadan Mubarak!!!!0 -
One of my Muslim coworkers brought me some dates to start my Iftar, his wife serves them rolled in chia seeds.0
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I am fasting also, so I workout most times immediately after Sahur, because I would likely be too tired to workout in the evening, and it's almost impossible to workout after Iftar. I do circuit training a lot, and I also make sure I walk a lot also. I hope this helps0
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I am also fasting for 14 hours. But due to severe heat wave I am not doing any exercise. I just wanted to ask has anyone lost any bit of weight this ramadan?
Ramadan Mubarak!
My husband has lost some weight. He loves to cook, but I am cooking all the Iftar meals this Ramadan and the things I make are much more healthier and portion controlled than what he usually does.0 -
By fasting, you mean nothing but water? And how long before you noticed the health benefits? How does it affect sleep, etc? I am thinking it would take a few 'rounds'? or not? Tell us more.BILLBRYTAN wrote: »Intermittent fasting is the best thing I have ever tried. I use 18:6 hours and the benefits to my health have been numerous...or post a link?
i am currently doing (and have done in the past for years) 18:6 and i did nothing but water during my 18 fasting hours. it's not that difficult really because the majority of those hours, i am sleeping.
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apparently Buddhist monks fast every day
they only eat from dawn to noon0 -
adebayolola wrote: »I am fasting also, so I workout most times immediately after Sahur, because I would likely be too tired to workout in the evening, and it's almost impossible to workout after Iftar. I do circuit training a lot, and I also make sure I walk a lot also. I hope this helps
I WISH I would do that - but at 4AM all I can think about is squeezing in a few hours of sleep before I go to the office. I might be able to put in 15 minutes on the elliptical machine BEFORE I Suhur. Exercise might encourage me to drink more too!
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i know nothing about the religious views on fasting… I just know that different religions have practiced periodic times of fasting and there haven't been any serious health issues caused by it if you are already in good health. I have been doing a one day a week fast for a few months now. I have not lost an incredible amount of weight, but i have lost some. I feel healthier the next day after a fast. I don't feel guilty during the rest of the week if i have a burger or a few fries at some point, or even alcohol. I don't go crazy the other days, but I do eat when i am hungry, i never feel unsatisfied on the other days when I eat, i have stopped counting every calorie i consume, and just feel like the one day a week fast is a form of personal discipline and a way to kind of feel a bit "cleaner" when i am done. I work out at a Fit Body Boot Camp location 3 to 5 days per week, and have been doing this for 3 years.0
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Our monthly way in at work was this morning and I've lost 7 pounds since last month! Whoot!
I also added FOUR CUPS of watermelon to my Suhur this morning, plus a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I'm not sure I noticed that it helped today, I still have a headache from being dehydrated
I'm stopping for dates on my way home from work. Last night I was able to delay my meal until about an hour after sunset, so I had plenty of time to sip on a glass of water, then drink a couple glasses of green tea before I started eating food.0 -
I have this green smoothie recipe that has helped me tremendously during fasting. I have energy and not once from day 1 until now (Thank God!!!) have I gotten a headache or even felt run down and I do work out almost every day by walking on the treadmill for an hour almost every day. I drink 1/2 to break my fast and I drink the other half at Suhoor. It has done wonders for me and it is low in calories as the entire thing has 500 calories.
Here is the recipe.
Super DETOX Green Cleansing Smoothie
Ingredients
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup torn romaine lettuce leaves
• ½ cup chopped cucumber
• ½ cup chopped celery
• 1 small pear (or ½ large), cored and chopped
• 1 banana, chopped (preferably frozen)
• 1 cup water or coconut water. You can also use ½ cup water and ½ cup ice
• 1 tablespoon of fresh mint
• 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley
• ½ to 1 whole lemon, juiced
• ¼-inch slice ginger root, peeled
• pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
• pinch of cinnamon, optional
• pinch of turmeric, optional
Instructions
1. Place ingredients in blender and blend until completely smooth. Sweeten if needed and as desired, with liquid stevia, honey, or agave nectar (Any non-sugar sweetener).
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