Body Over Mind

Tips to get you moving this Ramadan

 

by et staff

  The road to weight gain is paved with good intentions: That’s the harsh reality of what happens to many people during Ramadan. We all know it isn’t healthy to shy away from exercising in Ramadan, and we all start the Holy Month vowing to miss as few workout sessions as possible. But after a long day of working and fasting, especially following a heavy iftar, drowsing on the couch in front of the television sounds like the perfect way to spend the rest of the evening.   Who wants to go to the gym and shake that newly acquired belly on a stair-master or elliptical trainer? Unfortunately, if you give in to the urge to stay in, the result will be a sizeable gain in weight by the Eid. So here are some tried and tested tips to keep you moving this Ramadan:   If you have the privilege of not having to take care of kids and prepare iftar, opt to exercise right before the call to prayer and iftar. Working out at this time of the day will drive away the hunger pangs, keep your mind off the iftar waiting for you at home, and even if you feel thirsty, you know that release from all your cravings is a few minutes away. Just make certain you don’t overdo it and become so dehydrated you need to break your fast for health reasons.   The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had a few dates and some milk right after the azaan and delayed his meal until after prayers. If you want to exercise after iftar, opt for some dates and soup, and then go do your workout. You will have more stamina to exercise this way ― and your stomach will have the chance to calm down after a long day’s fasting. To build muscle, chow down on protein-heavy food with healthy carbohydrates within an hour of your workout.   If you are not the type to delay eating a big meal until later, then the best time to exercise for you would be following the tarawih prayers. The prayers, a form of gentle exercise, can help your body snap out of its food-induced lethargy, preparing it for more strenuous exercise later. Plus, you’ll be exercising a couple of hours after eating, which many physiologists recommend.   The following suggestion is not for the faint-hearted: If mornings are the only time you can fit in your exercise regimen, try to eat a very late and well-balanced sohour. Although exercising without having a bottle of water close by is unthinkable to most, some manage. In fact, many trainers only advise against it if you are very frail or suffer from a medical condition.   Even if you are not a member of a gym or sports center, it is important that you find time and stamina for some form of exercise during Ramadan, even if it’s only a 30-minute walk around the club’s track before or after iftar. In fact, for those with very busy schedules, walking could be the best answer: As the weather starts improving, try parking the car a little farther than you usually do, or give it up completely on some days and take short walks to run your errands or to go to the mosque. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, going up quickly for a cardio workout, and climb the stairs two at a time for a great stretching exercise.