Welcome to Ramadan, a month to lose sins, and that extra pounds of fat. But remember; SlimFitU is not only about losing extra pounds, but about your overall fitness. With the fast comes a natural tendency to lose the fat, but you will need to keep an eye on your fitness level during this period.
You are what you eat. And this is also true for this fasting period. Before we talk about what and what nots, you should know that beyond weight loss, a higher level of alertness comes with fasting, as the body secretes more endorphin. You should channel this advantage towards productive ventures.
If you will fight the initial lethargy, you could actually get more done during this period.
Your body will use up your supply of glucose and even consume the reserve stored in the liver and other body tissues. There is no cause for alarm, because the fat is burnt after the reserve of glucose is exhausted, but you do not want to go past this level.
In the absence of glucose and fat, muscles are wasted. So, you have to replenish your supply of energy by feeding on carbohydrates and healthy fats.
For Sahur, you should consider low digesting carbohydrates such as oats, wheat, millet etc., with little fat. With this your supply of energy throughout the day is ascertained. You should also include fibre-rich food such as vegetables, grains, potatoes etc., in the diet mix for proper bowel movement.
Fibres are not digestible, but helps the body in digesting and assimilating as much of the digestible nutrient as possible from the eaten food. You should also consider taking thirst regulating foods to stem down your thirst during the fasting periods.
Some of these foods such as banana, dates, pistachios etc., are rich in Sodium and could be bothersome to some kidneys, but you could replace them with, gelatin, fresh mint, lemon, caffeine-free soda etc.
Caffeine is not an option for you during this period; it increases the rate of urination and will increase your thirst beyond the bearable level. You do not want that temptation.
While you should drink a lot of water during Sahur and the entire ‘non-fasting’ period, limit your water intake during Iftar. Iftar should be light meal too; you will want to be very alert during Tarawih.
Above all, you should not forget your physical exercises during this period. You may reduce the intensity and duration. Listen to your body and do as much as you can handle, but do not neglect them. In fact, they will help your mood during and after the fast.
We all at SlimFitU are wishing you a Happy Ramadan, and may Allah answer our prayers.