Fasting in Ramadan
why not eating is the easy part
Previously, I’ve written about Ramadan and some of my intentions going into the holy month this year. In this post, I am going to relate my experience with fasting in Ramadan this year.
I.
The first week of Ramadan is always the toughest. This year’s fast begins in the middle of the week. No adjustment or trial period before the holy month. Once the sun is up, food, drink and other things are off-limits.
That first day, my head was spinning. I figured that it is because of the calorie deficit, and lack of water. Made worse by the fact that Malaysia is going through a heat wave. Coincidentally, the Arabic root word for Ramadan means scorching heat.
However, fasting in Ramadan is not that difficult.
II. Before the Fast
The hours before dawn, Muslims are allowed a meal, known as suhoor. It’s so we can prepare ourselves for the day.
I like to wake up about 90 minutes before the dawn. Personally, I like to have a simple serving of oatmeal, fruit smoothie and 1.25 liters of water. No coffee or tea, because an intake of diuretics (they make you pee) means I will lose water too fast.
I also use suhoor as a time to mentally brace myself. To align my intentions with what I want to accomplish for the day. If I have a deadline to meet, then I have to schedule my day and set my diet accordingly too.
III. During the Fast
My first three days of Ramadan were a slog. Imagine pushing a giant rock up a hill under the sun, or swimming through thick mud. I was physically constrained. I don’t have the comfort of a cool drink to quench my thirst. Mentally, I was in a swirl. It’s a mix of anxiousness and agitation. It felt like any thing could set me off on an emotional tailspin.
The first week is a shock to the system. The body has to adapt to the disruption in its regularly scheduled refuel and sleep.
After getting past that first week, the fast is the easy part. I do not have to think about food and drink. It is trying to get everything else done for the day that’s extremely difficult.
If I take a nap at the start of the day, I have a lot more inertia to deal with before I can get myself going. It’s like Newton’s First: an object at rest remains at rest.
I find that if I start with light activity, like reading or journalling, I can get through the rest of my day. It’s making that inertia work for me, again Newton’s First: an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed.
On the physical side, the body feels nice and clean. As though my body has been purified of my sins gunk and sludge. No bloating or hunger pangs, just a nice sensation that starts from the gut.
Mentally, the fast actually clears up brain fog. I feel more attuned and aware of how my body is feeling. Even when tired, I can pay attention and do work.
But even that mental clarity has its limits. I can only remain at that state from morning until the afternoon. After that, I need to put my head on the pillow.
IV. After the Fast
On sunset, we break our fast with a light meal — iftar. I like to break my fast lightly, it is recommended that one breaks the fast with just three dates (the fruit) and some water.
On the preachy side, I don’t subscribe to the feast culture in Malaysia. I just cleaned my body from junk, why do I want to stuff garbage back in my body? Moreover the purpose of Ramadan is to cultivate a sense of moderation and mindfulness. Not mindless consumption and binge-eating.
I think a light meal should suffice, just to signal the body that it is okay to eat and drink again.
Additionally, why not make use of the caloric deficit a bit more? Lately, I have been going on (easy) runs, twice a week. I do it mindfully, not to exhaust myself, but to clear my mind and burn off any remaining calories. In the past, I used to do my workouts before sundown. But at this point in life, I think it’s wiser for me to engage in exercises after I break my fast. It’s all about the mindfulness and intent.
After the workout and prayers, I go for a simple meal. Then I prep myself for the next day and go to bed.
V.
Not eating is the easy part of Fasting. It’s trying to get anything done that’s difficult. The mind, unencumbered by thoughts of food or drink, has to focus on the task at hand, or it has to look inward. Those are very difficult things to do. In a world that’s constantly bombarding us with distractions, staying focused is a challenge.
Most important aspect of fasting is that you feel deep, undirected gratitude when you break the fast - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The benefit about the fast is that upon breaking the fast, there is indeed a sense of accomplishment and gratitude.
That sense of gratitude comes from making through a tough day, with added constraints, and be able to look back to say “hmm, maybe that wasn’t so bad".
It also comes from knowing that I can accomplish my intended goals for the day, despite the limitations.
If I can do that, what else can I accomplish?
Read
I have been mulling over a career decision and happened upon this wonderful book (the algorithm works in mysterious ways). Paul writes about his climb on the corporate ladder (the default path), and felt that existential pang about his relationship to himself and his work. He made small bets and tiny experiments. He tested possible pathways and alternatives to the default script of school-college-work, before taking a leap towards the road not taken — the pathless path.
I wanted to read a chapter for each commute to and back from work, take my time with it. I ended up finishing the book in three days. There was plenty of important ideas that I had to keep turning the page to hear out what Paul has to say. It was such an engrossing read, I couldn’t put the book down and have missed my stop because of it!
Watch
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
I caught the film in IMAX, and let’s just say Legendary Studio’s Monster-verse films (and one tv show) have never failed to be entertaining. GxK was so much fun from start to finish.
Major highlight: besides the returning Kaijus and some crazy action spectacle, the dynamic between Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens’ character were the best.