The holy month of Ramadhan inspires believers to be open to refining and purifying one’s body and soul for the better. As one also spends nearly 15 hours during the day for fasting and leaning towards lighter meals to break the fast, one can also expect changes in one’s physique.
Those who do exercises for physical fitness don’t have to skip their routine, instead, they can continue to work out and follow a proper diet to stay fit.
Yoga Trainer Hazel Ruth Carvalho said that one can actually still do workouts an hour after iftar but rather than doing heavy lifts, one should opt for lighter exercises.
She also advised that starting a new exercise routine should not be done during the month but instead, once the holy month is over and regular meals are back.
When doing exercises, the trainer shared that “try to opt for more liquids and soft meals compared to heavy meals so that you will be hydrated enough.”
The foods that we take in immediately after iftar really matter, shared Mini Padikkal, Clinical Dietician, NMC Ghubra.
“Take light foods, mostly fruits and vegetables besides dates, watermelon, and lukewarm water. Before beginning any workouts, make sure you have re-hydrated enough’’, she added.
She also concurred that it’s better to opt for more cardio workouts than heavyweights.
“Whatever you do, go slow. Make sure that you do physical activities
every day especially if you have been exercising or are used to working out’’, she shared.
“Intense exercise while fasting can lead to reduced muscle mass and muscle strength.
However, it is advisable to do medium-intensity workouts during this month. Apart from going to the gym, one can go for a walk, cycle, or even do light jogging’’, adds Carvalho.
“Those who are working or sitting for long hours in front of the computer, need to make a change to their routines. Try to avoid sitting at your desk for too long else it will make you lazy and crave food’’, she noted.
The natural tendency is that your body will push back if you try to push yourself to do any kind of strenuous work out as during fasting your immune system is slightly low, especially for those who are not used to fasting.
“Keep your mind occupied
with your work or some activity that keeps you busy. Always, the focus should be to listen to your body and to act accordingly’’, she added.
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