Here we go again, every year we make our promises to become healthier and choose better lifestyles for the long term, then Ramadan arrives and everything goes haywire. Many do go through Ramadan sticking to their healthy lifestyle (please tell us your secret) as Ramadan is also a positive boost to continue on with the new healthier you. But many fall in the cracks and tend to indulge in the many many and again one more “many” goodies that Ramadan offers. Some are good, some aren’t so much but as a Muslim community, we cherish this beautiful month and in doing so we’ve ascertained that there are meals and drinks that are best served during the month. Eid Al-Fitr is no exception, and for three days straight there’s nothing but grilled meats galore. It’ll take the average human a couple of days post Ramadan/Eid to get back on track with their sleeping and eating habits. Here are some tips that will help you in doing so.
It’s a custom in every Saudi household to have at least one plate of chocolates, baked goods such as mamool, and candy for the little ones, dates and coffee (make that a double finjan for the sleep deprived), the more the merrier. It’s always polite to have some but keep it at a minimum since your body hasn’t adjusted itself yet to its routine and excessive amounts of sugar and caffeine do have negative side effects. When dates are offered, it’s best to have some instead of chocolates, and following with the recommendation of the Prophet (peace be upon him), have three. With all the family gatherings and what not, we subconsciously devour so much sugary foods, we don’t really start feeling the effect until we decide that it’s time to get back on track. Decline that extra piece of cake, instead of two spoons of sugar in your coffee, try half a teaspoon and have fresh juices instead of store-bought.
It would be an extreme method to go vegan all of a sudden after three or four days of kabab-fest. Then there’s the ever so trendy “detox diet” or “juicing detox” both popular choices, especially among females. A juice detox might seem appealing but unrealistic in its results since most of the weight loss is water weight. Some of the pros would be that the person trying it feels less bloated, a bit more energetic since your body is tapping into your stored energy and burning fat (a process known as ketosis) and a sense of refreshment as the vitamins and minerals from the fruits and vegetables can lessen the feeling of fatigue on the face and body, temporarily. The cons might seem greater than the pros, irritability, nausea, fatigue, constipation, blood sugar spikes, headaches that could lead to migraines, dizziness and a dieter’s nightmare, the return of the lost pounds after finishing the detox as one would naturally get back to their routine of chewing actual food. Dieticians and physicians don’t recommend detoxing unless designed specifically by a dietician to suit the personal and health needs of the patient. Instead of a detox, opt to increase your green intake with plenty of fiber and nutrients while you snack on fresh fruits (plentiful and helpful with the hot summer days as well).
Staying properly hydrated was a challenge in Ramadan and surely would be difficult to keep up during the days of Eid as well. Be diligent about maintaining your hydration using some tricks to remind yourself that you need to drink more water. Keep a bottle of water in your bag, a couple on your desk, add a slice of lemon and some mint leaves as a stimulant for you to drink more, strawberries, berries, cucumbers, basil leaves, ginger are also great infusions to your cold water bottle. By increasing your water intake, you’ll see a slight boost in your energy levels and a glow in your skin as well.
Portion control, portion control, portion control. No matter how healthy you try to be, portion control is the best method to induce weight loss effectively and create a balanced meal literally on a plate. Mental health is as important as physical health, just as one would vary in choices on a child’s plate, the same goes for the adult. Mind over matter. For the first few weeks post Ramadan and Eid, try to re-train yourself to eat small meals throughout the day to get back on track the right way.
Alongside your surely effective attempts of portion control and proper meal choices, you must not forget to include some physical activity as well. Start off light, 20 minutes of mild physical activity such was walking or light jogging on a treadmill, a few minutes on an elliptical machine or a stationary bike would be great and even walking outdoors would do good but you have to remember to keep hydrated and avoid the daytime sun. By gradually including some sort of physical activity after a Ramadan slumber, your body will also gradually get accustomed to the effects. If you push too hard, you might harm yourself and cause muscle spasms or worse, so you have to take it slow and work yourself up again to your pre-Ramadan physical regimen.
Ramadan was a major change in eating habits and natural body state, but it’s an annual natural body detox on its own with so many benefits that we, unfortunately, ignore and indulge blindly, a juxtaposition really. So jumping back fast and hard will not result in realistic outcomes; take it slow, think thoroughly and create a plan best suited to your needs and goals.
It’s a custom in every Saudi household to have at least one plate of chocolates, baked goods such as mamool, and candy for the little ones, dates and coffee (make that a double finjan for the sleep deprived), the more the merrier. It’s always polite to have some but keep it at a minimum since your body hasn’t adjusted itself yet to its routine and excessive amounts of sugar and caffeine do have negative side effects. When dates are offered, it’s best to have some instead of chocolates, and following with the recommendation of the Prophet (peace be upon him), have three. With all the family gatherings and what not, we subconsciously devour so much sugary foods, we don’t really start feeling the effect until we decide that it’s time to get back on track. Decline that extra piece of cake, instead of two spoons of sugar in your coffee, try half a teaspoon and have fresh juices instead of store-bought.
It would be an extreme method to go vegan all of a sudden after three or four days of kabab-fest. Then there’s the ever so trendy “detox diet” or “juicing detox” both popular choices, especially among females. A juice detox might seem appealing but unrealistic in its results since most of the weight loss is water weight. Some of the pros would be that the person trying it feels less bloated, a bit more energetic since your body is tapping into your stored energy and burning fat (a process known as ketosis) and a sense of refreshment as the vitamins and minerals from the fruits and vegetables can lessen the feeling of fatigue on the face and body, temporarily. The cons might seem greater than the pros, irritability, nausea, fatigue, constipation, blood sugar spikes, headaches that could lead to migraines, dizziness and a dieter’s nightmare, the return of the lost pounds after finishing the detox as one would naturally get back to their routine of chewing actual food. Dieticians and physicians don’t recommend detoxing unless designed specifically by a dietician to suit the personal and health needs of the patient. Instead of a detox, opt to increase your green intake with plenty of fiber and nutrients while you snack on fresh fruits (plentiful and helpful with the hot summer days as well).
Staying properly hydrated was a challenge in Ramadan and surely would be difficult to keep up during the days of Eid as well. Be diligent about maintaining your hydration using some tricks to remind yourself that you need to drink more water. Keep a bottle of water in your bag, a couple on your desk, add a slice of lemon and some mint leaves as a stimulant for you to drink more, strawberries, berries, cucumbers, basil leaves, ginger are also great infusions to your cold water bottle. By increasing your water intake, you’ll see a slight boost in your energy levels and a glow in your skin as well.
Portion control, portion control, portion control. No matter how healthy you try to be, portion control is the best method to induce weight loss effectively and create a balanced meal literally on a plate. Mental health is as important as physical health, just as one would vary in choices on a child’s plate, the same goes for the adult. Mind over matter. For the first few weeks post Ramadan and Eid, try to re-train yourself to eat small meals throughout the day to get back on track the right way.
Alongside your surely effective attempts of portion control and proper meal choices, you must not forget to include some physical activity as well. Start off light, 20 minutes of mild physical activity such was walking or light jogging on a treadmill, a few minutes on an elliptical machine or a stationary bike would be great and even walking outdoors would do good but you have to remember to keep hydrated and avoid the daytime sun. By gradually including some sort of physical activity after a Ramadan slumber, your body will also gradually get accustomed to the effects. If you push too hard, you might harm yourself and cause muscle spasms or worse, so you have to take it slow and work yourself up again to your pre-Ramadan physical regimen.
Ramadan was a major change in eating habits and natural body state, but it’s an annual natural body detox on its own with so many benefits that we, unfortunately, ignore and indulge blindly, a juxtaposition really. So jumping back fast and hard will not result in realistic outcomes; take it slow, think thoroughly and create a plan best suited to your needs and goals.
