The good, the bad, and the hungry

As I mentioned in a blog post last year (Dreaded excitement), Ramadan is a time that I both look forward to and secretly want to run away from at the same time.  Don't get me wrong, I love it....it's just challenging.

I recently received some questions about Ramadan on my last blog post (Here we go again...Ramadan Mubarak!), so I wanted to take a moment to respond.  (This blog post is my attempt to "tell it like it is.")  

Strap in, this is kind of a long one.  :)

I'd prefer not to get too preachy in this blog, so I'll try to keep the religious end of my explanation brief and give links so that those wanting to find out more information, can.

Ramadan / Fasting Overview
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. (The others are (1) Shahadah or testimony of faith, (2) daily prayers, (3) zakat or charitable donation, and (5) Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.)   Food and drink aren't the only things Muslims stay away from while fasting from sunrise to sunset in Ramadan.  In addition, they also refrain from these things (from sunrise to sunset):

• sexual thoughts and acts (including kissing)
• lying
• obscene language (cursing)
• smoking
• taking any medications (except before sunrise or after sunset)
• complaining (and more specifically) about hunger or thirst (at least that's what I was taught)

During Ramadan, Muslims are also not supposed to waste food. One good way to describe it is "everything in moderation" and "nothing in excess."  Making too much food (and not eating it) can be wasteful, and making too much food and overeating can also be bad (if your body can't digest it all before the next day).

After completing each night's fasting, some Muslims do prayers or read from the Qur'an (and some people even believe that prayer or recitation during a few nights towards the end of Ramadan count for more).

All Muslims (with the exception of those who are ill or travelling) are expected to fast during Ramadan. (I did once meet a woman who was several months pregnant and still fasting. Personally, I'm not entirely sure whether pregnancy falls under the "illness" exception or if missing meals is ok for developing babies.  Those in that situation should probably consult a physician before fasting.)  Anyone who cannot fast is expected to make up for any days missed by donating money to feed the poor.

Naps are a great way to pass some of the time as well as a good way to forget about hunger for awhile. (Technically, I don't think you're supposed to sleep the entire fasting time away though....again, moderation.)

Ramadan typically lasts between 28 and 30 days, and (menstruating) females get a break during the month.

The Good Parts
One good thing about fasting in Ramadan is that you really learn self-control.  What you eat (including selection of easily digestible foods) and the portions of it has to be controlled, and when you can eat is all controlled by time (with regards to sunrise and sunset).

Regardless of whether I'm fasting or not, Ramadan is a very special time for Muslims, and as such, I try to make (or at least help make) what we eat for iftaar every day when we break the fast.  The foods we eat during iftaar are different from what we eat at any other time of the year, and it's fun to get together with others to break the fast.  This year during the first weekend in Ramadan, I prepared and flash froze both egg rolls and samosas.  I made enough for a whole month's supply (and more, actually) for iftaars. 

The end of Ramadan is marked by chand raat (literally: moon night) and Eid al-Fitr (sometimes commonly referred to as the "smaller Eid").  On chand raat, we celebrate by getting henna (females), buying new clothes or other things, and feasting.  It's a lot of fun and a happy occasion because everyone knows they won't be fasting the next day. On Eid, we get up early to attend prayers at the mosque.  Lots of people wear new clothes, and elders usually give young people gifts or money to celebrate.  Sometimes people gather at each others' homes to have special Eid meals and for socialization.  (For those looking for a comparison, in some ways, Eid al-Fitr reminds me of Easter Sunday because of dressing in your best/new clothes or Christmas because of the gifts.)

The Hard Parts
Ramadan is a challenging (and physically exhausting!) time.  It's probably one of the more challenging things I've ever done (and I've climbed Yosemite's Quarter Dome!).  (For the record, I do know of some people who fast and still exercise during Ramadan, but that's not me.)

Not eating or drinking for 1 day from sunrise to sunset isn't actually the most difficult part.  After all, 1 day of doing all of the things mentioned above is easy-peasy.  I find the most difficult part to be the cumulative effect that comes from fasting for multiple days consecutively.  Continuing to fast can really start to take a toll on a person's body from lack of nutrition and/or sleep.  After all, you not only have to not eat during the day time, but you have to break your fast and eat a regular meal at night, and then digest that meal prior to starting all over again the next day.  You also miss out on some sleep from getting up early to eat (and pray).

Some people lose mass (muscle) or weight during Ramadan.  (This year, I'm counteracting that by eating Sprinkles cupcakes nearly every evening...yum!)

My Routine
As I explained in my Ramadan recipe for success blog post, I've got a whole routine when I fast.  I get up around 30-45 minutes before sehri ends so that I can eat. In sehri, I pretty much eat what someone might expect to eat in dinner (and more, actually).  In the first few years that I fasted, I tried eating various foods and cuisines (lasagna, pasta, and more), but those foods never lasted very long in the day.  (I ended up hungry after only finishing half of a day's fast.)  Personally I've found that desi foods--complete with curry and naan--work best and last the longest in my stomach. This year (like last year), I again made aloo keema and chicken karahi and froze both meals (in smaller portions) for eating during Ramadan.

Every morning in sehri, I eat 1 naan with whichever meal I'm having that day (aloo keema or chicken karahi).  Then I have a bowl of wheat-based cereal with milk. The wheat takes longer to digest, so it doesn't so much matter which cereal it is as long as it has wheat and fiber in it. Then I top everything off with a LOT of water--about 16 to 20 ounces. Sometimes I've eaten so much that I feel slightly nauseous or bloated, but that feeling passes in a couple of hours. (Incidentally, when I'm not fasting, I generally cannot skip a meal without getting a slight headache from low blood sugar.)  Generally, I don't feel much hunger or thirst until late into the afternoon or early evening, and at that point, there's only a few hours to go before the fast can be broken.  (For the record, I know some people who just eat cereal and toast in sehri.  That's what works for them, but that's not me.)

After several consecutive days of fasting, my body starts to fall into a different rhythm or routine.  It's like I forget about the other routine I had before Ramadan because after a few days, I find myself waking up early...even before my alarm goes off for sehri.

I've found that about halfway through or towards the end of Ramadan, it becomes harder and harder to motivate myself to get up and eat the same meal each day.  (I've also heard the same thing from other people.)  My body becomes so tired from lack of energy that I just don't feel like getting up...but I know I have to or I'll be in worse shape later in the day.

It took me several years of Ramadan before I became comfortable enough at fasting where I could do it for more than one day consecutively and on non-weekends.  Now I'm proud to say I can do both and without complaint.

In some countries where Islam is the predominant religion, some companies shift to different hours or allow employees to go home early.  In the United States (where I live and where Islam is not the predominant religion), I'm still working regular 8 hour days (just as I would any other day).

With people living in the same home, it becomes slightly difficult for those not fasting when there are others (in the home) who are fasting.  One thing I've noticed while fasting (and I've heard this from other people too) is that your sense of smell becomes heightened.  The person who is fasting is on a regular schedule of not eating during the day time, so it's difficult for the other (non-fasting) person to deviate from that schedule and to cook food and make meals in the home.

My Disclaimers
For those who have not fasted before (and are interested in doing so), I highly recommend finding a mentor or someone else who can guide you through the process and can answer any questions you might have.  I've been fasting for several years now, but sometimes I still look to others for expert advice when encountering an issue on which I'm not knowledgeable.  To give you an example of one such issue, a couple of years ago I heard that wearing lipstick (or chapstick) might not be acceptable while fasting.  I wasn't sure myself, so I had to consult with others before coming to a conclusion.

(As I said before, I didn't want to get too preachy in this blog post, so if you'd like more information on any of these concepts, feel free to follow the links, look anything up, or do further research. All explanations included in this blog post are based on what I've learned or my understanding of things, and I am by no means an expert in Islam or Ramadan. To the best of my knowledge, this information is correct.  As I said, before attempting to fast on your own, I highly suggest consulting a mentor or physician if necessary.)

I've tried to give a thorough explanation of fasting in this blog post.  Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below.