Staying Fit and Healthy during the Holy month of Ramadan

Aug. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- One of the big issues for Muslims - and anyone living in the UAE during Ramadan - is staying fit. Fasting all day long, or skipping vital food and fluids out of respect for the local culture, isn’t the best preparation for a training regime - especially if you factor in heavy Iftar meals.
Here, Reebok fitness expert Clifford Tindell offers his advice on how to train and stay healthy during the Holy Month.
The best time to exercise to complement fasting: It is important to ensure that you are able to fit meals either side of the workouts; possibly only eating light beforehand to prevent feeling sick or lethargic.
A common myth is that exercising during the daytime fasting period maintains or speeds up the metabolism whilst also burning fat. But it is counterproductive.
Ultimately it will not provide the health, fitness and weight benefits you maybe hoping for.
While fasting, you are magnifying the survival mechanism process of storing energy and using up even more reserves, forcing your body into a deeper state of survival mode. Your body is very resourceful when forced to exercise without food, and it will get energy from somewhere -but it is not the fat stores as you may think.
Instead, the body will break down protein for energy. And where does it get this protein? From your muscles. Your body cannibalises itself for energy.
You may think you are boosting your fitness, increasing metabolic rate and muscle tone, but the reverse is happening.
Remember, muscle is the only thing in the body that burns calories throughout the whole day.
So when fasting, conserve your muscle!
Specific exercises that will work better during Ramadan: Everybody is different and if you are happy with your routine and it is working for you, keep at it.
In general keep workouts modest, by planning to simply maintain fitness and muscle and not increase it.
Activity that can be done before and after Iftar: Due to the cannibal effect, I would not recommend exercising before Iftar.
Plus, the training sessions are likely to be of a poor quality.
If you must exercise before Iftar do it directly beforehand, focus on workout types that require lower energy expenditure.
For example, include resistance and weights-based workouts or holistic classes. You are likely to perform far better at these workouts and they will offer superior results.
After Iftar you can do whatever session type you choose. However, depending on how heavily you eat and the time period following Iftar, many people feel very tired and lethargic.
I recommend aiming to be super disciplined at Iftar, aim to eat a more substantial meal following your workout later in the evening.
For more details please visit: http://www.fitjunction.com/