Do you lose much weight over the course of the month or does the night time food make up for most of it?

it fluctuates depending on what i’m eating and what my activity pattern has been

last year my weight stayed pretty much the same as we enforced a healthy eating regime in our house.
in previous years i’ve actually gained weight due to eating the wrong foods and sleeping on a full belly.
hopefully this year will go the same way as last year

Sorry, no respect for religion here. At best a childish need to find a reason for ‘ Why…?’ At worst a control system where you blindly obey because of the threats of what will happen in the case of non-observance.
Gods in general come across as total a’holes.
‘Kill me a virgin or your crops will die!’

fair enough. you’re entitled to your opinion.
i’m not imposing my belief on anyone here. just trying to explain what i will be doing for the next 30 days. some other STW members may encounter other muslims who are doing the same so i hope i can help them to better understand the reasons why we do it.

It all sounds a bit controlling to me. I wouldn’t like to be told when me and my family can eat at all.

But each to their own, good luck with it.

I’ve not been asked for my opinion on religion but neither have alot of ^^^^ on this topic.

I don’t believe in organised religions but I do believe there is something there. I don’t look down on anyone who chooses a name to their faith but I don’t like it when bands of random men with ulterior motives do things and say its in the name of God(s will). It isn’t. He doesn’t talk to you.

For me the Poet Jalaluddin Rumi’s one line says it all for me:

I then looked into my heart and it was there
where He dwelled that I saw Him; He was
nowhere else to be found.

that’s three lines

I wouldn’t like to be told when me and my family can eat at all.

there are people who suffer this on a daily basis all over the world, through no choice of their own. fasting helps us to understand their plight more and helps us to appreciate some of the things we take for granted such as clean drinking water.
during Ramadan we are expected to increase our charitable giving (as charity is one the the 5 pillars of Islam) and whilst fasting and trying to understand the daily suffering of those less fortunate than ourselves, we find ourselves more compelled to try and help them financially.
if you think that is controlling then fair enough…but to me i think its a small sacrifice for me to pay to feel a small portion of the suffering felt by those less fortunate

that’s three lines

I asked a semi-colon to come to the rescue 😀

but I don’t like it when bands of random men with ulterior motives do things and say its in the name of God(s will). It isn’t. He doesn’t talk to you.

who does Hora? apart from similarly minded individuals or those who have been naively fooled into believing their warped ideology….thankfully these types of people are still in the minority although i would prefer if there were none who held this belief/attitude.

as for your earlier question on food Hora…we’ll do our best to avoid the greasy kebabs this year, the same as last year. we’ve enforced a healthy eating policy during ramadan and this will also include plenty of foods with high carbohydrate content/slow release energy. any rich and spicy food such as kebabs etc will still be consumed but on a more infrequent basis and even then they will be cooked in the healthiest way possible.

i love the poem you took that excerpt out of. its one of my favourite poems by him…

Allah

I tried to find Him on the Christian cross, but He
was not there; I went to the Temple of the
Hindus and to the old pagodas, but I could not
find a trace of Him anywhere.

I searched on the mountains and in the valleys
but neither in the heights nor in the depths was I
able to find Him. I went to the Ka’bah in Mecca,
but He was not there either.

I questioned the scholars and philosophers but
He was beyond their understanding.

I then looked into my heart and it was there
where He dwelled that I saw Him; He was
nowhere else to be found.

Only one other poem has had a strong effect on me- that was Wilfred Owens Dulce Et Decorum Est that my English teacher read out at school. It made me cry.

Jalaluddin Rumi’s conversely makes me very happy.

during Ramadan we are expected to increase our charitable giving (as charity is one the the 5 pillars of Islam)

Sounds a bit controlling to me.
I wouldn’t like to be told when I should be giving to charity, I can make my own decisions on that.
Each to their own, again good luck with it.

Not trolling honest ! Will the fighting die down in Syria as they will all be too worn out or do they get special dispensation?

^ not trolling 😆

You know what, good question….

Im NO expert but Im guessing a Mufti or Iman probably gives direction on spiritual matters and allows special circumstances like battle to take precedent.

Will the fighting die down in Syria as they will all be too worn out or do they get special dispensation?

i dont class them as muslims

update:
yesterday was fine….felt really easy considering it was effectively the longest one to keep (todays will a few a few minutes shorter)
we cooked too much but that was deliberate…needed to see how much food we actually did eat so we have a better idea of how much food to make for the following days

i actually ate that much that i couldnt move properly and it hurt when i breathed in.
even now i still feel severely bloated, sat at my desk…but i dont feel hungry of thirsty

one thing i do desire is the need to go somewhere private so i can let off the almighty fart that is brewing in my bowels… 😯

gonzy – Member

Will the fighting die down in Syria as they will all be too worn out or do they get special dispensation?

i dont class them as muslims [/quote]

The world need more of your disposition, is farting classed as a pleasure for Ramadan?

Gonzy – I like your narrative style, now go release the pressure!

is farting classed as a pleasure for Ramadan?

It nullifies wudu, that much I know.

Hey Gonzy, sorry for being my usual ahole. Best of luck with the month. I spent a lot of time in Egypt and N Africa watching people cope with the stress of fasting.
I have trouble giving up biscuits for month let alone a more serious change to my calorie régime.

I really fail to understand why we are meant to ‘respect’ people who have pre-enlightenment ideas, misogynistic attitudes to women, secret friends in their heart, irrational dietary requirements. If, for example, it was an Irishman who had these characteristics, would he be heralded in the same way as by some in these columns? Or would he simply be seen as ill-educated, chauvinist and superstitious? I do wonder.

I really fail to understand why we are meant to ‘respect’ people who have pre-enlightenment ideas, misogynistic attitudes to women, secret friends in their heart, irrational dietary requirements.

You are entitled to think whatever you want to think, just preferably avoid being insulting about other peoples religious and cultural beliefs.

And as for your weird analogy with an Irishman why would it be different ? Although you don’t say it but assuming your Irishman isn’t Muslim why wouldn’t you respect a similar act of self-denial ? Always satisfying your personal desires isn’t particularly impressive imo.

How’s it going gonzy ?

If Mickey Mouse was the prophet would everyone still be respecting a posters beliefs?
Where’s David Icke when you need him.. David are you on the forum somewhere? (‘paging on the forum’ rules waived for this one..surely!)

Real Fasting is tough Gonzy, perhaps you should try it some time. :0)

You are entitled to think whatever you want to think

Thanks for that Ernie,

just preferably avoid being insulting about other peoples (sic) religious and cultural beliefs

. I take it you’re arguing here the case for Winchean cultural relativism, an approach which I view as reactionary and defeatist. Is it an insult to challenge an nonsensical idea? Or do we defend nonsensical ideas by claiming that a challenge is an insult? Do the concepts of oppression and ignorance vary with different cultural groups? I do marvel at your combination of sometimes socialist arguments, the love of monarchy and respect for religion. You never do know what’s coming next.

I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.

It nullifies wudu, that much I know.

thats true and the worst moment is after performing wudu and getting ready to start my prayers and a let one off. not a little squeak either but a full on beast of a fart! then run back to the bathroom to perform wudu!

Hey Gonzy, sorry for being my usual ahole. Best of luck with the month. I spent a lot of time in Egypt and N Africa watching people cope with the stress of fasting.
I have trouble giving up biscuits for month let alone a more serious change to my calorie régime.

dont worry about it

I really fail to understand why we are meant to ‘respect’ people who have pre-enlightenment ideas, misogynistic attitudes to women, secret friends in their heart, irrational dietary requirements. If, for example, it was an Irishman who had these characteristics, would he be heralded in the same way as by some in these columns? Or would he simply be seen as ill-educated, chauvinist and superstitious? I do wonder.

yet you’ll celebrate Christmas and Easter…you do realise Santa and the Easter Bunny dont exist right?

How’s it going gonzy ?

its going well Ernie…thanks for asking.
i can usually kill time at work as i have my mind occupied whilst doing my job…but it becomes harder when i’m at home over the weekend. i really do feel for my wife as she’s stuck at home on maternity leave and doesnt go back to work until september.
yesterday was supposed to be difficult as it was the longest day but it didnt feel any more different than the previous days. i managed to keep my mind occupied with doing little jobs around the house.
it was bloody fathers day as well….didnt even get to enjoy breakfast in bed form the kids…so i cashed that unused chip in with the wife and was allowed to carry out a full strip down and rebuild of the bikes instead.

Real Fasting is tough Gonzy, perhaps you should try it some time. :0)

you’re absolutely right in saying that. what i do is by choice…i could choose not to do it and just donate some money to charity but i’m not mentally/physically incapable of fasting so i will…but like i said its something i chose to do along with billions of other muslims around the world.
however there are people in the word, muslim and non-muslim, who do not have that luxury of choosing to fast. for them there is no option but to “fast” due to a famine, drought, natural disasters and man-made ones such as conflict/war/oppression.
these people do not get to choose. the only thing that is afforded to them is daily suffering and anguish as they starve or have to do with meagre amounts of food, watching their loved ones and children suffer due to a lack of food/water. those who have no food or water suffer in a way that none of us can imagine. those who have very little have to make that hard choice of starving themselves in order to make sure there is enough food for their children or elderly family members and if there isnt, choosing who get to eat and who doesnt.
THAT’S real fasting…putting myself through a fraction of what they suffer on a daily basis during Ramadan is a way of reminding myself that i am a muslim and a human and that by feeling their suffering it will bring more compassion out of me.
Ramadan is the month of forgiveness and good deeds/rewards. i will seek to ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoing and i will seek to carry out as many good deeds as possible. if i have to fast in order to realise that i should appreciate what i have when compared to those that have less than me; and through fasting i learn to better understand and feel their hardship.
if that compels me to help those in need more….then it will have been worth it.

I do marvel at your combination of sometimes socialist arguments, the love of monarchy and respect for religion. You never do know what’s coming next.

Its commonly known as the ability to think 😉

http://www.mkweb.co.uk/RAMADAN-did-MKWeb-s-Bulman-cope-fasting-day/story-26788526-detail/story.html

just preferably avoid being insulting about other peoples (sic) religious and cultural beliefs

I take it you’re arguing here the case for Winchean cultural relativism, an approach which I view as reactionary and defeatist.[/quote]
No I think he’s just asking for good manners, something central to our civilisation.
You can question an approach without being insulting.

so yesterday was day 15…the halfway point.
the hours of fasting arent getting much shorter but the body is now fully used to running on no food and water for 18 hours.
however this spate of hot weather isnt helping…yesterdays 8 mile bus journey took over 90 minutes in what felt like an industrial sized oven on wheels….
forget 1 month off the bike…i’m getting back on from monday onwards!!

Month off the ride. I’m currently sitting in Orlando int airport . Flying back uk tomo and I’ve been dying to ride some muddy green trails for near 2 weeks !!!!!!!!!

so yesterday was day 15…the halfway point.

No way……really ? So quick, how time flies – feels like just a few days ago when Ramadan kicked off 🙂

I have nothing good to say so I’m not going to say a thing.

A month off through choice, rather than illness or injury, isn’t going to set you back much unless riding at a high level. Just be glad you can get back out soon.

A month off through choice, rather than illness or injury, isn’t going to set you back much unless riding at a high level. Just be glad you can get back out soon.

it does with me though…i’ve already lost half a stone in body weight. bloody belt needs to be on tighter to keep the pants up now!!
the weight loss usually is a good thing, but i’d already reached my target weight of 10.5st prior to Ramadan so this summer i’ll be looking to add that weight back on.

well the bike commute didnt happen today…as much as i wanted to it was a no-goer due to a damaged hamstring…looks like i’ll be off the bike for a bit longer than planned/expected 😥

update: down to the last 10 days….always the toughest but they’re also the most enjoyable for some reason.

update: now on the last stretch. today could potentially be the last day i have fast. depending on the moon sighting tomorrow will be the end of ramadan marked by Eid celebrations of i’ll be fasting tomorrow and celebrating Eid on Saturday.

for some reason its felt very easy this time around…i thought 18 hours of no eating and drinking would be tougher.

the hamstring wasnt as badly damaged as initially thought so i was able to ride in all this week…has been pretty easy…only being 5 minutes slower either way.

body feels good now that its had a full detox…but i’ve lost over half a stone in weight…not happy!

still gives me the perfect excuse to start munching next week on whatever i need to put the weight back on again…i can even have a few naughty kebabs too!! 😀

Nice one. Well done.