This topic is meant to be a journal for my Ramadan fasting month in 2019. Every year, Muslims dry fast (no food or liquid) from Fajr prayer time (the beginning of sunrise–much earlier than actual sunrise) to the beginning Maghrib prayer time (sunset). While this fast is for religious reasons, this thread is not meant to be the place to discuss religion. I have no problem answering questions about my own personal religious practices and beliefs, but I wish this thread to be an account of my month of fasting and discussion thereof.
The Islamic calendar is lunar, so the month of Ramadan shifts relative to our solar calendar. Also, the Islamic day begins at sunset, which varies by latitude. So the first of fast will begin at Fajr time (approximately 4:43 am for me) on Monday, May 6. The last meal before the fast begins is called Sahoor, and the meal that breaks the fast is called Iftar. Each day, I will provide some basic information about the fast:
Wake-up time
Morning weight
Sahoor meal
Fast begin time
Fast end time
Iftar Meal
Thoughts, commends, or other items of interest
Last year was my first time fasting in years. Doctors told me that I could not fast due to type-2 diabetes. Keto has reversed the diabetes, but it also makes fasting easier. I did some writings last year, but was not able to keep up due to several unfortunate factors. First, I had surgery at the beginning of Ramadan to repair a lacerated tendon in my thumb (accident right before Ramadan). I fasted even on the day of surgery and missed only two days of fasting to be able to take medications for pain. However, it was too hard to type, and I was in a lot of pain for a while. I hope this Ramadan goes smoothly–I am actually carnivore now, btw.
While being keto keeps the hunger pangs in check and provides steady energy, the challenges come from the timing of food, drinking, and sleep. I cannot eat foods late or they do not stay down if I lay down. So I won’t eat heavy, large meals at night. Also, if I drink too much water, at night, I will be up all night using the bathroom. The final evening prayer is around 9:30 pm, and I will wake up around 3:30 am. that doesn’t give much time to sleep. Basically, I plan to eat light fish for my evening meal, drink water, and then use the bathroom until 9:30. I can then do my final evening prayer and go to bed. When I wake up, I will eat around a pound of meat with fat and try to drink as much as possible before the fast begins. If you have any questions or comments, please post them!
Day 0 (not yet Ramadan):
Evening meal: salmon and eggs with San Pellegrino water.
