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26 years
How can I stay in shape during Ramadan given that iftar is at 8:00 PM and I'm too bloated to work out after?
Jun 3, 2015

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Eating in small increments upon breaking your fast, and not all in one shot, is key to avoid getting bloated. This also applies to drinking water and fluids upon iftar, which could pose a problem given that this is the hot season and naturally a fasting person would tend to be more thirsty than actually hungry. So you need to care to drink water and fluids in sips. Do not gulp. Do your best to chew slowly on your food. A good tip to instantly alleviate your hunger when breaking your fast is eating a source of immediate sugar, such as dates or other dried fruits; once sugar is released in your blood (and this is expected to occur rather quickly with these types of foods), this will ease your hunger and you won't eat as eagerly. Also try to divide your meal over a few hours in small portions. This way you can do some light non-strenuous exercise after iftar without feeling heavy nor worn out afterwards. Avoid indulging too much in sweets. I know it gets really tempting, but you must be reasonable in your consumption of sugary foods, bearing in mind that these will make you more thirsty. Also keep your suhur light and focused on hydration: tea, laban, bananas (rich in slow-release carbs plus fibers, so helps protect against sudden drop in blood sugar during the day and fibers keep you feeling full) are good options.
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