Non-Muslims, tried Fasting?

[Hazzard]

It's until 7:21 today and tomorrow is until 7:19

Does it keep going down every two minutes, everyday?

[White_Dove15445]

Yes, it keeps going down every day or every two days. I wonder why that is!

[Quindiana Jones]

.......................................................................... *smacks forehead*

[Comet]

Someting to do when the sun sets.

[Hazzard]

I now am allowing myself to eat on weekends, so I will be able to function properly to do my homework, and be in a state of consciousness.

[Ashi]

I'm muslim, so I am fasting as it is Ramadan now.

I think it is very possible for you to do it if you really want to. I started doing it at 12 or 13, then again I live in a community where nearly everyone I know does it.

These days I am even trying to juggle my daily 2 litres of water intake during the evenings where I can eat/drink. Where I am we start fasting at 4:35ish am and break it at 6:25 pm (the person who said sunset is correct, the fast is broken at sunset).

Since the topic is directed at non-muslims, I will just add that one of my insturctors at my language institute has been asking about it. She asked how we could do it and what exactly are our meals.

Fast technically starts for us at 4:35 am (I believe that was what my clock looked like when the prayer was called this morning), we get up around an hour or half an hour before that for a light meal and water. If we have leftovers that could be reheated that's good, but I usually prefer something that is really light so I can go back to sleep later on.

Managing your meals depends on the individual. No matter how hungry you feel, I've noticed that if you eat your meals slowly you will not eat more than you really need. Usually, the 6:25 pm meal keeps me going until the 4 am meal.

I agree that midday is when hunger strikes the worst, and that keeping yourself occupied is one of the best things to get you through it. But another thing, the original reason as to why I do this. Yes, I am muslim but I believe fasting strongly reminds me that there are others out there that are starving. When the sun sets, I have a warm home to go back to, a warm table and food on it. There are others that will not have anything on their table when the sun sets. I feel fastig reminds me of them, whether they are in my community or somewhere else.

Also, I do believe my caffiene intake has lessoned since Ramadan began. But who knows how long that will last...

[scrumpleberry]

If you can accomplish this, you will feel wonderful.

Best of luck, Haz. Go for it!

[Peegee]

It's not too hard. I think they can drink water, but I'm not sure. You can't do any of that stuff until after sunset. For me, since I don't swear, I would probably just have to not eat until dinner. And technically I can eat before dawn, I think, so if I wake up early enough I can have breakfast.

In any case, it's not as hard as you'd think. I've done a similar diet before and lasted about three weeks before I gave up. I lost about 7 lbs.

[Laddy]

I fast once every couple of months.

[Jojee]

That sounds kinda fun! Well, not some parts of it but I would try it just for kicks, maybe. xD

[Quindiana Jones]

That sounds kinda fun! Well, not some parts of it but I would try it just for kicks, maybe. xD

You don't have the balls, sissy.

[Tallulah]

Good luck, Hazzard!

Since the Muslim calendar is based on the lunar cycle, Ramadan gets earlier each year, and next year will be harder than ever, as it will be late August. Now, isn't so bad, as the nights are drawing in quicker.

I had a Muslim friend at college, and she used to have to buy her lunch at lunch break (usually a sandwich at Boots) and then not eat it until she got on the train home, by which time it would be sunset. That would have been about four years ago, when Ramadan was closer to October/November time. She would often complain about feeling hungry, having food on her, but not being able to eat it.

[Peegee]

That's why you eat two meals a day, assuming you can wake up that early. The biggest challenge if you don't is that you eat before you sleep, so you have those eight hours, plus the 12 hours of awake time. Ouch.

[Hazzard]

Sorry guys, I couldn't pull through. I nearly physically vomited yesterday, after basically starving myself on the fast, I couldn't function properly by last period (lesson) and my stomach was aching really bad, so severe that I was sent out a couple of times to take a breather, that's when I reached down into my pocket, carefully tore open the crisp packet, and gobbled them down my throat. It helped a bit, but was a very scary ordeal when my stomach was messed up.

I don't think I'll ever fast again, maybe I should leave that to the devoted Muslims...

[White_Dove15445]

Do you wake up at 4 in the morning to eat or no?