Getting back to exercise - after Ramadan

Barbell squat, one of my favourites.
Currently lifting 10kg in my outdoor 'gym'.

Working out during the fast proved difficult for me. For all those fitness and fasting articles all over the web this Ramadan, they didn't help me much. This is why:

• A week into it, and I got caught up in iftar prep and extra ibadah.
• Our fasting being in winter this year (Souther Hemisphere) the days were really short. And no matter the extra night hours winter provides, darkness is darkness. This stimulates our body into winding down and sleep mode. 
• Night workouts were out of the question. A good night's sleep is a top health activity for me. 
• I couldn't muster the energy for anything after iftar.
• I found I lost a few kilos giving me a false sense of being way ahead of my exercise routine. 
• Weight loss is not one of my exercise goals
• Maintaining my current weight, gaining strength, getting healthy are my exercise goals. So I took the fasting as a break, not wanting to push my body too far on its health equilibrium

Okay so it was a long break. Getting back into it was tricky. Mind and body had to be re-disciplined all over again it seemed. However I trusted that after the first session was over, muscle memory would kick in, and it would take over from there. This was how I got into the routine after almost a month of  no fitness routines whatsoever:

• First session was Friday. A quick, but intense, half hour workout.
•  Deciding to ease into it, I took a break on Saturday, just performing simple stretches.
• Second session was today. I did a normal full hour workout. Not only did I finish it just as easily as pre-Ramadan days, but I managed to do the more advanced moves! That is the advantage of breaks, giving your body time to recover, so you can do more later.
• My exercise routines consist of short intense workouts, and then I hit the weights. And not the teeny tiny dumbbells, but the heavy ones. On the barbell. I'm not a cardio fan. All that getting out of breath stuff does not appeal to me. That's why strength training really appeals to me in all forms, pilates, stretching, weights.
• Next session is tomorrow!

Don't expect too much from yourself. Each day is different. You respond differently to the same routine. If it doesn't go the way you plan today, try tomorrow or the next day. Don't push too hard! 

Challenge yourself without straining your body.

Top tip: Your mind is the biggest obstacle. Don't listen to it when it lists all the reasons why not to get up and go.