Lose Weight The Healthy Way This Ramadan

For those of us who eat proportionately, the first few days of Ramadan can lead to a loss of up to 2-3 pounds and although this may be very exciting, it’s only the result of dehydration and loss of water weight. Give it a few more days and it will all come tumbling back on, including a few more when Eid comes around the corner.

PLANNING YOUR MEALS AND YOUR PORTIONS

• IFTAR At Iftar time, eat 3 dates (as Sunnah), and drink up to 2-3 glasses of water to hydrate your body. Instead of hogging on food immediately after, give your tummy a  break and pray Maghrib after which you can have your meal.
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• MEAL An ideal meal could consist of some healthy soups and salad, with chicken and a bit of bread. Focus on lean meats with veggies. Eat at a slow pace, remember, it takes your body up to 20 minutes to let you know you’re full. Attempt to leave it at that and pray taraweeh and Ishaa.
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• NIGHTLY SNACK Indulge in something you might like but in a small quantity. You can have a samosa, or some delicious fruits like strawberries and cherries. Pick something healthy when you go to the store and stack it up at home so you don’t have to choose an unhealthy alternative. Hit the sack after perhaps, a cup of green tea which aids metabolism.
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• SUHOOR Wake up around half an hour before Fajr and have something fulfilling. Eat an egg, make a delicious omelet out of it with tomatoes, onions, whatever suits your fancy. Work on it to make it look presentable and eat with your family!
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Lastly, don’t forget Ramadan is the holy month of the year. Focus on reading as much Qur’an as you can and perhaps try giving up a bad habit like smoking, for instance. The purpose of fasting is to learn self-control and having a balanced meal plan is definitely a good way to go.

If you have any tips you follow, let us know how you maintain your weight during Ramadan in the comments below!