Diet

Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide. During this time, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk. Depending on the location, the fasting period can last up to 15 hours.

With such a lengthy fasting period, it can be challenging to maintain muscle mass during Ramadan. However, with a few tips and tricks, it is possible to retain your muscle mass even during this fasting period.

Plan Your Workouts Wisely

Strengthening exercises are essential to maintain muscle mass during Ramadan. However, it is recommended to decrease the volume and intensity of your workouts during the first week of Ramadan. This allows your body to adapt to the fasting routine and helps prevent injury.

It’s important to note that working out in a fasted state may not be the best option for your body. It can be tough on your body’s homeostasis, especially if you’re already dehydrated. You definitely don’t want to risk passing out in the gym.

When it comes to fitting in workouts during Ramadan, it can be challenging to find the right time that works for you. However, you may try scheduling your workouts between Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (night) prayers, or after Isha prayers at night. Another alternative is to work out right before Sahur in the morning.

Listen to your body and see how it responds to working out at different times of the day.

Keep Track of Your Protein Intake

You must be familiar with the role of protein in your diet, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. During Ramadan, it is essential to keep track of enough protein to maintain muscle mass. Consuming enough protein helps in muscle recovery and prevents muscle loss.

Include protein-rich foods during meals in Sahur and Iftar, such as chicken, beef, fish, eggs, dairy products, and legumes. It is recommended to consume protein-rich foods during the evening meal and before the pre-dawn meal.

In addition to preserving muscle mass, consuming a high-protein meal n has been shown to reduce hunger. This may help you stay focused throughout the day by reducing your food cravings.

Studies have demonstrated that protein is more filling than carbohydrates or fats. Additionally, protein has a high thermic effect, meaning that the body burns more calories during the digestion and absorption of protein compared to carbohydrates and fats.

Don’t Lose Control of Your Calorie Intake

During the month of Ramadan, it’s important to be mindful of your eating habits. Although fasting for long hours without food and water can be challenging, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overeating during the night.

This is because the Ramadan bazaar is filled with a wide variety of high-calorie foods that are readily available just around the corner. From Murtabak to Ayam Percik, the options are endless and tempting.

To avoid overindulging, try to stick to your pre-Ramadan diet and keep track of your calories as much as possible. This can help you maintain a healthy eating habit and make it easier to return to your routine and diet once Ramadan is over.

What Happens to Your Body During Cyclic Overeating

Keep Hydration in Check

During Ramadan, it is crucial to maintain proper hydration levels throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Although you may be tempted to drink a lot of water all at once, it is essential to avoid this, as it can cause bloating and discomfort. Instead, try drinking small amounts of water throughout the night to replenish fluids lost during the day.

In addition to water, consider incorporating hydrating fluids such as coconut water or sports drinks to maintain optimal hydration levels. You can also consider incorporating more fruits and vegetables (foods with high water content) into your diet during the night to keep you hydrated.

Additionally, dehydration can lead to reduced blood flow and muscle weakness, so it is essential to stay hydrated to maintain your physical strength and performance during workouts after “berbuka puasa”.

Keep An Eye On Your Muscle Mass during Ramadan fasting

Retaining muscle mass is challenging during fasting, so it is important to have a good understanding of the muscle mass you already have. Tracking changes in your muscle mass throughout the month can help you make adjustments to your diet and exercise routine to ensure that you are maintaining your muscle mass. This is where a body composition analysis comes into play.

By analyzing your body composition, you can get a better understanding of your Skeletal Muscle Mass, Percent Body Fat, and other important metrics. Armed with this information, you can make more informed decisions about your diet and exercise routine during Ramadan to stay intact with your gains.

How often should you test body composition?

Start tracking your progress with an InBody machine today and see the difference it can make. Find the nearest location for an InBody test here.

Conclusion

Maintaining muscle mass during Ramadan fasting can be challenging, but it is possible with a few tips and tricks. Consuming enough protein, staying hydrated, and exercising with a flexible routine during the non-fasting hours can help retain muscle mass during this period.

Remember to consult with your doctor before making any dietary or exercise changes during Ramadan if you have any medical condition. With the right approach, you can maintain your muscle mass and stay healthy during Ramadan fasting.

Protein bars are popular because they’re convenient, and they make it easy to get your protein fix without having to cook or even think about it.

But are they actually good for you? Are they good for fat loss? 

What’s inside protein bars?

Protein bars are often marketed as a healthy snack option for people who want to lose weight or maintain their weight because they contain fewer calories than regular candy bars or other sweet treats.

Most protein bars contain 150-400 calories and 10-20 grammes of protein per serving, though some contain closer to 30 grammes of protein per serving.

The protein source of the could be varies. Some of them could come from dairy products like yoghurt, whey, and milk; some of them could be mostly plant-based products like soybeans and nuts.

This convenient feature of high-protein foods has demonstrated why it has become a gym rat favourite, as it helps them save time while ensuring adequate protein intake per day.

Are protein bars good for fat loss?

Eating fewer calories than your body uses and needs in a day is the main key to fat loss.

Protein bars can be beneficial for fat loss when used properly as a meal replacement to reduce your calorie intake. One example of calorie reduction is replacing a 650-calorie burger set meal with a 200-calorie protein bar.

However, replacing only one of your meals throughout the day is generally recommended. Replacing more than one meal may result in an excessively low calorie diet, which may result in a weight loss rebound effect.

According to a study, people who follow a low-calorie diet may experience short-term weight loss benefits, but most of them regained fat mass, particularly in the visceral area. To prevent weight loss rebound and detrimental health effect, think twice before overly restricting your calories.

In addition, some of the protein bars contain a lot of sugar and use unhealthy sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases if consumed on a regular basis.

By reading the ingredient list carefully, you would be able to determine how the protein bars could fit into your fat loss diet.

Are protein bars the best source of protein?

Protein bars aren’t the only way to increase your protein intake. To meet your protein needs and promote a healthy lifestyle, it is a good idea to include whole foods that are high in protein in your meals and snacks.

 Source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/protein/

World Health Organization (WHO) establishes 0.83 g of protein per kg of body weight per day as the Safe Level of Protein (SLP), which is expected to meet the protein needs of 97.5 percent of the world’s healthy adult population.

However, protein requirements may be higher for pregnant women, body builders, and the elderly. You may consult a physician and a clinical dietitian to learn more about how much protein you need based on your current health.

Check your improvement over time

However, it is still preferable to monitor your body fat and muscle changes on a regular basis to determine whether your current diet and lifestyle are effective enough. You can use the map we created with our incredible partners to find the nearest InBody location and check your body health improvement on a regular basis.