Day 26: Is it Eid already?

Today has been a typical Sunday during Ramadan. I don't really have a lot to do, or whatever I have to do, it isn't enough and I suffer a frustrating demotivation to do anything else. I've launched a new fitness class (#UnbrokenRecovery at Hogganfield Loch, Stepps), done the big shop, spent quality time with Junior, and completed my workout; and still, I clock watch.

The fasting day is now just shy of 3 hours longer than when it started in the wee hours of April 14th. I have been eating one meal a day for the past 5 days and it has been fairly comfortable as far as energy levels are concerned. Hydration too has settled in to a rhythm with 6 pints a day again now that I'm not eating as much food. However, hunger runs wild in my mind for about 10 hours a day. When I'm not working, it's a very long wait for Iftar.

There is an elephant in the room that may be contributing to this; sugar.

My increased sugar intake actually began the day before Ramadan began, on my birthday. After receiving the great fortune of being able to enjoy birthday cake with my family, despite thinking I'd be blowing out candles alone to break fast, I blew my top. I went bananas on cake that day and it probably set me off on a slippier slope. 

As the days and weeks progressed my nightly routine of dates and water started to give birth to new cravings for sugary and carby goodness; feelings I had done well to bury between January and April, by adhering to a 90%+ carnivorous diet. Soon, I found that I couldn't eat 2 meaty meals a day between fasting. I started having a carb meal to break fast and a meat meal thereafter. 

As I've dropped down to 1 meal a day, you can sort of see the path I'm going down. For 3 days now I've only eaten carbs really. As a result, my hunger is uncomfortable for many hours. This is a frustrating carb cycle. Tonight I've got chicken to break fast and will have steaks and eggs tomorrow, but as Eid approaches I am aware of the free-for-all I might spiral in to once fasting is no longer required (or permitted, as in Islam it is prohibited to fast during Eid). 

Despite being cautiously anxious about the floodgates opening when I can eat without restriction, I am definitely looking forward to Eid and the end of fasting. My evenings have been so jampacked with activities, I am really looking forward to getting more tasks done in the mornings again, between 5AM and 7AM. I'm so productive during these hours when everyone else is usually asleep.

I can't confirm yet with 100% certainty when Eid is, but it is expected to be declared as Thursday. I will discuss why this is in a later post. I can definitely take another day if I have to, because after 26 days I know that I have the strength to do another 26 days, but I'm definitely ready to celebrate Eid. 

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