To exercise or not to exercise?

Abu Dhabi: With the 2012 Olympic Games coinciding with Ramadan, sport is bound to be on people’s minds. Some people, however, tend to become lazy during Ramadan believing that training should not be part of their schedule. Experts speaking to Gulf News disagreed with this idea, saying there is nothing odd about exercising or taking part in sport at this time of the year.

Many people fear putting on weight during Ramadan as a result of eating appetising Arabic dishes and delicious sweets. But a host of indoor, air-conditioned sports halls and facilities are accessible in the capital to residents. Visitors to these facilities can in fact enjoy many activities in comfort, including football, table tennis, swimming and ice skating.

“Despite this availability, the number of people exercising at sports clubs decreases by 50 per cent before iftar compared to non-Ramadan days. There is also a 35 per cent decrease in the number of people who visit such clubs two hours after iftar compared to other times of the year,” Joanna Thorpe, health and recreation director at Al Wahda Health Club told Gulf News.

“Career and family commitments are the perhaps main reasons beyond the shrinking numbers of people who play sports or exercise during Ramadan timings,” she added.

According to sport and health experts, people can, however, use Ramadan as a chance to change their lifestyles and adopt a healthier approach to living.

“Practising sports during Ramadan forces the body to burn gained calories, lose weight, shape the body and retain fitness,” Ahmad Al Sawwaf, a sports coordinator at Abu Dhabi University told Gulf News.

Al Sawwaf, a football coach for teams who participated in the 2012 Football Championship at Zayed Sports City, recommends jogging or walking for 30 minutes before or after iftar and suggests drinking a lot of water to avoid dehydration especially during the summer.

“A heavy workout is not recommended before iftar because the body lacks water at this time of the day,” he pointed out.

“I would advise people to end their fast with a glass of water and some dates rather than starting with the main dish directly, as this helps to increase the body’s metabolic rate and avoids indigestion problems, he added.

People often use Ramadan as an excuse to reduce the amount of exercise they do on a daily basis, however, it is essential to not stop exercising, another fitness trainer in the capital said.

“I do not recommend training before iftar, while it is preferable to workout after breaking your fast, since a lot of performed exercises at the gym are highly intense and require the individual to keep hydrated,” Dalia Al Sadiqi who works at the Fitness Grail Centre said.

The 26-year-old personal trainer pointed out that a handful of nuts, dates, or a protein shake are important components of a healthy iftar, especially if you are heading to the gym soon after your meal.

“It is important for individuals to watch their daily calorie intake, eat in moderation, and remember to drink loads of water and protein to stay fit and healthy,” she added.

— Sara Sabry is a trainee at Gulf News.