Woes..

[divaindubai]

**This post is not meant to be disrespectful at all, but rather a ponder or a struggle** but in no means to be disrespectful...

I'm sure some of you might know it is Ramadan here in the Muslim world. and although no religion is really enforced or "imposed" upon anyone here in the U.A.E. it is however, during Ramadan.

I'm just having a difficult time because from dawn till dusk (including work hours) you can't be seen eating or drinking....and its a bit frustrating for me, because I really need to at least drink my water. You can go to the closed room and drink or eat, but its just not the same as having a bottle of water near your desk and being able to drink it freely. Also with eating I'm not really eating a proper lunch, just usually snacks until 3 pm when the work hours are finished during Ramadan.

It is helping me though realizing about snacking and overeating, as it makes you realize that you don't need to snack so much as you might normally do.

I think I will just cut up my foods and portion them and bring a few bottles of water in my purse and make sure I take a break at least to eat properly.

I guess I'm just feeling a bit frustrated with these dietary restrictions a bit on me at the moment with not being able to drink water freely at work, or even in public during dawn till dusk... but at the same time I'm realizing how much people overeat for no reason and it is also helping me realize this.

There I'm done!!! Sorry for ranting a bit....but like I said I by no means mean to be disrespectful of anyone's beliefs, etc..just wanted to express some frustrations and feelings in a non biased environment (i hope hehe ).

Thanks! ps...it will be like this for at least another 3 weeks.........

[Laurenfra]

Re: Woes..

I am sorry you are having stuggles. Your post is not in the least bit disrespectful. Rant anytime

[Terry]

Re: Woes..

Diva

It is interesting that you have learned about overeating by having to hide to eat or drink for the time being. So that is a good thing.

But hard to do in practice like you are having to do right now. Rant every day for the next 3 weeks if you need to. STAC is here to help you with any struggles you may have including this one.

[divaindubai]

Re: Woes..

Thanks to you both for your support! Glad I didn't come across disrespectful.

My husband is actually fasting and its interesting to watch how he can control his hunger until dusk, which is around 6 pm during these days. And of course during these days the ones who are fasting are eating so many sweets, and my husband is worried that I will gain weight if I am eating the sweets, so I am staying away from them!!!

Last night I cooked up a bunch of chicken drumsticks, fried onion and garlic into a big pot with olive oil....let the smell go through the house, and then i added about 12 chicken drumsticks...cooked them in the oil for a bit, then i added water and boiled them till they were done. I also cooked some saffron rice (not for me though ) and made a salad and also cooked some soup for the initial breaking of the fast.
All I ate were a bunch of the chicken drumsticks and the salad.....



This morning I'm having some boiled eggs for breakfast, and gonna make sure I drink a lot of water before going to work...I am going to make sure I have some bottles of water in my purse before work too. I am going to cook up some hamburger patties and bring some cheese with me too. That should be a good one for the day!

Thanks for listening again !

[divaindubai]

Re: Woes..

Well!!

Ramadan is finally over here in the U.A.E. (it is Eid here now which marks the end of Ramadan and there is a 3 day "feast" basically going to family and friends houses to celebrate the end of the month of fasting)!

Tomorrow I am going back to work after this Eid festival and my working hours will be back to the regular hours again, BUT

1) I will be able to drink water at my desk!
2) Will be able to nibble on some Atkins friendly things, such as cucumbers or have a piece of cheese here and there if I am hungry

Reflections on this month of fasting here....

because you don't see anyone eating in public at all during daylight hours, you really see how people can gain control of their eating habits, and not just think about food as it seems we do at times, as a general society.

The restaurants are pretty much closed during the daylight hours, you cannot just go and sit down and eat anything, there are some places which are opened for take out, but it really is inconvenient to "eat out" during daylight hours, because you simply cannot!

Now that Ramadan is over, everything will be back to normal again, but I have to say it is interesting though from a social perspective, seeing the effects of not being able to eat in public, etc during daylight hours, for a whole month!

This is about the only real thing that is imposed here in a Muslim country, but its definitely and interesting experience!

Just wanted to share my thoughts and feelings, that I made it through!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Woes..

glad you survived. We had some member do the daylight to dark fast as part of their religous beliefs and we had one young man stop his Atkins because of Ramadan and then resume when it was over.
Glad you learned about yourself during this time too.
I would be worried about the effect on me of sneaking to eat and could I turn that concept off and not get an ED from it as I now publicly ate my Atkins and privately ate other stuff when tempted to cheat.

Happy low carbing