it’s that time again…
July 29, 2011
This weekend I plan to eat WHATEVER I WANT (and yes, the all caps is necessary). Why? Well because Ramadan starts bright and early Monday and that means that for the next 30 days I will once again be:
- Hungry and thirsty for 15 + hours.
- Continuously calculating how much time is left until sunset when I can eat.
- Mentally berating myself for calculating how much time is left until sunset when I can eat.
- Watching the Food Network obsessively.
- Fuming at those who complain that giving up chocolate for Lent is SO hard.
- Organizing everything in sight to make the day go by faster.
- Attempting to master the art of patience. Especially with Maya.
- Screaming at Maya non-stop despite my attempt to master the art of patience.
Poor kid has no idea what she's in for during the next 30 days...
Every year I tell myself that I’m going to be my most kind, understanding, and charitable self during Ramadan. But this year I’ve pushed my idealistic notions aside so I can be prepared instead. And thus I’ve enrolled Maya in as many classes as I can find so we can minimize our interactions.
So maybe I’m not getting as much out of this month as other, more religious people are. But at least I get points for my honesty, right?
I hope so.
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While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
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Oh i am totally with you 😦 . As the fasts get longer and longer (here in the UK its like 4am-9pm) I really dread them. Its very hard for me sometimes, both physically and mentally.
*kisses* HH
Ramadan Kareem HH. We’ll get through this together…
I will be the dragon lady for the month. My worst? No smoking during that time. It kills me.
Luckily the times here in SA are decent coz we in Winter at the moment. Summer just kills me too!
I wish we were in winter! I remember those 8-10 hour days were a piece of cake.
Honesty is one of the most difficult virtue to master. Will you hit me if I say “Lucky you! You get to go on a diet guaranteed to succeed!”? ^_^”
Don’t yell at Maya. Won’t that just make you thirsty? You should pre-tape your yelling and play the selected audio tracks as needed together with the mother’s death stare. (tell me you have one of those. Every woman, esp. mother, should have one. Mine apparently works from across the room, according to my husband)
Enjoy your pre-Ramadan ritual. Yes, do eat whatever the heck you want to eat! (And I will keep my fingers crossed that you won’t get an upset stomach this time)
Yes this diet is guaranteed to succeed. But it totally messes with my metabolism too which leads to future problems…
I admire you Miss thang. So what you gonna munch on this weekend then?
Bread. Lots of bread. And butter! That’s what I’ve come up with so far…
Good luck with it. I feel for you with the whole low blood sugar and cranky/shouting thing. I would be pretty unbearable to be near if I tried that. I do remember the post sunset meals as being really special when I stayed with some Muslim friends during Ramadan many years ago.
I think I met you and little Maya during Ramadan last year! Can’t believe it’s been a year already!
I can’t believe it either. Time flies! I hope August flies especially!!
Oh you are stronger than I. Couldn’t attempt it! And yes, you flatter me with your Cheap Ass Air desires…:-)
Yes – points for honesty! 🙂
When I traveled to Africa about 5 years ago I stayed with a family in a village in Kenya. The first week I was there was the last week of Ramadan. It was so very interesting and eye opening. I ate all day… and still long 10 pounds. The family stayed up all night eating and took long naps during the day.
Perhaps you can nap, or siesta, while Maya is in class? Just a thought! 🙂
I plan to siesta at every opportunity…
Ooohhhh… I remember this from last year. I have no clue how you do it. I’m no one to mess with after only 5 or 6 hours without eating. :p
I agree with Kristen- lots of naps?
Wow a month. Does Maya partake? How does that work. I’m so curious.
Maya is way too young. I don’t think I started observing Ramadan until I was 15 or 16?
Oh yes, I think a break between the two of you for as much as possible is key.
It’s funny to think of how challenging people find Lent when they can choose to give up whatever they want. Whenever I fast for holidays I find it a challenge to go without food and water for over 24 hours, but I can’t imagine doing that each day for a month.
It’s the non-stop fasting thing that gets really hard, towards the end especially. If it was just a day here and there it wouldn’t be so bad!
I admire you, Ameena for following the traditions of your faith. I gave up chips for Lent this year and now have kept the ban on chips going. It’s been a help to me in my weight management quest. However, the type of fasting you will be doing must be so difficult. I didn’t realize you couldn’t drink either. That would be harder for me than not eating. So many years of drinking lots of water on Weight Watchers has done that to me. Ralph always tells me I wouldn’t last a day in the desert. I guess I have to hope he never sends me to the desert! Blog a lot…that will keep your mind off of it!
Chips are really the only thing I cannot control myself with. The minute I have one I can’t seem to stop. That’s why I don’t buy them anymore!
I’ve fasted for religious reasons before but it was honestly nothing like Ramadan. I have so much respect for people who do the 30 days of fasting. I’ve heard it gets easier (?!) as the days go on, but still… I agree with some of the people above me…naps, cleaning, reading, movies…could all probably help!
For me it gets harder because I have no energy/fat stores left as the days progress…
You go girl! I have never fasted for religious reasons so props to ya!
Thank you Allie!
It must be hard fasting in here especially when others are not. It’s probably harder to remain calm & patience through it all. When I was still in Indonesia, my friends usually go shopping/window shopping while waiting for the time. Reading a book or blogging probably a better idea or like everyone suggested, nap? Go Ameena! You can do it!
So what are you planning to eat this weekend? Something chocolate-y and good (for your soul)? .. 🙂
Bread for sure. And chocolate definitely. Maybe some fries??
Have a fun food-filled weekend! I’m extremely impressed you can make it until sunset…
Live it up this weekend lady!!
I think you are not giving yourself enough credit. The less you dwell on the fact that you can’t eat and more on the fact why you are doing it, it’s pretty easy. Make a couple of resolutions and try and keep them. Baby steps. I think I overdid it with my resolutions! I have started back on some meds that wipe me out so I probably sleep through all of Ramadan instead of worshipping! Its amazing how God give us strength so pray to Him for that. Ramadan Mubarak to you!
I think I could benefit from some of that medication…
ahhh good luck to you and to Maya!
Good luck my friend. My hubby’s boss becomes quite the devil during this time, so I hear the aftermath.
I would have start knitting or something. That’s what I do in the winter months when I’m stuck inside and instead of eating my way through Nov-Feb, I keep my hands occupied with yarn instead of pizza 🙂
Good luck!!
If only I knew how to knit…
Props to you. I am amazed that anyone could last a day of fasting, let alone an entire month. What’s going to be your “last meal” before the fasting begins??
I’m not sure what my last meal will be but it will involve bread and butter – my two favorite things in the world.
Yesterday I was looking at my calendar for next week and was like…Ramadan already? That stuff sneaks up on you.
I’ll be honest, I’m the biggest wimp when it comes to fasting. I can handle the not eating part during Yom Kippur, but if I go a day without water, I end up with a migraine. Every single time. Fail.
When things get bad, reflect on the virtues of Excellent Hair. It’s what I choose to hold onto when I’m getting stressed/frustrated and need to re-focus on something less…meaningful, yet still essential.
I hope and pray that my Hair is Excellent. Otherwise I’ll be hungry AND have bad hair and that would be a lethal combination.
I was most shocked by the fact that I remember your suffering your way through Ramadan last year, which means we’ve “known” each other for over a year now. How cool. I also think it’s funny (not in the ha ha sense, or maybe yeah, that way) that you’re trying to survive not eating or drinking from sun up to sun down but the third “restraint” isn’t a big deal. That’s the one that would make me most nuts. And I’m an ole lady. 🙂
Food is first and foremost in my life. Everything else is secondary!!
i don’t think i’m going to be able to keep all the fasts this year. actually, I know I won’t be able to. how about only fasting on fridays? 😉
If that was a possibility I’d definitely sign up Nadia!!
Ah it’s that time of the year again, good luck! I can’t never imagine if I have to fast for 15+ hour (I could do without food but water is the big problem). Is Maya also doing fasting or when will she start doing the Ramadan fasting?
Maya won’t start until she’s about 15 or 16 which was when I started fasting. Poor kid has no idea what she’s in for!
And I have been reading your blog for a while too! My nephew is walking and you are going through Ramadan again. Enjoy your last supper pig outs!!!
Ramadan Mubarak (in advance), these summer Ramadan days are longggg…just found out iftar won’t be till 8:30 or so! And my poor father has to drink his coffee at Imsak so he usually ends up going to work at 5 in the morning and works all day.
A few things I love about Ramadan besides it’s religious meaning: Amazing food…there are all these specialties my mom makes exclusively in Ramadan, and it means we’re that much closer to EID!
I actually do love all the great food and Iftaar time, it’s just getting there that poses such a problem for me. 🙂 Ramadan Mubarak Sara!
I remember when some of my friends fasted for Ramadan and I was just in awe at how much will they had. We were so young but even then they never really cheated or anything.
I’ve never fasted but I imagine that if you keep yourself busy (hello Foodgawker!) the day will go by faster?
In fact, I haven’t even gone through anything like Lent before either!
Unless you count the time when I went to India last summer and the only food for me to eat was oatmeal, daal, and mangoes.
It was great the first day, and then I started to miss food I could chew.
When I went to India the only thing I ate was bananas and rice. And I don’t even like bananas!
I LOVE your honesty!!! I don’t know how you do it, I would be SO on edge and snap at everything!!! You are a strong lady!!! And I admire you!
Thank you Amy – you are so generous with the compliments! I appreciate it.
So someone recently told me they knew TONS of pregnant women who fasted (after I told ’em I didn’t think I would). I had to resist the urge to punch them (because that wouldn’t be very Ramadan-y). I, my friend, will be sharing your non-eating discomfort with my own looking-like-a-beached-whale discomfort. I’m hoping you and Sana will be around on Twitter like last year to complain it up (I mean, share and learn) 😉
I’ll be on Twitter for sure…we can share our trials and tribulations – even if they aren’t the same this year!
Oy. Just Oy.
I think there has to be points for honesty!
I’m so glad you think so!
Once I’ve gone more than 3 hours without eating I start to get a little bitchy. As long as you can get through the month without serious violence, I would consider that a huge success.
This year is going to be hard with sunset occurring so late in the day.It’s a sure-fire recipe for crankiness! It’s wise of you to preempt this and enroll Maya is lots of classes. I would have done the same!
I hope that your days aren’t much longer than ours out there in NYC!
I’d be raging all day. I couldn’t handle it. I have so much respect for you!
Thank you Amanda!
Ramadan Kareem Ameena. Fasting for 30 days, i salute you guys!! Hope you mange to eat all you want this weekend 🙂
Thank you Ananda!
Whenever I am hungry I am this super crazy mad girl. I have no clue how you do this but very inspiring 🙂
I am a super crazy mad girl for 30 days. 🙂
that time of year again! I remember from last year how hard it was. best of luck!
Thank you Daisy!
Ah! I dont know how you do it!! I would like to see pics on Mon with everything you ate this past weekend!
It’s scary how it feels like not too long ago I was reading about you doing this…man, time is flying – and nothing to show for it in my case 😦
Girl – you are STRONG. I’d never be able to do it…but Lord knows I friggin’ need to…blah.
I get hypoglycemic very quickly, so I don’t think I could fast unless I could sleep through it.
I feel with you! And I know I had severe problems with this either. Things are never just: There may be people who can pray or meditate wonderfully on an empty stomach, but others cannot. Does that make them worse people?
I have a tough time focusing on an empty stomach but I suppose that’s kind of the point…I need to learn how other, less fortunate people manage…crossing my fingers this happens for me…
Does Maya ever get curious about fasting and feel like doing it for a shorter period of time? Btw, that picture with the caption totally cracked me up.
I pretty much will do the same things this month except instead of the Food Network it will be food blogs, lol. They’re torture this time of the year.
Happy Ramadan! 🙂
So far Maya can’t go 5 minutes without asking for something to eat so no, she isn’t curious at all!
I’d love to read and see pics of all that you consume this weekend. Are you going epicure or comfort food? Are you eating a vast variety or powering through an entire container of something luscious? Is it grazing all-day or a three-squares feast?
I adore that pic of you and Maya. Ali was inspired?
So far I’ve indulged in both Leslie. From a blueberry muffin (comfort) to Branzino with potatoes and eggplant (epicure). I also had some chocolate truffles, rosemary crackers, and a wonderful array of Indian food. And that was just yesterday!!
I can’t imagine fasting like that-I’m hungry two hours after a meal.
Your Food Network marathon sounds fun! Make sure to switch to The Cooking Channel for throw-back cooking shows as well!
holey moley it’s that time of year again. well….i guess i’ll see you in a month?!?
Seriously I can not even imagine. Honesty is always the best policy, best to prepare everyone ahead of time for what is about to happen!
In my religion we fast one Sunday a month. For me it takes all I have to do this. I cannot imagine fasting for 30 days. So is it just daylight hours? Does that mean you have a late dinner and an early breakfast?
What a humbling experience. I have no tips. When I fast all I want to do is eat. I am working on trying to remember the true reason for the fast.
I can eat between the hours of approximately 8 pm and 4:30 am. So I can have a VERY early breakfast and a really late dinner. It’s the 15 hours between that poses quite a problem for me. 🙂
Ramadhan Kareem Ameena 🙂 Make the most of it. Here’s the post I said I’d link you to: http://omanibookmania.blogspot.com/2011/07/august-book-club-selection-to-kill.html Hope you can participate this time.
Ramadan Kareem to you as well!
—I love your honesty. Lots of points for that 😉
i had to fast once for blood work and that is freakin hard! You are amazing. Be prepared, i like that idea.
I had picked up a 10 day fast when I was back home and it was the ultimate test of will power for me. I am not kidding my respect for each and everyone who followed ramadan increased. I simply salute you!!!
I call my friend each day to ask her about the special meals she’ll be preparing to break her fast. Serves well for both of us, we talk 45 minutes about food which is always a great subject for me and kills some of her time and takes her mind off things 🙂
Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family, Ameena!
Talking about food is really a great way to pass the time…it’s probably not the BEST way to pass the time but you do what you have to do. 🙂
Ramadan mubarak Ameena!!!
i personally can wait. i just love the month!!!
esp the happiness when opening the fast…such a precious moment. i cant stop smiling for the first five minutes after sunset!
Thank you Eva! I hope some of your enthusiasm rubs off on me!
I had a friend in school who use and still follows all the rules of fasting during Ramadan. she always use to warn us from a week in advance that anyone should not speak about food around her during this month and be extra nice to her.
The best part about Ramadan for me is to visit her home on eid and eat all the Delicious!!!! food her Mom made. Specially kheer and Hyderabadi dum biryani. I miss all that now.
I always admire people who do this fast. it is really very difficult that too daily for a month. kudos to you.
Best of luck to you and Maya too to you.
Thank you Chandana…I appreciate and need all the luck I can get.
And yes, Eid food is definitely something to look forward to. If only it wasn’t an entire 30 days away!
I honestly can’t imagine. It takes such discipline to even change the smallest eating habit for me…I would be a grouchy, depressed creepy person if I was to fast for that long. Love the picture of the two of you. As much as you mutter and gripe about Ali and Maya, it is clear that you are loved like crazy:)
Thank you Kim for the very kind compliment. They seem to love me…not sure how or why…but somehow it works. 🙂
Hey, I call it the “Hunger Monster” when you are so hungry that you just can’t help snapping at everyone. It happens… 🙂 At least you aren’t in denial about it!
Eat eat eat till your hearts content, dear! I admire you for being able to fast like that. A couple hours without food and I’m up the walls. Have a fantastic rest of the weekend.
Thank you LeQuan!
What an interesting Blog! Thank you so much Ameena, for stopping by mine. Hope you have a peaceful and happy Ramadaan. WIshing you my best during this month of fasting. I realize how important it is for you and how tough it can be, since I have been in Bahrain for sometime now.
God Bless.
You almost have me motivated to fast with you. I will read the details, check out the time clock, buy an extra big cage for my kids and do it with you. I really need mental and gastro cleansing.
Really? You might fast with me? Let me know if you do…we can commiserate together. And let me know if you find an appropriate cage. 🙂
I honor how your hunger will intensify all awareness of all hungers, all wantings, both those pure and those twisted. Those fulfilled and those left unhealed. And that you will share it with us should made us all pause in awareness of our great riches, and our great depravity. This act of worship, of tradition and participation, awes me.
I hope that you are enjoying a delicious meal as I write this. Thinking of you and wishing you luck! I am sure that you will have many interesting posts during this time;)
That sounds like such a challenge but I love that you follow traditions!
I heard car accidents spike up in Muslim countries during this Ramadan period…Don’t drive when you’re cranky and hungry, Ameena! And I don’t think watching the Food Network is a good idea…;-)
Happy Ramadan, Ameena! I know that’s probably a dichotomy right there and then, but hey, at least we get to celebrate at the end of the month, right? I’ll certainly look forward to your controlled rants, so don’t forget to update your blog regularly! Mine being a food blog, I’ll probably have to suffer through it while writing about food, glorious food… :-(.
Dichotomy is the perfect word for Happy Ramadan. 🙂 How about we congratulate each other around August 30? 🙂
Ramadan Kareem! I applaud you for going through it… I could never bring myself to fast. I’ve never been in touch with the religion but am extremely closely connected to the culture… it would be hard with work 9-5, but perhaps now is a good time to try it out? Anyway, with Ramadan here, I’m inspired to post all about delicious iftar classics. Any suggestions?
Until then, good luck and you can do it!
Good Luck to you and good luck to Maya 🙂
The religion I was raised in fasts one day a month until dinner time and I always hated that and was always whining to my mom about not being able to eat. I can’t even imagine 30 days of that!! Good for you for doing it and I think the extra activities for Maya are a great plan. Oh and those Lent people have no room to complain.
Hang in there Mama. It sounds long. And hard.
Does sending you good thoughts fall into the same plane as complaining about chocolate?
Ugh. I’ll stop now.
XO
You know I did this one time for Lent. I gave up food (not water) for 30 days – as opposed to the 40 days. It is difficult. I knew I couldn’t do water for sure – as I pretended it was a milkshake on many occasions.
Happy Ramadan, friend! 🙂
Happy Ramadan to you and your family dear 🙂 Apologies for the absence – had guests over for summer vacay in Florida.
Ramadan Kareem! I too, watch the Food Network non-stop during ramadan! lol
Happy Ramadan! today is 1st of Ramadan here, im on fast and can ‘actually’ feel each and every word of your post right now 😐
Happy Ramadan! Enjoy!
ooops .. I could never fast i cant stay away without food for 2 hours let alone 15.. Oh my ..
I hope you have a good ramadan, and that the sun sets on TIME .. Lucky you are not in uk where sun is out there till 9pm or later sometimes 🙂
all the best and God bless..
Wishing you and your family a Happy Ramadan…at least you get to celebrate after 😉
thank you so much! i am definitely looking forward to the celebration part. 🙂
#5 – That’s me! I was totally one of those annoying people. But I did so poorly giving up chocolate for Lent that I don’t bother to give anything up anymore. I even forget not to eat meat on Fridays. I am a sorry excuse for a Christian. Oh well.
I really admire what you are doing! Good luck!
I love this photo of you and your daughter. It’s beautiful.
Ooooh.. i don’t know how you fast for that long and that many days, I can’t even fast for karva chauth, I can only NOT eat when I’m sad or depressed or worried. i give you credit, especially being a mom and being able to do that. such a sweet pic of you and maya.
I can’t eat when I’m worried either! It’s a good thing to be worried during this month. 🙂