Hot Hot Hot day for Ramadan

Seemingly overnight, we went from just over 0C to 30-35C. It's such an adjustment but it's so nice that summer is here after a long, long, long winter. I always forget that summer heat brings as many challenges as a cold winter does. I worry about sunburns and heatstroke and the humidity affecting my asthma but those things are all preventable with a bit of preparation and care so I can not let it dissuade me from my goals!

I tend to do better with weight loss in the summer because healthier foods are much more desirable in the heat. The fresh fruit and cool veggies that are in season taste as amazing in the summer as the stodgy pies and breads do in the winter. That is definitely something to look forward to!

Yesterday, a few of my coworkers and I fasted for Ramadan. It's an idea we had in the long dark days in the winter when the whole office was a Christmas fun zone. We chose to fast in solidarity with our fellow coworker. The whole goal is to go without food and water from sunrise to sunset. I'll admit I did have coffee and toast at about 6 am which is past sunrise but it wasn't that far off. I had nothing else until 9:17 pm except for a few rinses of water during the work day since my throat was so dry and angry and apparently that is allowed.

Anyway, I did learn a few things from the experience that I hope to carry with me for the rest of the year:

1. Hunger passes! I know this in theory and I have experienced this in the past but you forget don't you? Yesterday, I didn't have as many hunger pains as I would have thought and they passed with a little distraction and focus.

2. Water is wonderful and don't you forget it! By the time 9:17 came around, I was so excited for a cold glass of water that I couldn't stand it. It made me so, so happy.

Today, there were coffee and donuts in the breakroom. I took the coffee because I will never not take free coffee but I left the donuts. I even had a moment where I told myself I deserved it but I said, nope! remember Ramadan? and I haven't thought of it since.

We will see how this goes but I'm feeling motivated and positive.