Olympic training while fasting

I asked Ahmed how they used to train during Ramadan when he trained
with the Bosnian and Egyptian Olympic weightlifting teams, both
primarily Muslim.

The standard practice for these teams was to train twice a day.
Normally they would train in the morning after breakfast, and then in
the afternoon before dinner. In between the morning and afternoon
workouts they'd eat, nap, have massages, soak in the hot tub, and just
generally hang out.

During Ramadan, observant Muslims do not eat or drink anything (even
water) during the daylight hours. Basically, what the lifting teams
would do was sort of time shift so they lived during the dark and
slept during the day. Here's what they'd do:

Dawn to mid-afternoon (until time to get up to work ou): Sleep.

Last hour or so before dusk: Workout. This was the lighter of the two
workouts, because they hadn't eaten beforehand and couldn't drink
during. They'd do strength moves rather than dynamic moves -- squats
(alternating front and back from day to day), pulls, overhead presses.

After workout: A meal -- which Ahmed calls breakfast. But that's
literally because they were breaking their fast. I'm sure they
weren't eating Rice Krispies :-). I think they ate steak a couple of
times a day, at least. I know he does now.

Then a nap.

Then, at midnight or so, a meal followed by another workout. This was
the power workout -- actually doing the Olympic lifts.

Then hanging out, massage, etc., with a final meal before dawn.

Then to bed, and starting over the next day.

He said it was very difficult if one had a competition right after
this, to get back to a normal schedule. I'd think so.

For the record, they basically trained seven days a week. But -- all
year, not just during Ramadan -- they had off Friday afternoon and
Saturday morning.

I thought this was interesting.

Chris

Why are you so shocked at anything it says or does? He is like a train
wreck, we don't want to see it, but can't help ourselves. He doesn't get
it, never has never will.... accept it and move on!

--
Email me at:
perpleglow(AT)comcast.net
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"MH" wrote in message
...

"nev" wrote in message
.. .
In article , ignoramus30622
@NOSPAM.30622.invalid says...
Very interesting indeed. I guess those training for Olympic events
need lots of available energy! I wonder if Allah will approve such
perversion of the concept of fasting.

i

OMG!!!!

Now, he's questioning someone else's religious beliefs! What an arrogant
SOB. I'll say one thing, the RI could learn a little (no, a lot) from
religion...humility and respect are two things.

Martha

"nev" wrote in message
.. .
In article , ignoramus30622
@NOSPAM.30622.invalid says...
Very interesting indeed. I guess those training for Olympic events
need lots of available energy! I wonder if Allah will approve such
perversion of the concept of fasting.

i

OMG!!!!

Now, he's questioning someone else's religious beliefs! What an arrogant
SOB. I'll say one thing, the RI could learn a little (no, a lot) from
religion...humility and respect are two things.

Martha

On 10 Jan 2004 03:58:39 GMT, Ignoramus30622
wrote:

Very interesting indeed. I guess those training for Olympic events
need lots of available energy! I wonder if Allah will approve such
perversion of the concept of fasting.

i
Well, that's not for me or you to say :-)

Chris