Posts Tagged ‘healthy-living’

Ramadan Day 10- You shouldn’t be gaining weight

Posted: July 29, 2012 in 70 day challenge, Affad Shaikh, American Muslim, diet, fitness, Health, health and fitness, Islam, lifestyle, obesity, p90x, Ramadan, suhaib webb, supplements and vitamins
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graphic courtesy of Muslim Matters

Muslim Matters posted a ‘5-Step Guide to Healthy Ramadan Weight Loss‘ which is worth your time to read (its a bit long), but in summary the 5 Steps in brief are:

  1. Stop speed eating at Sahoor
  2. Don’t obsess about food
  3. Exercise (Duh)- doesnt take Sherlock Holmes to figure that out.
  4. Stop feasting after iftar
  5. Be Mindful of other- something I wrote about already in my previous Ramadan posts.

I personally am following the Rehan Jalali Ramadan Nutrition and Workout Plan (which is on Suhaib Webbs blog) this year.  I made some modifications to it because I needed it to suit my lifestyle a bit better, but for the most part I started on Ramadan Day 1 and have been going strong.  While I have been successful in not gaining weight the past four years, and the past two years actually losing weight, I wanted to take things up a notch and get back on track for my 70 Day Challenge which abrubptly came to a stop on Day 35 (Law School, things not working out with a girl, law school, midterms and tests, moving out of apartment, law school doubts).

Day 35- 70 Day Challenge- The Collapse and Getting Right Back Up

Posted: March 18, 2012 in 70 day challenge, Affad Shaikh, fitness, Health, health and fitness, lifestyle, obesity
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I am a bit confounded that its been 23 days since I lasted posted on the 70 Day Challenge I stared 35 days ago.  But here is the link to the 70 Day Challenge and the link where you can find the links for all my days- hold me accountable at youtube, pinterest, and twitter.

I haven’t failed at the challenge- not all together, at least- but rather failed at the blogging aspect.  Where I did fail was the past week.  I admit I did not go to the gym or do any sort of physical activity beyond getting up to go to the kitchen and bringing back food to my bed.  Even while I was in the midst of my appellate brief drafting, midterm prepping, resume sending, Houston interview prepping I actually managed to sneak off to the gym and get my manly sweat on.  It was the trip to Houston that done that in.  First I sat for hours, sleep deprived, at LAX.  Then I sat on a plane for four hours.  Then I sat in a hotel room for hours.  Then I sat I stood in lines at Bush International, then sat for a few hours in the terminal all the while looking forward to sitting some more on the plane.  Then I drove a few hours in my car from LAX to my parents home and then from their back to my home.  By the time I got to the gym on Monday my muscles were numb from all the sitting.  My normal warm up mile resulted in severe back pain.  I landed firmly in the confines of my bed alongside Mr. Tiger Balm, Tylenol extra strength pain reliever pills and two whole garbage bags worth of carbohydrate and pure white glucose (the other white powder…) worth of goodies.

A good 10 days worth of time that makes up what I call “THE GREAT COLLAPSE” adding to that whole spiel is the fact that I haven’t blogged about the challenge.  So I promise to get my act together by back filling while simultaneously keeping up to date on present posts.  I know it’s a tall order, especially since I am no James Franco, but I made this promise and I do intend to keep to it like tar and feathers, or a kid and chocolate in a candy store.

Day 12- 70 Day Challenge- Abs Diet

Posted: February 23, 2012 in 70 day challenge, Affad Shaikh, American Muslim, diet, Health, health and fitness, obesity
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I think I fell off the blogging roll.  Even doing a simple post is pretty taxing.  I will leave out the update for the past several days and continue to update you on my progress once I catch up.  But here is the link to the 70 Day Challenge and also the link where you can find the links for all my days- hold me accountable at youtube, pinterest, and twitter.

Most influential for my health consciousness was Men’s Health magazine because it introduced me to “The Abs Diet.”  The magazine editor and author of the book is David Zinczenko.  Although the book is written in a way to attract males towards the diet, any dieter can follow it. I learned that each person has to make a personalized way to get to the goals you have and the book I think best presents the way to do it on a great foundation.

Following the steps in the book  I got a way to transform the fat into muscle, as well as steps to sculpt the rest of the body.  I know I put down the “diet” trend, and yes, I am not a fan of diets but that term is associated with a “lifestyle” where you purge yourself of your natural desire to eat carbs or other things.  Here your body and your personal habits are taken into account and there is a way for you to incrementally change and add the healthy lifestyle choices to your life.

The Meal Plan

The meal plan consists of a 7-day plan, filled with what the author calls “power foods.” There are twelve power foods listed in his book, accompanied by recipes. You get one meal per week that is considered a “cheat” meal so you can et anything you want. The diet suggests that foods, such as fat-filled meats, processed and refined carbohydrates, as well as foods high in sugar, should be avoided.

The Power Foods

The foods below are referred to as the “Power 12,” and play an important role when following the Abs Diet.

  1. Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. These should be eaten with the skin still in place.
  2. Beans and otherLegumes
  3. Green Vegetables: spinach, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, etc.
  4. Dairy: This includes fat-free milk, low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, as well as cottage cheese
  5. Instant Oatmeal: When eating this food, no sweeteners should be added and it should also be unflavored.
  6. Eggs
  7. Turkey and other lean meats: This includes lean steak, chicken, as well as fish
  8. Peanut Butter: This selection should be all natural and contain no sugar.
  9. Olive Oil
  10. Bread and Cereals: These items should consist of whole grains.
  11. Extra Protein Whey Powder
  12. Berries: raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, etc.