Studying while fasting?

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Yadster101

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Hey all,

I wanted to known if any of you have advice on studying while fasting for religious purposes. I'm currently fasting for the month of Ramadan so I can't eat or drink for about 16 hours. What I typically do is eat a healthy mix of carbs, protein and fat during my morning meal. I also make sure to hydrate from the time I break my fast till I go to sleep. I find that if I crank up the ac and don't walk in the sun it's typically not difficult to focus.

Does anyone here have any advice on fasting and studying?

Also for those of you that inevitability turn this thread into a religious debate...may God have mercy on your souls.
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Styrene said:
Can you tell me how you knew it was meant to be a joke?
Click to expand...

I did mean it as a joke. I thought that it was obvious cuz if you don't believe in religion then you wouldn't care about your soul anyways. Sorry if you found it offensive.
 
Yadster101 said:
I did mean it as a joke. I thought that it was obvious cuz if you don't believe in religion then you wouldn't care about your soul anyways. Sorry if you found it offensive.
Click to expand...
I understand - my bad. Didn't personally find it offensive but thought some might given what I've seen on other threads/forums. Anyway, there are threads on this if you search in case you don't get the answers you want here.
 
I didn't have that much trouble studying during Ramadan . I am more of a morning than an evening studier so I would get 4-5 hours in the morning and that was usually enough. In the afternoon/evening I do more busy type of work like errands that don't need that much focused cerebral work . It's also curious that now as a practicing physician I find fasting is easier when I am working than on a day off as then my mind is not so much on the fact that I can't eat.

It also gets easier as Ramadan goes through in the last 5 days of Ramadan I feel like I could fast all year !
 
Styrene said:
I don't have a soul
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God , religion and having a soul / going to Heaven / Hell are important. It's one of the things that separates us from monkeys. And doesn't matter that much whether you are Christian / Jewish / Muslim / Hindu as long as you believe there is a God and a purpose behind it all.

My belief is that such an intricate and complex universe didn't happen just by chance .
 
Yadster101 said:
Hey all,

I wanted to known if any of you have advice on studying while fasting for religious purposes. I'm currently fasting for the month of Ramadan so I can't eat or drink for about 16 hours. What I typically do is eat a healthy mix of carbs, protein and fat during my morning meal. I also make sure to hydrate from the time I break my fast till I go to sleep. I find that if I crank up the ac and don't walk in the sun it's typically not difficult to focus.

Does anyone here have any advice on fasting and studying?

Also for those of you that inevitability turn this thread into a religious debate...may God have mercy on your souls.
Click to expand...
It's never been an issue for my Muslim students. Or my Muslim MD colleagues....they made it through med school just fine.
 
Nephroman said:
God , religion and having a soul / going to Heaven / Hell are important. It's one of the things that separates us from monkeys. And doesn't matter that much whether you are Christian / Jewish / Muslim / Hindu as long as you believe there is a God and a purpose behind it all.

My belief is that such an intricate and complex universe didn't happen just by chance .
Click to expand...
You made an account to promote religion on SDN?
 
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jw3600 said:
You made an account to promote religion on SDN?
Click to expand...
No , did not make an account to promote religion. I opened an account to be able to express my opinion which I am entitled too just like all the atheists / agnostics.
 
gyngyn said:
Could we stay on topic, by any chance?
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Negative.

But on a serious note, I feel like I'm more focused when I'm fasting. I don't have the distraction of thinking about food because, for religious purposes, it's pointless because I can't have it while the Sun is up anyway. The first few days are always the toughest, but then you get used to it.

(and on super busy floor days, I've unintentionally fasted as well, so I'm used to that)
 
CherryRedDracul said:
Negative.

But on a serious note, I feel like I'm more focused when I'm fasting. I don't have the distraction of thinking about food because, for religious purposes, it's pointless because I can't have it while the Sun is up anyway. The first few days are always the toughest, but then you get used to it.

(and on super busy floor days, I've unintentionally fasted as well, so I'm used to that)
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One of my top feats of residency was fasting for 2 days in row. I got up at 430 am kept a fast and then worked the whole day . I think I was on long call so I didn't get done till 10-11 pm. By then I was so tired that instead of going home I went to the call room and took a gulp of water and then went to sleep. Obviously there was no food at that time . Woke up at 5 am took another gulp of water for Sehri and started prerounding. The second day I am pretty sure I had no glycogen stores left and was running solely on ketone bodies. But I didn't feel particularly tired and the brain and the body is good at adapting to use ketone bodies although if I went for a sprint the second day I would have collapsed as ketone bodies can't sustain anaerobic metabolism.

It's think humans through evolution over time can sustain not eating for quite a few days and also not drinking water. The body just adapts. Our ancestors the hunter gatherers sometimes would not get food for days to weeks. But the human brain is not so good at adapting to sleep deprivation. Just one night without sleep and brain performance goes way down .
 
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I think I would take my chances with a saber tooth tiger then being a resident! You guys work hard!!
Nephroman said:
One of my top feats of residency was fasting for 2 days in row. I got up at 430 am kept a fast and then worked the whole day . I think I was on long call so I didn't get done till 10-11 pm. By then I was so tired that instead of going home I went to the call room and took a gulp of water and then went to sleep. Obviously there was no food at that time . Woke up at 5 am took another gulp of water for Sehri and started prerounding. The second day I am pretty sure I had no glycogen stores left and was running solely on ketone bodies. But I didn't feel particularly tired and the brain and the body is good at adapting to use ketone bodies although if I went for a sprint the second day I would have collapsed as ketone bodies can't sustain anaerobic metabolism.

It's think humans through evolution over time can sustain not eating for quite a few days and also not drinking water. The body just adapts. Our ancestors the hunter gatherers sometimes would not get food for days to weeks. But the human brain is not so good at adapting to sleep deprivation. Just one night without sleep and brain performance goes way down .
Click to expand...
 
I studied for my MCAT during Ramadan and it was fine! Wake up early and get to studying before 10 am. I studied straight till around 6 pm, then went home and chilled/slept or sometimes even hit the gym. Don't expect to get anything done after opening your fast, at least in my opinion. I did pretty well so I think it was fine ! Just make sure to not let yourself slip up and have any days off, even on the weekends, bc it will mess up your whole week - at least in my case that's how it went.

Good luck!!!! You will go great iA!! I think it will be a great spiritual bump for you rather than a deterrent.
 
Not trying to flame religious zealots but I'm always amazed how nonchalantly people talk about doing entirely illogical things probably drastically affecting their performance (and career) for some spirits in the sky. I wonder if one day we will classify this as a psychiatric disease. Doesn't seem that different to me than isolated delusional disorder.
 
Goro said:
It's never been an issue for my Muslim students. Or my Muslim MD colleagues....they made it through med school just fine.
Click to expand...

So there was an issue for your muslim DO colleagues? 😉

just messing around
 
jw3600 said:
Not trying to flame religious zealots but I'm always amazed how nonchalantly people talk about doing entirely illogical things probably drastically affecting their performance (and career) for some spirits in the sky. I wonder if one day we will classify this as a psychiatric disease. Doesn't seem that different to me than isolated delusional disorder.
Click to expand...

And your proof of lack of existence is the lack of evidence.... You cannot prove something doesn't exist by not seeing it.... logic 101 my friend. I would say be open to all things, even if they seem silly, if not crazy, to you.

I don't think that my belief hurt people. I believe that all people need to know that I love them and that they are good people will hurt anyone.... Honestly, religion, in my experience, has helped me to be a better person, not a crazy man. 🙂

I know that the day when people are not allowed to believe what they may, in sound mind, will be the day when all aspects of hope, and idealism leave this world. Love is transposed to manipulation, and good people no longer do good things. Belief is something unquantifiable, yet permeates every aspect of mankind. You believe that there is no God just as much as I believe that there is. I view the world one way, you view it another. In the end of the day what does that make us? Still humans. We need to do what is best for us. We need to let others do what is good for them. That is a world I hope we would move to... but with more tension and violence, it isn't.
As humans we all need some love and a hug. If that's a mental disorder, then I don't know what healthy means anymore.
 
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miniman said:
And your proof of lack of existence is the lack of evidence.... You cannot prove something doesn't exist by not seeing it.... logic 101 my friend. I would say be open to all things, even if they seem silly, if not crazy, to you.

I don't think that my belief hurt people. I believe that all people need to know that I love them and that they are good people will hurt anyone.... Honestly, religion, in my experience, has helped me to be a better person, not a crazy man. 🙂

I know that the day when people are not allowed to believe what they may, in sound mind, will be the day when all aspects of hope, and idealism leave this world. Love is transposed to manipulation, and good people no longer do good things. Belief is something unquantifiable, yet permeates every aspect of mankind. You believe that there is no God just as much as I believe that there is. I view the world one way, you view it another. In the end of the day what does that make us? Still humans. We need to do what is best for us. We need to let others do what is good for them. That is a world I hope we would move to... but with more tension and violence, it isn't.
As humans we all need some love and a hug. If that's a mental disorder, then I don't know what healthy means anymore.
Click to expand...
The glorification of "feelings" is not an argument for why religion is justifiable. Your entire post is basically newspeak. Meaningless buzz words devoid of a tangible argument.

And I am open to things. I'm more than open to looking for clues, evidence, signs of anything that people claim to exist. It's not my lack of openness that's stopping that from happening. It's the lack of substance of what is trying to be proclaimed.
 
jw3600 said:
The glorification of "feelings" is not an argument for why religion is justifiable. Your entire post is basically newspeak. Meaningless buzz words devoid of a tangible argument.

And I am open to things. I'm more than open to looking for clues, evidence, signs of anything that people claim to exist. It's not my lack of openness that's stopping that from happening. It's the lack of substance of what is trying to be proclaimed.
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You are right! But I wasn't trying to argue! Just state my opinion, and heaven knows that isn't fact! 🙂
 
I have plenty of religious friends...and I respect them and think they are wonderful people. For me personally I am not religious. I would much rather indulge in all of life's pleasures. Life is awesome and I want to ensure that I get the most enjoyment out of it during my short stay on this earth. However to each their own. Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they want. That is what makes America great again.
 
ActinicKeratosis said:
I have plenty of religious friends...and I respect them and think they are wonderful people. For me personally I am not religious. I would much rather indulge in all of life's pleasures. Life is awesome and I want to ensure that I get the most enjoyment out of it during my short stay on this earth. However to each their own. Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they want. That is what makes America great again.
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Exactly! To each their own. 🙂
 
God or some ultimate creation force may be real, but that being is not real in any sense that man has come close to understanding. Religion, as we know it, is an entirely man made construct designed to do two things.
1. Alleviate the fear cowardly men have of death.
2. Control others, women in particular.

So OP, about that fast, I'd definitely, uh, drink a lot of water and eat rice when you can.
 
Gorne said:
God or some ultimate creation force may be real, but that being is not real in any sense that man has come close to understanding. Religion, as we know it, is an entirely man made construct designed to do two things.
1. Alleviate the fear cowardly men have of death.
2. Control others, women in particular.

So OP, about that fast, I'd definitely, uh, drink a lot of water and eat rice when you can.
Click to expand...

I take interest in your second point. Unfortunately in many countries women are treated absolutely horrendously. There is no excuse for that whatsoever. Women and men deserve the same rights.
 
Gorne said:
God or some ultimate creation force may be real, but that being is not real in any sense that man has come close to understanding. Religion, as we know it, is an entirely man made construct designed to do two things.
1. Alleviate the fear cowardly men have of death.
2. Control others, women in particular.

So OP, about that fast, I'd definitely, uh, drink a lot of water and eat rice when you can.
Click to expand...
Gosh people in the 21st century are just ungrateful . But that's man in general , in times of need will go back to God and ask for his blessings and when He blesses them with His bounties and it looks like they don't need Him , then deny His existence and claim all they achieved was their own hard work and the luck and fortune that He blessed them had nothing to do with it.

There are some common rules to nearly all religions which God transmitted to all countries and cultures so that good men and women would not go astray.

1. Recognize the God that made you and will hold you accountable if you stray from the path.
2. Do not kill unjustly.
3. Do not commit adultery i.e sex outside the confines of a marriage between a man and woman is wrong.
4. Do not get addicted .
5. Give charity to the poor.
6. Treat your spouse, parents, children , neighbors fairly.
7. Abortion is a great crime to the unborn.
8. Do not steal or covet others property/wife.
9. Do not lie or bear false witness.
10. When someone treats you unjustly it is your right to retaliate . But sometimes it is better to forgive.
 
Nephroman said:
Gosh people in the 21st century are just ungrateful . But that's man in general , in times of need will go back to God and ask for his blessings and when He blesses them with His bounties and it looks like they don't need Him , then deny His existence and claim all they achieved was their own hard work and the luck and fortune that He blessed them had nothing to do with it.

There are some common rules to nearly all religions which God transmitted to all countries and cultures so that good men and women would not go astray.

1. Recognize the God that made you and will hold you accountable if you stray from the path.
2. Do not kill unjustly.
3. Do not commit adultery i.e sex outside the confines of a marriage between a man and woman is wrong.
4. Do not get addicted .
5. Give charity to the poor.
6. Treat your spouse, parents, children , neighbors fairly.
7. Abortion is a great crime to the unborn.
8. Do not steal or covet others property/wife.
9. Do not lie or bear false witness.
10. When someone treats you unjustly it is your right to retaliate . But sometimes it is better to forgive.
Click to expand...
Every time you capitalize "His" I cringe a little. Makes you sound like a crazy person. It's like Dave Chapelle said. Believe whatever you want but to what degree do I have to delve into your fantasy. You changing the rules of grammar for your own opinion is just silly.

Edit: oh ****. I just read your post. Are you trolling my man? You can go back to the 18th century if you'd like. Gay marriage and abortion most certainly have a place in modern society.
 
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Yadster101 said:
Hey all,

I wanted to known if any of you have advice on studying while fasting for religious purposes. I'm currently fasting for the month of Ramadan so I can't eat or drink for about 16 hours. What I typically do is eat a healthy mix of carbs, protein and fat during my morning meal. I also make sure to hydrate from the time I break my fast till I go to sleep. I find that if I crank up the ac and don't walk in the sun it's typically not difficult to focus.

Does anyone here have any advice on fasting and studying?

Also for those of you that inevitability turn this thread into a religious debate...may God have mercy on your souls.
Click to expand...
Go on a keto diet. <50 carbs a day. You don't feel tired when you're running on ketones.
 
jw3600 said:
Every time you capitalize "His" I cringe a little. Makes you sound like a crazy person. It's like Dave Chapelle said. Believe whatever you want but to what degree do I have to delve into your fantasy. You changing the rules of grammar for your own opinion is just silly.

Edit: oh ****. I just read your post. Are you trolling my man? You can go back to the 18th century if you'd like. Gay marriage and abortion most certainly have a place in modern society.
Click to expand...
I am not trolling. A thread about fasting is going to attract people in general who believe in God. Just stating my opinions. Abortion is an abomination that is going to be banned in the United States in the next 20 yrs , hopefully earlier. And while I respect the right of gay people to exist, it's my personal opinion that homosexuality is wrong. Maybe because the stereotype of queer people is George Michael and Caitlyn Jenner.
If you trash talk about God and religion I can also speak about what I consider wrong.
 
I do a lot of intermittent fasting for 16 hour periods. Shouldn't be too hard to do--
Many people are doing this kind of diet on a regular basis now. The key for me is to eat extremely healthy and rarely eat sugars, alcohol, or heavily processed foods. This makes it easier for me to get into ketosis without my blood crazy blood sugar drops.
Also, one does not have to go full keto to do intermittent fasting. I eat plenty of starches inside my 8-hour eating window.
 
Nephroman said:
I am not trolling. A thread about fasting is going to attract people in general who believe in God. Just stating my opinions. Abortion is an abomination that is going to be banned in the United States in the next 20 yrs , hopefully earlier. And while I respect the right of gay people to exist, it's my personal opinion that homosexuality is wrong. Maybe because the stereotype of queer people is George Michael and Caitlyn Jenner.
If you trash talk about God and religion I can also speak about what I consider wrong.
Click to expand...

Someone like you has no place in medicine.
 
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