Ramadhan & Wednesday's Workout

It’s just past the halfway mark of the fasting month or Ramadhan when Muslims fast/abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. The objective of this obligation is for Muslims to know, feel, reconnect with the sufferings of the destitute and demonstrate humility through dealing with hunger and thirst. Unfortunately for a minority, Ramadhan has been a month of gluttony – take a look at the heaps and heaps of food piled high on the plate come “buka puasa” or the breaking of fast, not only at buffets but also at home. The amount consumed at buka puasa can sometimes be more than the usual 3 square meals and 2 snacks that they usually have on any ordinary day. And really, this is a minority and is not meant as a generalization of the Muslim population. Naturally, this defeats the spirit of Ramadhan – humility, nobility.

Why am I bringing this up? In the last couple of years, I’ve stayed away from buffet lines simply because I can’t stand wastage and at these events, we tend to pile our plates a bit more and leave more than some behind. In addition, since turning vegan, it’s a little bit more difficult to pick food out of a buffet line. Yes, it may be a long line but still the choices are limited and it would be healthier and more to my taste bud if I order ala carte. This way, I can have them prepared the way I want and with the stuff I want (e.g. more mushrooms or tofu or tempeh or certain vegetables). Come to think of it, there is a vegan buffet offered at Annalakshimi but since they moved to Brickfields, I haven’t been able to will myself to make a trip. Oh yeah, it’s a pay-what-you-think-you-ate concept since all proceeds go to charity. When was the last time you were at a buffet? SW and HTN have this “tradition” going between them to make it for one Ramadhan buffet every year.

And back to regular programming…this morning’s leg-and-shoulders combo:

Supersets of:

a) LF cable standing overhead shoulder press

b) BB frontal raise

Supersets of:

c) Technogym leg press (only topping it at 140lbs – shocking I know!!!)

d) Technogym leg extension

Supersets of:

e) Cybex prone leg curl

f) DB walking lunges

Supersets of:

g) DB lateral raise (only 8lbs – another shocker! That’s coz the weights were missing. Beats me why gym goers are such irresponsible beings (not putting it back) or thieves. Yes, I’m using that term because what else would you call people who take things off racks home?)

h) Technogym cable upper shoulder/rear delt row with iron bar

We finished with 3 sets of abs crunches on the fitball and boy, these were toughies. Well, a lot from the achy hip flexors after the earlier leg workout; definitely weak hip flexors.