Fitness experts discuss staying fit and healthy during Ramadan

Fitness Coaches Taj Uddin Ahmed and Nazia Khatun were guests on the latest episode of Things Unseen podcast set to be released on Feb 25th via all main platforms.

The podcast for people who have a faith, or who are intrigued by the spiritual dimension to life, we explore the idea of how to stay fit and well during the Muslim fast of Ramadan.

Taj and Nazia are observant Muslims and want to help people have a more fulfilling and healthier life, especially during Ramadan, when Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset.

Taj has many years’ experience of helping people lose weight and get fit.  Sport has been important for him since he was young when his father died, and he turned to male fitness role models as his inspiration.  More recently, he started body building, and at the age of 50 he won two championships, having never entered a competition before. 

Nazia is an award-winning fitness coach who has struggled with eating disorders. As a Bangladeshi woman she has battled with common stereotypes of female athletes. Her vision is to represent South Asian women in the fitness industry and help champion mental health in a community that sees mental ill health as a stigma.

Nazia and Taj join broadcaster Amir Suleman at Muscleworks Gym in Whitechapel, London, as he reveals that he struggles with bad eating habits and lack of fitness during Ramadan.

They discuss practical ways to keep fit and eat well – and why looking after our diet and fitness is not just good for our bodies, but also good for our souls.

Amir also gets practical advice from Nazia and Taj on a number of key questions, including whether it’s wise to try and keep fit if you are fasting; what are the dangers of starting a fitness regime in Ramadan; how to avoid the rich and tempting food prepared for iftar; and does exercise help improve your focus when praying?