KUWAIT: The holy month of Ramadan, scheduled to start later this week, is encouraging people to readjust their sport schedules to suit their days of fasting. Fasting from sunrise to sunset places a heavy toll on the human body , especially when it is combined with high temperatures. With the increased consumption of food after sunset, many are left with limited choices about whether to practice their favorite sports before or after Iftar prayer. "Diabetes patients should abstain from playing sports before Iftar because they risk further lowering their blood sugar," said doctor AbdulAziz Muhammad, a nutrition specialist.

Muhammad added that those with diabetes who are willing to participate in sports activities should do so strictly after Iftar. "To healthy people it is only a matter of preference though. Those who want to keep healthy should pay more attention to what they eat and how much they eat, rather than at what time of the day they are willing to play sports," he added.
Abdulrahman Khaleel, a college student, said that he will increase the amount of time he has assigned for working out during Ramadan. "I am currently doing about two hours of body building every day. I plan to increase it to three hours a day in order to burn all the calories that I gain from the food and sweets I will eat during Ramadan," Khaleel said. He added that many of his colleagues prefer to play football in the evening during Ramadan because of the relatively good weather.

Ahmad Jaber, a private sector employee, said that he wants to practice his favorite sport during Ramadan but that the nature of his work does not allow him to. "When I go back home I am exhausted and I just want to rest. I want to play basketball like I used to in college but unfortunately I can't," he added.
Some non-Muslim expats living in Kuwait said that they will also have to change their sports habits during Ramadan because their work hours will change. "I will continue to do my daily routine of walking by the sea but I will only change the timing," said Sara Ross. "Now I will head to the seaside walking path after Iftar.

For others the scene remains the same. "I will not change anything that I do now. I go to the gym and I practice Yoga. I don't think that I will change anything for Ramadan," said Fajer Eisa, an employee in the private sector. - Kuwait Times