Will Ramadan Affect Size and Strength on BBB?

Bigger Stronger Leaner Jim Wendler 5/3/1 Coaching
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Ramadan is coming up and since I’m part of a Muslim family, I’m required to follow these traditions.

During Ramadan , Muslims wake up well before dawn to eat the first meal of the day, which has to last until sunset. This means eating lots of high-protein foods and drinking as much water as possible right up until dawn, after which you can’t eat or drink anything.

I don’t consider myself a Muslim anymore, and in order to keep the roof over my head, I have to keep my head down and play along. Because of this, I won’t be eating food, but I’ll be keeping myself hydrated throughout the day.

I have to make changes to my routine, however, and that includes working out after breaking my “fast”. If I decide to have my breakfast in the early morning before I start my fast, keep myself hydrated throughout the day, and eat the same three meals (two of which will be eaten after my usual BBB 5/3/1 workout) after I break the fast, will there be any setbacks to my strength or size?

I’ve checked online, and there are people advising that you use this month as a deload month, but I don’t see that as completely necessary, since I’m going to the gym hydrated and with a meal. What do you guys think? Should I use this as a deload month, or should I just keep going with my usual 5/3/1 BBB routine with my usual meals - just at different times.

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Might take away a bit but that’s like compared to optimal everything like perfect macros and meal timing. Like going from 100 to 95%. You’ll be fine to make gains

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I don’t count macros, I just eat. I don’t think there should be any difference, either.

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Thousands of thousands of people practice intermittent fasting (of various types, not talking about anything specific here) - “ramadan fasting” is one of variations among them - and they are successful at training and staying in shape. Some claim it actually help them (me included, but it’s too big off a topic and debated many times already almost everywhere).

The bottom line is, whether you find intermittent fasting beneficial or not at all, it shouldn’t be detrimental in any way. In my opinion there’s zero need to treat the month as deload.

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i wouldnt train after breaking the yom kippour fast let alone before (so that my post workout meal breaks it), but thats a 25 hours fast.
I would eat in the morning before sun up and then train, since you only have to wait until sun down you could be ok.

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