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Fasting & Programming

mahdiyusuf.com

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Re: Fasting & Programming

#41

Post by nsxwolf »

sambeau wrote: post #33

As (a non-religious) someone who tried fasting while holding down a similar job, my advice is simple: don't break your fast every night. It only takes 24-48 hours for your body to adjust, your fat to start melting and your blood-sugar levels to stabilise. You also stop feeling hungry. I found that while I was generally a little 'light-headed' my powers of concentration were fine and I returned to full productivity. A…

This was probably very common in the human experience prior to the development of agriculture. People didn't eat regular meals. Hunting opportunities would not have come along every day, and sometimes hunts would fail.

I don't think humans would become too weak to throw spears because they didn't have their Cheerios in the morning.

When I hear people who have skipped a meal complain "my blood sugar is low", I worry for their health. We have fat stores for a reason. Skipping a meal should not be a big deal.

Re: Fasting & Programming

#43

Post by cmaxwell »

That sounds like a lot of fun. I am glad I am not religious.

I have no problem with people having the right to do this type of stuff because I enjoy my right to laugh about it.

Re: Fasting & Programming

#44

Post by krmmalik »

Have to say i've not suffered too much. I think it's a combination of what i choose to eat at fasting (suhoor) time, abiphasic sleep pattern and limiting sugar intake when breaking the fast.

I do a light sleep / nap for 2hrs at night, and then eat suhoor and make sure i stay awake for a fixed period of time before going back to bed. i wrote a dedicated post about this last year if anyone is interested.

Re: Fasting & Programming

#45

Post by thronemonkey »

quasistar wrote: post #6

While the author of the linked article expiates the hit coding performance can take when fasting I have personally observed an interesting phenomena during my observation of Ramadan. Namely, I can experience moments of acute lucidity and penetrating insight into a problem at hand. Usually this occurs when I am in the midst of something that requires a good bit of effort such as tackling a thorny algorithmic conundrum…

>almost mystical state of oneness with the task at hand awesome

Re: Fasting & Programming

#46

Post by RyanMcGreal »

irahul wrote: post #22
gwern wrote: post #15

> Let’s just say fasting isn’t one of them. All of my co-workers; I have worked with past and present have been extremely understanding and respectful of the [month-long] fast. Also as a by-product of this kindness they have coined the term: "Ramadan code". If I were an employer, after reading this...

> If I were an employer, after reading this... There isn't much you can do; at least you can't make religious fasting the reason for your actions unless you are interested in lawsuits and tons of negative publicity. What does it take to start a new religion? What if I start a new religion which says working more than 4 hours a day is against my gods? Can employers deny me jobs? Or if they don't deny it, are they boun…

If you want to start a new religion, be prepared to spend an awful lot of donation money on a crack legal team who can defend a) your religion from anything that looks like defamation and b) your adherents from anything that looks like discrimination.

Re: Fasting & Programming

#47

Post by krmmalik »

quasistar wrote: post #6

While the author of the linked article expiates the hit coding performance can take when fasting I have personally observed an interesting phenomena during my observation of Ramadan. Namely, I can experience moments of acute lucidity and penetrating insight into a problem at hand. Usually this occurs when I am in the midst of something that requires a good bit of effort such as tackling a thorny algorithmic conundrum…

yes and also your liver gets a break. i normally experience the same a few hours after what would normally be my lunch time. Feel very light physically and find it easy to attune attention and really be creative. i do wonder if the lack of music/tv throughout the month also has an impact

Re: Fasting & Programming

#48

Post by krmmalik »

sharjeel wrote: post #24

On the other hand, I find myself a lot more focused and productive in Ramadan. Knowing that I'm not supposed to eat or drink, I don't have to think every other hour what should I gulp down my stomach. This is a distraction which is a bit difficult to get rid of in normal days. Also, meal timings become strict which automatically instills disciplines. In normal routine I would adjust the meals by few hours just to get…

I agree. i become much more disciplined and frugal with my time in Ramadhan and often experience higher bursts of productivity.

Re: Fasting & Programming

#49

Post by Multiplayer »

nsxwolf wrote: post #41
sambeau wrote: post #33

As (a non-religious) someone who tried fasting while holding down a similar job, my advice is simple: don't break your fast every night. It only takes 24-48 hours for your body to adjust, your fat to start melting and your blood-sugar levels to stabilise. You also stop feeling hungry. I found that while I was generally a little 'light-headed' my powers of concentration were fine and I returned to full productivity. A…

This was probably very common in the human experience prior to the development of agriculture. People didn't eat regular meals. Hunting opportunities would not have come along every day, and sometimes hunts would fail. I don't think humans would become too weak to throw spears because they didn't have their Cheerios in the morning. When I hear people who have skipped a meal complain "my blood sugar is low", I worry f…

"When I hear people who have skipped a meal complain "my blood sugar is low", I worry for their health. We have fat stores for a reason. Skipping a meal should not be a big deal."

That is such a great point. People have been programmed around the 3 meal regime. I have found it fun to experiment with fewer meals and generally it works fine if I have an primarily protein breakfast I sail through to an early dinner.

Re: Fasting & Programming

#50

Post by shurane »

manmal wrote: post #36

I'm currently on Ferriss' low-carb diet and I have found constant carb-withdrawal hard to bear on days on which I do much programming (basically every working day). There are some tricks though which help me keep up focus: - MSM, - Caffeine (less is more - just a sip of coffee, or half a cup of green tea; too much of it actually downs me after the first high), - and regular consumption of "allowed" carbs (lentils bei…

The carb withdrawal is only for like, the first week, right? Then you'll be scot-free! Or so I thought.
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