I still remember the first time I fasted. All of 10 years old, I had made up my mind that beginning Ramadan that year I shall fast like a pious Muslim. This sudden burst of spirituality had little to do with my relationship with my maker however; rather it was induced by the overall ambiance in our household during Ramadan and more importantly, my cousin, who was my age, was gearing up amid much pomp and circumstance to start fasting!
I had to be first, I decided and so it all began. All day long I put up a stoic front even though those mean little rats doing the disco in my stomach were making things very hard! Frequent trips were made to the kitchen for making special requests to the cook, needless to say. After planning for an entire day about the things I would finally devour at dusk, I fell asleep right before sunset! After all these years that incident still makes me laugh. However that experience stayed with me for good.
Fasting throughout the day without food or water is indeed a daunting task, and certainly not for the faint-hearted. It is a practice that is built purely out of habit and experience. Starting early is a good idea as it prepares the individual for what lies ahead for a proper Muslim. While it is physically challenging, the rewards of fasting are incredibly fulfilling spiritually. The sheer pang of hunger and thirst does quell a lot of negative emotions. Abstinence is a great equaliser; impure thoughts and evil tidings in one's mind and body is greatly tamed when abstaining from basic needs such as food and water.
A lot of Ramadan rookies out there will fast for the first time this year. Young children, teenagers and many others who have never fasted before will take the plunge and are probably awaiting it with great excitement. It is indeed a great way to seek Allah's blessings and achieve meaningful perspective about life.  
A few simple things to keep in mind are:
Do not skip sehri. This meal will energise you for the long day that lies ahead, and will prevent dehydration and exhaustion, not to mention your fast will not be complete without it.
Devouring large quantities of oily, fried, store-bought iftar is an absolute no-no. After fasting for a whole day the last thing you want to do is shock your system with unhealthy food that does little to curb your hunger and leads to problems like acidity and stomach pains.
Break the fast with lots of water. Even if your first instinct will be to reach for the glass of cola, drink a few glasses of water to keep yourself hydrated.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Model: Diya
Styling: Tabassum Hridi