So what do you lot get out of it anyway, apart from starving yourselves?
Fasting isn't an aimless exercise in starving oneself, ya plums.
Muslims have very specific reasons for fasting, I hope you can share some of them with us and incorporate them into your goals for the challenge.
Whatever you can't adopt as your own[because of your own beliefs], just try to think of something else as a goal, I can give you some examples later. But first let's look at some of why Muslims do it:
Firstly it's commanded in the Quran
..it's one of the five fundmental pillars of Islamic worship and
practise and we do it for the sake of Allah(swt), for His Pleasure, to
obey, worship, glorify and come closer to Him 
O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may have taqwa [Quran 2:183]
The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks. [Quran 2:185]
The word taqwa means consciousness of Allah(swt). The commentary for this verse says: "In an address to the believers of this Ummah, Allah ordered them to fast, that is, to abstain from food, drink and sexual activity with the intention of doing so sincerely for Allah the Exalted alone. This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanses them from the evil that might mix with them and their ill behavior. Allah mentioned that He has ordained fasting for Muslims just as He ordained it for those before them, they being an example for them in that, so they should vigorously perform this obligation more obediently than the previous nations."
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, 'Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except for fasting. It is Mine and I repay it.' Fasting is a shield. When someone is fasting, he should not have sexual relations nor quarrel. If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By the One in whose hand the self of Muhammad is, the changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. The faster experiences two joys: when he breaks his fast he rejoices and when he meets his Lord he rejoices in his fasting." [Riyad As-Saliheen]
"Every action of the son of Adam is multiplied. A good action receives from ten to seven hundred times. Allah Almighty said, "Fasting is Mine and I repay it. He leaves his appetites and food for My sake. The faster experiences two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk." [variant of above hadith]
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When someone is fasting, he should not have sexual relations nor quarrel. If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting'"
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah does not require someone who does not abandon lies, and acting by them, while fasting to abandon his food and drink." [al-Bukhari]
If your eyes got past the colours without being blinded well done ..and hopefully you can see from the last few hadiths that there are practical, personal benefits.
The prophet(saw) said he was sent to perfect character. And fasting is a major way to develop ones character and nourish it in a positive way. Whilst fasting we are encouraged to do good deeds and be generous.
Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most generous of people, and he was even more generous during Ramadan when Jibril met him. Jibril used to meet him every night in Ramadan until it was over and the Prophet would go through the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah was more generous with good things than the blowing wind." [Agreed upon]
We're told that fasting is a shield and a guard against evil. This is because we don't simply starve ourselves of food, we make more time for reflection, worship, we reflect on our our actions, our character and set ourselves goals for improvement. We spent more time reading and reflecting upon the Quran. We are motivated by Ramadhan to that a critical look at ourselves again and reassess who and what we are, how we behave, what we are achieving. We try to improve aspects of our character, be nicer to people, speak good or remain silent, try to stop bad habits, give in charity more, smile at people, be generous with out food or anything else, try to help people.
Fasting isn't an aimless exercise in starving oneself, ya plums.
Muslims have very specific reasons for fasting, I hope you can share some of them with us and incorporate them into your goals for the challenge.
Whatever you can't adopt as your own[because of your own beliefs], just try to think of something else as a goal, I can give you some examples later. But first let's look at some of why Muslims do it:
Firstly it's commanded in the Quran
..it's one of the five fundmental pillars of Islamic worship and
practise and we do it for the sake of Allah(swt), for His Pleasure, to
obey, worship, glorify and come closer to Him O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may have taqwa [Quran 2:183]
The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month, he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires) that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks. [Quran 2:185]
The word taqwa means consciousness of Allah(swt). The commentary for this verse says: "In an address to the believers of this Ummah, Allah ordered them to fast, that is, to abstain from food, drink and sexual activity with the intention of doing so sincerely for Allah the Exalted alone. This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanses them from the evil that might mix with them and their ill behavior. Allah mentioned that He has ordained fasting for Muslims just as He ordained it for those before them, they being an example for them in that, so they should vigorously perform this obligation more obediently than the previous nations."
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, 'Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except for fasting. It is Mine and I repay it.' Fasting is a shield. When someone is fasting, he should not have sexual relations nor quarrel. If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By the One in whose hand the self of Muhammad is, the changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. The faster experiences two joys: when he breaks his fast he rejoices and when he meets his Lord he rejoices in his fasting." [Riyad As-Saliheen]
"Every action of the son of Adam is multiplied. A good action receives from ten to seven hundred times. Allah Almighty said, "Fasting is Mine and I repay it. He leaves his appetites and food for My sake. The faster experiences two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The changed breath in the mouth of the faster is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk." [variant of above hadith]
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When someone is fasting, he should not have sexual relations nor quarrel. If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, 'I am fasting'"
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah does not require someone who does not abandon lies, and acting by them, while fasting to abandon his food and drink." [al-Bukhari]
If your eyes got past the colours without being blinded well done
..and hopefully you can see from the last few hadiths that there are practical, personal benefits.The prophet(saw) said he was sent to perfect character. And fasting is a major way to develop ones character and nourish it in a positive way. Whilst fasting we are encouraged to do good deeds and be generous.
Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most generous of people, and he was even more generous during Ramadan when Jibril met him. Jibril used to meet him every night in Ramadan until it was over and the Prophet would go through the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah was more generous with good things than the blowing wind." [Agreed upon]
We're told that fasting is a shield and a guard against evil. This is because we don't simply starve ourselves of food, we make more time for reflection, worship, we reflect on our our actions, our character and set ourselves goals for improvement. We spent more time reading and reflecting upon the Quran. We are motivated by Ramadhan to that a critical look at ourselves again and reassess who and what we are, how we behave, what we are achieving. We try to improve aspects of our character, be nicer to people, speak good or remain silent, try to stop bad habits, give in charity more, smile at people, be generous with out food or anything else, try to help people.
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