Lent

Lazy_Bones_1985
Lazy_Bones_1985 Posts: 49 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Without this turning into a religious debate, I’m curious what you do for Lent if you choose to participate. In years past I have given up meat (2012), soda and juice and Gatorade (2013) and the F word in other years. If I slip, I owe myself 5 push ups. This year I am struggling with ideas. I can’t give up juice and Gatorade this year because of my race schedule and I really struggle with protein if I give up meat. Thanks.
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Replies

  • SpicyWater
    SpicyWater Posts: 99 Member
    I give up something new every year - haven't decided what to do yet. Honestly giving up swearing would be a good choice for me.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Some things people I know have given up for Lent other than what you've considered: caffeine/coffee, sweet baked goods, television, reading fiction, and candy. Not sure if any of those will work for you, but good luck finding something!
  • Fitnessgirl0913
    Fitnessgirl0913 Posts: 481 Member
    I try and make what I give up for lent a true sacrifice but that is a personal decision because of my religion. I usually give up Starbucks because that is a struggle for me. One year I gave up taking any elevators. My rule though is do not give up anything that can hurt your physical or mental health. I had a friend in college who was borderline under weight and gave up meat for lent but did not know how to do it properly so she lost weight and was under weight and developed GI issues. I also could never give up caffeine totally because if I do not have my morning cup I will pretty much fall asleep while driving or at my desk.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited February 2019
    I usually give up meat, one year I gave up all animal products (doing something more similar to what Orthodox Christians do), and if I'm actively dieting I make sure to do something non-food-related so my reasoning doesn't get confused. I've also given up coffee, alcohol, and sweets in various years (or actions, like using the internet recreationally), generally in addition to the no meat thing which is a long-standing practice of mine and not that hard for me anything (re alcohol, I don't drink anymore, so can't do that).

    I also always add something in.

    I love Lent.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    garystrickland357 wrote: »
    My best/worst Lent ever I gave up anger. That was a longggggggg 40days.

    That's a good one.
  • Phirrgus
    Phirrgus Posts: 1,894 Member
    jasonsnapp1 wrote: »
    I have done the same type of things in the past. This year I am actually going to continue my focus on my health and I will be adding extra prayer in my life as well as trying to do something special for my wife a couple times a week.

    Mine will be health focused as well - mental health though lol. Most likely centered around getting most eletronic devices out of my life for a good period of time.
  • kbmnurse1
    kbmnurse1 Posts: 316 Member
    I give up nothing.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    It’s chocolate this year.
  • amberellen12
    amberellen12 Posts: 248 Member
    Good input! I think I’ll give up complaining about people and stuff and only 3 beers 3X’s a week.
  • samiam4114
    samiam4114 Posts: 3 Member
    BecomingMoreAwesome wrote: »
    samiam4114 wrote: »
    Last year instead of giving up something, I incorporated saying a rosary a day. Best Lenten season to date :)

    I like this idea. I’m not Catholic anymore, but when I was, a priest I really respected spoke about not treating Lent as a time of punishment but as an opportunity to improve ourselves by adding a healthy, loving, or giving habit.

    Edit because it read as though I used to be a priest. :)

    That's what I wanted to do as well. I wanted to celebrate the season instead of going with the "i'm giving up candy/soda/sweets" when I really don't have enough to warrant it being anything to give up! Saying that daily rosary was amazing. Felt closer than any church pew honestly, which was incredible. Thinking of doing that again this year. :)
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    BecomingMoreAwesome wrote: »
    samiam4114 wrote: »
    Last year instead of giving up something, I incorporated saying a rosary a day. Best Lenten season to date :)

    I like this idea. I’m not Catholic anymore, but when I was, a priest I really respected spoke about not treating Lent as a time of punishment but as an opportunity to improve ourselves by adding a healthy, loving, or giving habit.

    Edit because it read as though I used to be a priest. :)

    Heh, I read it that way at first, even after the edit (it's clear, I just read wrong). ;-)

    For me, I like to do both (almost always introduce some additional prayer practice, although often with the idea of seeing if it's something I will keep up afterwards too), and think of both as ways to improve myself (not punishment at all). With giving something up, sometimes it's about just living a slightly simpler life, plainer life, but also sometimes if I go to grab something or do something and realize, no can't, it's an opportunity to think about why. I alternate between giving up something as more of a discipline or way to mark the period of time (for example, I like having meatless periods of the year and think of it as rooted in tradition) and giving up something I'm struggling with both as a way to work on that and to note that I don't need it as a crutch (the anger one that someone mentioned is a good one there, or the internet or shopping for non-essentials, especially if someone uses those to distract themselves -- spend the time doing something more positive or realizing you don't need the distraction, so on).

    Hope that's not too much -- I think it's an interesting topic and interesting to see how others approach it.
  • Lazy_Bones_1985
    Lazy_Bones_1985 Posts: 49 Member
    edited February 2019
    Thanks for the ideas. I’m not a religious or spiritual person but enjoy the challenge, if you will, of giving something up during Lent. But I really like the ideas of adding something to my routine that will be a challenge. I also like the idea of limiting my time on Facebook (I trade and swap my workshifts in a work group on Facebook so giving it up entirely wouldn’t be possible) but I could limit my time on it. I’ll think about it some more; please keep the ideas coming.
  • vanityy99
    vanityy99 Posts: 2,583 Member
    Since lent is based on sacrifice I’ll give up on something I feel like I know I’ll struggle with, so coffee, and for material- not sure yet maybe giving up make up that’s the only materialistic thing I use daily that I enjoy.
  • atgnat1
    atgnat1 Posts: 29 Member
    There's some great ideas in here. I'm not Catholic but I have grandparents and aunts and uncles who are and so Lent has always been a part of my life as just something I do on my own. Even aside from the religious aspects it feels great to set aside a period of time like this for self improvement and self reflection.

    In addition to reading the Bible daily I'm planning to give up diet cokes because I really have started to dislike how addicted I feel, they're probably something like 70% of my fluid intake at this point. I'll be replacing it with unsweet tea (unfortunately too weak willed to give up caffeine COMPLETELY...) but I hope this is a change that will last more than 40 days.
  • pierinifitness
    pierinifitness Posts: 2,226 Member
    Lent 2009 was my introduction to intermittent fasting because that was my chosen Lenten sacrifice. To make it sacrificial, I strive to have a 22 hour fasting period as many days as possible.

    Lost 17 lbs. and learned a valuable lesson. Don’t eat big when ending a long-duration fast.

    This Lent? Well, I’m an IF practitioner so choosing fasting isn’t sacrificial enough. Maybe I’ll give up being annoyed by my “secret admirers” here who frequently woo me.

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