Giving up anything for Lent that will help you lose weight?

ranewell

I've been allowing myself to slack with fast food....I don't allow myself the time to make sure I prepare for work. I watch the calories, but I hadn't had it in ages. I don't need it, it's AWFUL for you, so I'm giving that up in hopes that I get completely out of the habit again and NOT go back to it!

joda1982

A friend and I are giving up unhealthy eating out. We don't want to give up take out meals all together, but want to remove the idea that it is the food that makes going out special. It should be about the people you are with.

tsherm3850

I am giving up going out to eat, restaurants, fast food joints, drive throughs, etc. It will help my weight loss and my bank balance. :bigsmile: This includes me and my children.

Dethea

I'm giving up "seconds," i.e. second helpings of dinner, snacks, etc. So I am not giving up any food group, or any food in particular, just the need to get MORE of it.

I LOVE this! I think I'll have to do it too.

I'm actually not giving anything up, (except seconds, now) I decided to work out EVERY DAY. So far I've been doing a few days a week, but school got in the way (bad excuse, I know) and I completely fell off the wagon for almost two weeks.

So, back on the wagon!

The important thing to remember about Lent is that it's not about "giving up something." It's doing something to better yourself, and improve your relationship with God.

Regardless of being Catholic or not, we should all be making improvements to our lives every day.

Ali_TSO

Giving up fried foods completely....we'll start with Lent and then see if it continues :laugh:

P.S. - I'm not Catholic either.

sassyshook

I am giving up sweets and as much fast food as possible. Were supposed to go out of town this weekend and on road trips its really hard to not just swing through a fast food joint and keep trucking. Soooo lots of preparation ahead of time i guess I guess!

Katrina1223

I'm giving up eating out for lunch at work. My husband and I had set up that we only eat out at work once a week. However, I get lazy on the lunch making at night, and then I'm rushing in the morning, making both mine and my son's lunches. Therefore, in order to achieve my goal of not eating out, I need to start making the lunches at night. :happy:

teschy123

I am catholic and I have already given up pop, and most sweets I decided this year to give up using profanity this year to help me at being a better example to my kids!!!!!

Still_Fluffy

Cookies and doughnuts.... If I can do it.

Rav3nfan

I am giving up any and all negative thoughts and doing one kind act per day.

AleksD3

We're giving up fast food, junk food and red meat.

bhalter

I'm not Catholic...but I'm going to try to give up my negative thoughts. They lead to self-doubt and depression and that derails me in a lot of ways, not just my fat loss efforts...

Not just Catholics observe Lent.

I'm giving up "spiritual laziness." Going to church every Sunday during Lent, with a daily Lent devotional. I'm also considering fasting just at noon (not eating lunch) and doing my devotionals then instead of eating.

GymAnJuice

the 2 c's, chocolate and chinese, having a vegetable kebab instead for my take out meal once a week, although i am a born again christian and i know im doing this for myself...so totally defeats the object...have to think of something else too :blushing:

kryptonitekelly

I actually just chose to give up Nutella..

Ali_TSO

I am giving up my diet pop, fast food, sweets and chips. I am not going to have any of it on Sunday's (cheat days) I am going to stay strong and I know this up should clean my body of the fats and I will feel so much better at the end. Plus maybe giving this up I wont crave it so much when it is all over.

Wow, that's a LOT to give up at one time, but you're reasoning is dead on. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

Sandycc88

O my what a great idea I just dont know what to give up yet but on my cheat days (weekends) I guess i'll just give up the junk food and stick to the Healthy !!!! ( fast food, drinks, alcoholic drinks.) The difficult part is that im Mexican and my mom cooks so many hi calorie/fat meals so I will be cooking my own individual foods !!!!

Lizabee84

I gave up Fast Food and Icecream...since that is a major factor in my husband and my diet. Even though he is not on MFP he is onboard with this.

GymAnJuice

I'm not Catholic...but I'm going to try to give up my negative thoughts. They lead to self-doubt and depression and that derails me in a lot of ways, not just my fat loss efforts...

Not just Catholics observe Lent.

I'm giving up "spiritual laziness." Going to church every Sunday during Lent, with a daily Lent devotional. I'm also considering fasting just at noon (not eating lunch) and doing my devotionals then instead of eating.

that's a brilliant idea, haven't been to church in a while

Startraveller

Have not decided yet (what am I waiting for?) but you are all giving me good ideas! Chocolate sounds like a good one.

Beccaliebchen

I gave up so much when I went vegan so I'm actually sitting here thinking - "What on earth could I give up?" Coffee seems to be a good choice but I honestly don't think my kids and my husband would want me to give that up. LOL!

nmzeta

I like the TV idea. I would also have to give up the computer because sitting in front of my laptop is as bad as sitting and watching Law and Order. I will only allow myself 1 hr a day of TV/PC when I am not at work. Thanks for the ideas! I was struggling on what I would do

- limit 1 hour of TV/PC a day

luvdooney33

if you can give up alcohol , or soda. even try give up eating at any place with a drive thru ??

clioratha

My daughter decided she was giving up meat this Lent, so hubby and I will be going pescetarian as well. I think that should also serve to improve our overall health.

As an added kicker for me, I'm going to try to learn to drink my coffee black. I've taken it without sugar for years, but I can't take it without cream. And yet, that's a source of sneaky calories, and learning to drink it black should hopefully be something that continues past Lent.

I like merrylea's idea of the 10-minute run - i'm certainly not in shape enough to run yet, but maybe if i use the stationary bike daily that's a start...

I am also doing other things that are more oriented toward improving my spiritual life as well (I'm Catholic), but the OP just asked about weight loss :laugh:

MsKekeSoFocused

I'm giving up pre- made frozen food. No more lean cuisines, lean pockets, ect.

This is good, cause processed food isn't good for you no way..

sarakelseym

I'm not Catholic either, but I still observe Lent as a chance to challenge myself. Hopefully change something for the better, you know? Anyway, I'm giving up something strange...the scale! I'm not weighing myself the next 40 days. I find that I've been getting frustrated and get really negative when the scale doesn't shift. I'm also going to be doing Jillian Michael's 30 DS...but the main thing is I hope that by not weighing myself obsessively I'll realize that there's more to getting healthy than a number.

sdawkins04

I will be on the 21 day Daniel Fast which basically consists of only eating frutis, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and nuts/seeds. The biggest challenge for me is giving up sweets and bread. However, I am expecting great results in both my health and spiritual life

mickij3

red meat...ground beef, steaks...all of it!! :frown:

mhankosk

Beer :sad:

I hear ya man... Im giving up all alcohol. I miss wine already

mickij3

Beer :sad:

LOL...you can do it!!

Tiffa0909

I don't observe lent and I already had chocolate today , but I want to give up something for 39.5 days.

I will give up chocolate and every other sweets.