What are you doing for Lent? (Fun!!)

pebbs80
pebbs80 Posts: 102
in Chit-Chat
Lent season starts Feb 13th (Ash Wednesday). Even though I hardly go to church anymore I still participate in Lent every year. As a family tradition we've always given up something and then participated in giving back to different things in the community.
They say that 40 days breaks a habit and this year I am hoping I can kick this habit forever!! I am giving up a few things instead of one and I'm actually starting today!

Giving up: Candy, Desserts, and anything with a drive thru
Giving back: Spring cleaning my house for item donations, clothes donations, and may look into a communal project.

For those of you that observe... what are you giving up? What are you giving back?
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Replies

  • katekross
    katekross Posts: 463 Member
    Oooooo... drive thru is a good choice :)
  • EpicRosie
    EpicRosie Posts: 30 Member
    I had a scare where I thought I was Lactose Intolerant ( I really dont know what it was but it was weird) and so now i'm debating giving up milk products. Not all milk but just foods where milk is the main ingredient.
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    You'll probably have a better discussion on this topic in one of the Christian groups here. If people start commenting here, it will go bad quickly.
  • pebbs80
    pebbs80 Posts: 102
    I know what the forums are... this was meant to be for fun and not so much about the religion aspect.

    Anyone can play... what is something that you know you should give up that is hard to give up?

    For me it's sweets and fast food... this is just a chance to really push to give it up!
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    I know what the forums are... this was meant to be for fun and not so much about the religion aspect.

    I'm not a mod, but I can tell you with the topic title being specifically about Lent, it will be viewed as a divisive topic. What happens is well meaning people will reply to you, but then people who think those people are crazy for believing in God will start posting their comments. All leading to the thread being locked.

    I don't particularly find Lent "fun", nor do I find it "fun" to see threads get so ugly over what someone believes or doesn't believe. I think that's why it's best to have conversations about religion or lack of religion within groups.

    Sorry....I'm a Catholic Christian who is participating in Lent, and I'm the buzz kill here.
  • djeffreys10
    djeffreys10 Posts: 2,312 Member
    I hope to give up abstenance for Lent. Not sure how much luck I will have.
  • JessHealthKick
    JessHealthKick Posts: 800 Member
    I know what the forums are... this was meant to be for fun and not so much about the religion aspect.

    Sorry....I'm a Catholic Christian who is participating in Lent, and I'm the buzz kill here.

    Well you seem to be the only one that is bothered at this stage... my highschool friends and I used to do 'lent' and I am by no means religious. Buddhist if anything (not that it should be classified as a religion IMO).

    Hmmm you have really got me thinking about what to give up! I would say chocolate, but I already do that on every day but Sunday, and my 97year old nanna who has it everyday swears by it! hehe. I think it will be cake. yes

    No cake from Feb 13th for 40 days.
  • AuddAlise
    AuddAlise Posts: 723 Member
    I am think of giving up my favorite fastfood that is HORRIBLE for me....Taco Bell. Maybe if I give it up for 6 weeks it will become a habit. Right???? :bigsmile:
  • pocketsmomma
    pocketsmomma Posts: 2
    I always give up chocolate and the last couple of years it has been all sweets. I do have to have some outlet though because sweets are my thing...I tend to lean on Extra gum for after meals. Found that I like baking an apple with some Truvia and cinnamon & nutmeg and the requisite FF whipped cream so that will probably be my go to for nighttime snack.

    My give back I haven't nailed down yet but I have been working on my perspective and attitude of late and that's turned out wonderful so may be doing more of the same. A little added good deeds and it will turn into a wonderful Lent as God intended!!

    Thanks for the most joyful of threads!! Have an awesome day. :)

    Nancy
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    I know what the forums are... this was meant to be for fun and not so much about the religion aspect.

    Sorry....I'm a Catholic Christian who is participating in Lent, and I'm the buzz kill here.

    Well you seem to be the only one that is bothered at this stage... my highschool friends and I used to do 'lent' and I am by no means religious. Buddhist if anything (not that it should be classified as a religion IMO).

    Hmmm you have really got me thinking about what to give up! I would say chocolate, but I already do that on every day but Sunday, and my 97year old nanna who has it everyday swears by it! hehe. I think it will be cake. yes

    No cake from Feb 13th for 40 days.

    I agree, she is the only one bothered everyone else was being witty. She called it herself, buzzkill.


    As for no cake! How dare you? : says the baker/cake decorator
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    I hope to give up abstenance for Lent. Not sure how much luck I will have.

    M husband would thank me if I have this one up too. Hasn't been as spicy lately. Maybe I need to take up 40 days of sex :laugh:
  • JUDDDing
    JUDDDing Posts: 1,367 Member
    I like that drive-thru idea.

    I don't have anything against fast food, but we'd be more likely to not bother with it if we had to go inside to order it.

    Or at least we'd burn a calorie.
  • hmaddy84
    hmaddy84 Posts: 44
    Last year for Lent I gave up social media... I have to say, it was great! I stayed away from the computer and I picked up my iPhone a lot less. I got more things accomplished. I spent more quality time with my kids outdoors. But after Lent, I slowly started back up on the computer, facebook, here.... and now I'm back to old habits.

    I think I will give up social media again this year as well as try and be involved in a community outreach project. Wish me luck! :)
  • brandymandycandy
    brandymandycandy Posts: 146
    All this lent talk and I'm still lost for what I want to give up :laugh:

    Probably chocolate. I'm not really a fan of sweets but I find myself craving it now that I'm watching what I'm eating!

    I love that your family gives back as well and that's a tradition I think I'm going to start too!!! THANKS :smile:
  • edenburnin
    edenburnin Posts: 11 Member
    I gave up sugar last year. All sugar. If it was in anything savory or sweet. It was shocking how much it was in. I felt great afterwards though. (Also high fructose corn syrup).
  • shellbell8406
    shellbell8406 Posts: 26
    I gave up sugar last year. All sugar. If it was in anything savory or sweet.

    That's what I'm thinking about giving up...mainly just the sugar in sweets and sodas.
  • carryingon
    carryingon Posts: 609 Member
    Copied my answer from another lent thread!

    Someone else suggested doing an act of kindness every day of lent and I think that is beautiful!


    I love lent. It is a time of fasting, repenting, reparation, and preparation.
    A friend and I were discussing this last night. I may repeat a past fast of eating nothing after 3pm until the following morning. I chose three because it is the hour of divine mercy and the hour of Christ's death. It requires a lot of prayer to sustain it though.

    Other options-

    Meat
    Snacks
    Sweets
    All drinks other than water

    or replacing dinner with plain cream of wheat
  • olDave
    olDave Posts: 557 Member
    What is "lent"?
  • whatjesseats
    whatjesseats Posts: 228 Member
    I don't observe Lent, but last year it seemed like a good time to change a habit, so I gave up soda. I still haven't touched the stuff--and I used to drink at least 32oz each day.

    I'm not sure if I'll do anything this year, but I've been thinking of a few ideas of things I could give up for Lent: meat, eating at restaurants/getting carry-out, alcohol, the snooze button, buying new clothes/home decor/cat toys/etc.
  • SwimFan1981
    SwimFan1981 Posts: 1,430 Member
    Same as I do for the rest of the year...
  • fatblaster2012
    fatblaster2012 Posts: 73
    I think I will give up soda. I have been slowly cutting back, but now I want it out of my diet completely. I am cleaning house today and I have bags of clothing to be donated. I will see what else I can find. I like the idea of doing soemthing to give back.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    I was always taught that one shouldn't share what they're giving up so as to avoid 'one up manship' syndrome. As in; "Oh! So and so is giving up THIS, so I'm going to give up THIS which is a MUCH HARDER thing to give up so I can prove that I'm a better, more motivated Christian.'

    Hahaha. So I'm not sharing. :P

    But I'd be curious to know why people participate in Lent if they don't necessarily practice any other Christian traditions?
  • jessicaheimark
    jessicaheimark Posts: 1
    Or....you could just answer the question at hand instead of turning it into a hyper PC situation.

    I'm giving up alcohol, its empty calories and it messes with how the body metabolizes other sugars. :)
  • invincible_summer
    invincible_summer Posts: 35
    I'm agnostic, but was brought up Catholic and went to religious schools, so it's a habit now. Also it's a nice distraction from being single on Valentine's Day!

    This year I'm going to give up wheat. Bread (which I eat loads of), pitta bread, wraps etc. That and fizzy drinks, since I have a diet coke or two every day. Maybe artificial sweetener and tea too.

    I haven't had alcohol since before New Year, so I'm sticking to that until spring, at least.

    Maybe I'll force myself to use the rowing machine or go for a run every day.
  • TheNewDodge
    TheNewDodge Posts: 607 Member
    I'm giving up oxygen
  • Bulldogmomma3
    Bulldogmomma3 Posts: 58 Member
    Not a damn thing =)
  • KrazyAsianNic
    KrazyAsianNic Posts: 1,227 Member
    Oooooo... drive thru is a good choice :)

    I think I want to give up fast food. It's not appealing to me anyways so I might as well work on not going there anymore.

    I like the idea of spring cleaning and donating things. I still have boxes not unloaded from moving and tons of clothes I need to go through.
  • AggieFan2011
    AggieFan2011 Posts: 551 Member
    I'm going a little crazy this year. I normally just give up soda, but this year I plan on giving up soda along with fast food, french fries and any form of breaded/fried chicken. We'll see how this goes... I know it will be great for my weight loss if I can make it.

    As for the more spiritual side of lent, I plan on taking at least 15-20 minutes each day to have a devotional time. I've really been slacking in that area lately and I want to get spiritually and mentally healthier along with getting physically healthier.

    Good luck to everyone! :smile:
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    Holy ****, Lent's next week? That means Fat Tuesday is next week.

    I NEED SOME PACZKIS.
  • pebbs80
    pebbs80 Posts: 102
    But I'd be curious to know why people participate in Lent if they don't necessarily practice any other Christian traditions?

    Honestly, I have been instilled with this more as a tradition... and I enjoy reflecting during this time. #1 giving up something that is potentially harmful for myself and this time of year seems to keep me motivated to do so and #2 to give back to my community not only at christmas and thanksgiving. Just because I don't go to church doesn't mean I believe in some of the teachings/principles :)

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