Giving up anything for Lent??
drabbits3
Posts: 140 Member
Hello There!
So Ash Wednesday is this week and so begins Lent. I teach in a Catholic school and we all talk about what we are giving up. The kids give up pop or McDonalds or potato chips or backtalk, it's very cute, but this year a bunch of the teachers are giving up junk food/sugar for Lent. NOW...before anybody freaks out...here is what we mean. I am super lucky to teach in a very like-minded, collegial junior high and most of us work out, eat healthy, notice when someone has lost weight, etc., so it's a very supportive place. BUT...between birthdays and treats in the teacher's lounge, there is always crap food around and it is way too easy to pop one or five donut holes in your mouth every time you walk by them on the table and not even realize how many you have eaten throughout the day. So THAT is what we mean. We all pack decent lunches and snacks for ourselves, there is no reason we need the plethora of garbage that is in the office. So I am giving up that kind of crummy sugar. I do not need to waste calories on those crappy decorated cookies from Costco that are leftover from some first graders birthday celebration. I did buy two really good bars of dark chocolate and I figure a square or two of that each day is reasonable. I do not mean I will never eat another treat again, I just mean not every low quality high calorie thing that appears in my life needs to be eaten!!!! So--what are others giving up for Lent????? It's 40 days people--we can do it!!!!!
So Ash Wednesday is this week and so begins Lent. I teach in a Catholic school and we all talk about what we are giving up. The kids give up pop or McDonalds or potato chips or backtalk, it's very cute, but this year a bunch of the teachers are giving up junk food/sugar for Lent. NOW...before anybody freaks out...here is what we mean. I am super lucky to teach in a very like-minded, collegial junior high and most of us work out, eat healthy, notice when someone has lost weight, etc., so it's a very supportive place. BUT...between birthdays and treats in the teacher's lounge, there is always crap food around and it is way too easy to pop one or five donut holes in your mouth every time you walk by them on the table and not even realize how many you have eaten throughout the day. So THAT is what we mean. We all pack decent lunches and snacks for ourselves, there is no reason we need the plethora of garbage that is in the office. So I am giving up that kind of crummy sugar. I do not need to waste calories on those crappy decorated cookies from Costco that are leftover from some first graders birthday celebration. I did buy two really good bars of dark chocolate and I figure a square or two of that each day is reasonable. I do not mean I will never eat another treat again, I just mean not every low quality high calorie thing that appears in my life needs to be eaten!!!! So--what are others giving up for Lent????? It's 40 days people--we can do it!!!!!
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Replies
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I'm giving up Amazon except for Kindle purchases. I want a sacrifice in my life that will make me reflect upon other's sacrifices for me and, silly as it is, that fits the bill in my life.
I thought about giving up clothes shopping, but I want a sacrifice I can actually achieve!0 -
Nothing since I am not Christian.0
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I'm giving up my beer. Notice I say beer and not booze.
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Oh gosh I hadn't ever thought about it! Hmmmm.... Anything store bought with sugar.... Cookies, pies, cakes, candy bars, well any candy, donuts -- definitely donuts! I will have to keep my one piece of dark chocolate a day habit but that will be the only exception. If I really want it, I will have to make it in my own kitchen.
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I am not Christian but I grew up in that culture so am somewhat familiar with the concept of lent, and I am curious, how does giving up something that is bad for you and you know giving it up will benefit you fit with the idea of lent? (ETA - I mean the ideas of giving up junk, sugar, etc)
I always thought it would go more something like this:snarlingcoyote wrote: »I'm giving up Amazon except for Kindle purchases. I want a sacrifice in my life that will make me reflect upon other's sacrifices for me and, silly as it is, that fits the bill in my life.
Won't it make more sense not to give up any food (unless forbidden during lent) since your food is already presumably restricted if you're on this site, and do something non-food instead? I am genuinely interested, I hope it's not an inappropriate question.
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Not inappropriate at all--I am a lifelong Catholic and teach in a Catholic school. It is indeed supposed to be something that is a sacrifice, something difficult that will cause you to think about the sacrifice Christ made for us. So the Amazon idea is more to the point than my "no sugar" thing! That said, it's not a bad time to kind of reset and think about what you do or don't do that is bad for you and others. With students at my school, we also focus on service during this time, so not only do you give up something, you also DO something. You could say you are giving up your time, time you would otherwise spend, what, on TV or video games (if you're one of my students). For me to give up the garbage treats--well, I shouldn't be on this site and eating that stuff anyway, but I have gotten very lazy and having to actually THINK before I pop yet another donut hole in my mouth will be good for me. It would be much harder for me to give up Netflix, say, or some other thing that I enjoy but that is not necessary for life. Giving up Netflix would also be a good one. May add that to my list!!!!!0
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Giving up alcohol0
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I haven't decided yet. I'm considering coffee (would be tough) or online shopping (which likely won't be all that tough, tbh).
I gave up internet 2 years ago for Lent, and that was a monumental failure. A bit too ambitious.0 -
I plan on fasting on Ash Wednesday and every friday during Lent. I will be saving my treats for sunday--usually a piece of 72% dark chocolate. I also try to do a nice thing for some one everyday.
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Im sacrificing for Lent.............my relationship with my mother in law...........
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You know, this year, I don't think so. I've already been forced to give up a LOT of things due to a recent medical diagnosis. I'm borderline diabetic and the dietary changes are like Lent forever already!0
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Not inappropriate at all--I am a lifelong Catholic and teach in a Catholic school. It is indeed supposed to be something that is a sacrifice, something difficult that will cause you to think about the sacrifice Christ made for us. So the Amazon idea is more to the point than my "no sugar" thing! That said, it's not a bad time to kind of reset and think about what you do or don't do that is bad for you and others. With students at my school, we also focus on service during this time, so not only do you give up something, you also DO something. You could say you are giving up your time, time you would otherwise spend, what, on TV or video games (if you're one of my students). For me to give up the garbage treats--well, I shouldn't be on this site and eating that stuff anyway, but I have gotten very lazy and having to actually THINK before I pop yet another donut hole in my mouth will be good for me. It would be much harder for me to give up Netflix, say, or some other thing that I enjoy but that is not necessary for life. Giving up Netflix would also be a good one. May add that to my list!!!!!
Personally, I think using lent as a reason to diet misses the point completely. Giving up potato chips or donuts really isn't very spiritually challenging.
The idea of corporal mortification has been diluted to the point of meaninglessness. Dieting is fine. So is challenging yourself during the season of lent. But they are not equivalent. You are setting a poor example for your students but watering down the meanin of lent like this.0 -
Oh no. A Holy War is about to erupt over the true meaning of Lent and who the better Christians are. My fave.0
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I'm going to give up advertising my religion in inappropriate places.-2
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What would be a better example for my students? Not at all sarcastic--I teach 6th grade and 8th grade. I don't smoke, don't drink, married 20 years--not a lot of vices. We go to church on Wednesdays as a school and on Sundays as a family. I am far from perfect, that's not at all what I am getting at, but what would be a better example? Giving up Netflix would be tough but isn't that the same as giving up a certain food? I agree that we have diluted the point of Lent, I just don't know how to remedy that myself. Any suggestions would be appreciated.0
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Maybe you should discuss it with a priest?0
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And...I didn't mean to get everyone all worked up. Just asking a question. I am not advertising my religion at all--separation of church and state is a VERY good thing!!!! Not trying to be offensive at all.0
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I give up alcohol and chocolate every year (just to prove to myself that I can), and usually also snacks, but I have stopped eating them anyway since I have been here. I also try to eat minimum meat, but I am not sure about this year as I have been cutting down on carbs. I still have a day to decide. I like the idea of giving up Amazon...0
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I think I may give up posting anything on MFP. Lots of us get all worked up and it really was just a silly, innocent question. Not meant to incite a big religious debate. I know this is not the place for that-jeez.0
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And...I didn't mean to get everyone all worked up. Just asking a question. I am not advertising my religion at all--separation of church and state is a VERY good thing!!!! Not trying to be offensive at all.
You're not offensive except by those allowing themselves to be offended. Separation of Church and State isn't relevant here.0 -
And...I didn't mean to get everyone all worked up. Just asking a question. I am not advertising my religion at all--separation of church and state is a VERY good thing!!!! Not trying to be offensive at all.
There was nothing offensive about your post... It was clearly not even really about religion. I'm not religious but that doesn't mean I get offended at the very mention of it. Some people are just overly sensitive or like to take any chance they can to be critical. I don't understand it, but generally ignore it.0 -
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I went to catholic school as a kid forever ago. It was good except for all that wasted time teaching religion in a noncritical way. It's bizarre that we teach our kids this backwards way of thinking. For lent, I am giving up lent.0
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pollypocket1021 wrote: »Not inappropriate at all--I am a lifelong Catholic and teach in a Catholic school. It is indeed supposed to be something that is a sacrifice, something difficult that will cause you to think about the sacrifice Christ made for us. So the Amazon idea is more to the point than my "no sugar" thing! That said, it's not a bad time to kind of reset and think about what you do or don't do that is bad for you and others. With students at my school, we also focus on service during this time, so not only do you give up something, you also DO something. You could say you are giving up your time, time you would otherwise spend, what, on TV or video games (if you're one of my students). For me to give up the garbage treats--well, I shouldn't be on this site and eating that stuff anyway, but I have gotten very lazy and having to actually THINK before I pop yet another donut hole in my mouth will be good for me. It would be much harder for me to give up Netflix, say, or some other thing that I enjoy but that is not necessary for life. Giving up Netflix would also be a good one. May add that to my list!!!!!
Personally, I think using lent as a reason to diet misses the point completely. Giving up potato chips or donuts really isn't very spiritually challenging.
The idea of corporal mortification has been diluted to the point of meaninglessness. Dieting is fine. So is challenging yourself during the season of lent. But they are not equivalent. You are setting a poor example for your students but watering down the meanin of lent like this.
Why? "Carrying your cross" Can mean all kinds of things. I consider the point of Lent to remove something from your life, whether its mental or physical, and allow something more positive to take it's place. Like goal setting, it should be challenging, but not set yourself up for failure.
I decided to give up beer for Lent for spiritual and nutritional reason. Incidentally, Easter and MLB's Opening Day occur on the same day this year, making it the most liturgically correct thing since the last time that happened a few years ago.
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No, the Community Rules pretty much exclude religious topics from the forum. While I personally don't care, it isn't discrimatory to point out that this isn't the place for discussion about Lent. There are private groups if religious subjects are to be your focus.
Anyway, my mother used to give up bread for lent every year. I'm not observant of these practices but I have a fondness for the memory they bring.0 -
I think I may give up posting anything on MFP. Lots of us get all worked up and it really was just a silly, innocent question. Not meant to incite a big religious debate. I know this is not the place for that-jeez.
You asked a question about Lent, Lent is in the title of the thread. If they didn't want to discuss Lent, or Christianity they can feel free to skip over it. The problem is theirs, not yours.0 -
Well, to be fair I've never had a Muslim scream in my face about "keeping the christ in christmas"... I'll let you figure out what religion the person was who has done that.
Also, Ramadan is very much about food, and I can see how there might be concerns about hitting nutritional needs during a period where they fast during daytime hours. And since this site is geared towards nutrition, that would be totally applicable.-1
This discussion has been closed.
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