Giving up chocolate for Lent
passenger79
Posts: 257 Member
I am just wondering has anyone done this before and was it manageable.
I LOVE my chocolate in any form and I eat it everyday,several times a day.
What I don't love is that I often use lots of calories on it and still feel hungry and whenever I binge you can bet it's on lots of chocolate.
I just want to challenge myself and see if I can complete it and then have it as part of my intake few times a week not few times by 2 pm everyday.
I know you can have anything as long as you 're in deficit,theres no "bad foods",
I am not following any fad or extreme diets I just want to see if I can improve my diet and use my allowance for more filling and healthier things.
I LOVE my chocolate in any form and I eat it everyday,several times a day.
What I don't love is that I often use lots of calories on it and still feel hungry and whenever I binge you can bet it's on lots of chocolate.
I just want to challenge myself and see if I can complete it and then have it as part of my intake few times a week not few times by 2 pm everyday.
I know you can have anything as long as you 're in deficit,theres no "bad foods",
I am not following any fad or extreme diets I just want to see if I can improve my diet and use my allowance for more filling and healthier things.
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Replies
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Not sure what it has to do with Lent, but if you feel like experimenting I guess go for it?4
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MelanieCN77 wrote: »Not sure what it has to do with Lent, but if you feel like experimenting I guess go for it?
Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday people give up something like alcohol,sweets or whatever they want to cut down really as a challenge for 40 days .
I 've never done it before but yes thinking about giving it a go.4 -
As you said there are people who cut out complete categories of foods. So I am sure that people CAN succeed.
In fact people can succeed both for a limited time and, frankly, even indefinitely, at an extremely wide range of behaviors.
The degree of effort you want to put into this and whether you want to do this in the context of a whim, a diet, a bet, a challenge, or religious observance... well, all that is up to you!
I can't really advise you whether this is a good idea for you, personally, given whatever history you have... 'cause I don't know that history! If you've had ED issues in the past, mixing in religious observance may or may not be a great idea and would be beyond my pay grade to comment on other than with trepidation!1 -
I gave up chocolate for lent one year just because my sister bet me that I wouldn't be able to do it and I was determined to prove her wrong haha... don't think I had any weight loss though, as I probably fell into the trap of "oh i haven't had any chocolate so I'll eat this other fatty treat instead"!4
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passenger79 wrote: »MelanieCN77 wrote: »Not sure what it has to do with Lent, but if you feel like experimenting I guess go for it?
Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday people give up something like alcohol,sweets or whatever they want to cut down really as a challenge for 40 days .
I 've never done it before but yes thinking about giving it a go.
Oh I'm a lapsed Catholic, I know what Lent is. I just meant that randomly challenging oneself to give stuff up can be done any time of the year if you're not in it for religious preparations and observances but dietary gain.11 -
MelanieCN77 wrote: »passenger79 wrote: »MelanieCN77 wrote: »Not sure what it has to do with Lent, but if you feel like experimenting I guess go for it?
Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday people give up something like alcohol,sweets or whatever they want to cut down really as a challenge for 40 days .
I 've never done it before but yes thinking about giving it a go.
Oh I'm a lapsed Catholic, I know what Lent is. I just meant that randomly challenging oneself to give stuff up can be done any time of the year if you're not in it for religious preparations and observances but dietary gain.
Yes off course it can be done anytime but this is as good time as any as there will be lots of people challenging themselves .
I was simply asking has anyone done it and how they got on with it I am well aware I can do this on 1st July if I want ,that wasn't the point .
Thanks for your input .
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i did it a few years ago...
i did the whole thing with the exception of one item of food - we had been given free hospitality at a potential wedding venue, and the dessert was chocolate, i wasn't going to miss that!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:4 -
passenger79 wrote: »I am just wondering has anyone done this before and was it manageable.
I LOVE my chocolate in any form and I eat it everyday,several times a day.
good luck with the challenge ..... giving up something you love is going to be far harder than giving up something you have no relationship with.
I personally love challenges like this ... Will power is just a like a muscle, if you want it to grow biger, you need to exercise it, Lent is like a bitchin workout where you have to do 1 billion leg burning squats .... but afterwards, you will know how to control and resist those cravings. ... Which is going to be handy for those days you just need to last another 2 hours before bed and the chocolate bar is calling you
Good luck !5 -
I've done both chocolate and coffee, each on separate years. It is hard but worthwhile challenge. I personally am quite fond of challenges like this to learn and develop will power and the ability to say no. It helps tune into those thoughts and signals regarding desire and understanding how much i want something. Just make sure you don't replace that chocolate with something else like a biscuit or ice-cream etc. I found I was doing that. Nothing wrong with replacing it with a snack if you are genuinely hungry though. Enjoy it and feel proud for getting through the 40 days (its actually a bit longer because the 40 days doesn't include the Sundays of each week as this is a break from the traditional fasting periods that is observed during the period)3
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I give up chocolate for lent every year the problem is I substitute with crisps.
I am motivated this year though as I have already started on the 1st February and have been doing well without crisp substitution so far.
Good luck you can do it. Think how good the Easter egg will taste.3 -
I am not Catholic, but I love the tradition of Lent. I was advised by a good friend who is Catholic that Lent is best practiced as giving up something you value while also giving something of value to others. Its schedule is such that it occurs when food was traditionally scarce and it ends with a story of human renewal just at the time of year when many of us need it (even if you celebrate it in a secular manner). Thus, Christian or not, Catholic or not, religious or secular, Lent can be given personal significance.
In any case, I have learned that giving up "sweets" is very common during Lent. (There are many recipes for special "Lenten cakes." I don't quite get them.) So, if you want to try giving up chocolate this year @passenger79, I say you go for it!
And, also consider what you can give to someone else. That part feels really good as well.6 -
I did it about 3 years ago - gave up chocolate, sweets, cake, crisps. But I fell into the trap of substituting it as I must have been craving sugar or something bad, so I would have a can of Coke or allow myself to have takeout more often etc... I remember eating a lot of yogurts!
I was surprised I managed to achieve it tbh, as like yourself I have chocolate most days!
I was quite overweight then and quite inactive. Now I am slimmer and very active I don't think I would do it for weight loss purposes and I have proven to myself I can lose weight and still enjoy treats.
Also, St. Patrick's Day falls within Lent, which for some people in Ireland means they don't partake in Lent on that day. And I think I would find it hard now on those days where others indulge not to do the same. I know some of my young nieces and nephews give up crisps, sweets, etc for Lent but then on St. Patrick's Day 'have a day off'...!
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I’ve given up chocolate a few times for Lent!!! It’s definitely manageable!3
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I gave up chocolate one year for Lent. It wasn't too bad. I try to give up something different every year. This year, it's carbs. I've been having a hard time losing weight, even with staying under my calorie goal. Maybe with the combo of low/no carb and staying with my calorie goal it'll help.
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If it is something you love and want to eat all the time then giving it up for Lent is an actual sacrifice and you should do it. I tend to give up things I can't live without and the first few weeks are hard but after 40 days you hardly even realize you were so obsessed with them. Give it a try!3
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As far as giving up something for Lent... as my nana used to say "It's not what goes in your mouth that counts... it's what comes out!" Of course it sounded a lot better in Sicilian
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I don't observe Lent. This thread has made me think about foods or drinks I have moved to having less of and how that happened.
Pop- about 19 years ago I decided caffiene wasn't good for my body so stopped drinking things like pop. I didn't have a huge habit. I started drinking more water and iced tea. Occasionally I would have some again and really didn't like it anymore.
Cheese- I love cheese. I will never give it up totally but moved to eating much less thanks to calorie counting. I want to lose weight more than I want to eat a block of cheese. I think I realized that smaller amounts here and there were okay.
Popcorn- I don't have it every day anymore. I cut down the amount and then the frequency. I went from daily consumption to sometimes going a couple of weeks without having any.
Crackers- decided they were not worth the calories ultimately and went from eating a lot to almost never. I just don't buy them any more.
When I was younger I had friends give up things for Lent. It seemed they spent everyday gritting their teeth or moaning about how they couldn't have the thing and then went right back to their normal consumption level. Maybe if you want to move to moderation of chocolate after spend this time trying different tasty low calorie snacks and don't dwell on missing the chocolate every day.2 -
I did a few years back and was successful. Chocolate was (is) one of my weaknesses so I think it was good to give up for Lent. I believe that if you're going I give up or do something for lent it should be something that would be a bit of a challenge for you! Otherwise it would be too easy. I say go for it. I felt really good about myself at the end of the season and really accomplished that I was able to go the whole time without chocolate! It seems like such a small thing i give up but if it's something you love I definitely say give it a try!3
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I am giving up desserts in general this year, including chocolate. In year's past I have given up alcohol, meat, pasta (my favorite, I could eat it at every meal), and caffeine. I have found recently that I have been eating more and more desserts and similar to you, don't feel that satisfied afterwards.5
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Lent is a time that Catholics use as a way of sacrificing something, that may be keeping them from having a deeper relationship with God, that in turn will bring them closer to God. It symbolizes the 40 days and 40 nights that Jesus went out into the wilderness alone without food and water and was tempted by the devil. We do it in the spirit of prayer and offer up our sacrifices to God.
I have given up chocolate, wine, all alcohol, fried food, cussing, candy, and various other things at different Lent seasons. All of which I never lost a pound.11 -
Thanks everyone for replies it's great to hear from so many people who have tried it.
@Leeg5656 where I'm from you fast without any food for first 3 days and then only eat food you can prepare with water (no oil) for 40 days.
You are allowed fish on certain days but mostly it's plain veg and bread.
There is absolutely no chance I could do that while working 50h a week ,studying and being a Mum. I don't even want to attempt it.
Giving up something I love and have everyday seems more manageable then doing a fast like that. Everyone have their own reasons and it's nice seeing so many people have been successful with it.5 -
Some practice fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday's only here. I simply cannot do that.
I usually go without meat on those days and all the Fridays in between. When I was young the Knights of Columbus would always do Friday Night Fish-fries Friday during Lent. I've not heard of the no-oil, but it's neat to hear what others across the world do. I wish you much success in your Lenten Journey. 2 -
passenger79 wrote: »I am just wondering has anyone done this before and was it manageable.
It was what almost all kids did when I was a kid, so I know for a fact that people have done it before. (In fact, I think it's extremely common still, which is why we tend to have lots of chocolate at our Easter party.)
Yes, it's manageable if you want to do it. For me a Lent sacrifice is a religious thing, so I would not personally give up chocolate if my reason was weight loss. If I thought I tended to use it as a crutch or just that the discipline would be spiritually helpful in some way, maybe I would (and use when I thought of chocolate or missed it as a sign I should remember the reason for the sacrifice -- the religious one -- or God or pray or something like that).
Obviously if Lent has no religious meaning to you do what you want, but for me Lent is inherently about preparation for Easter, and I kind of wish it didn't get co-opted as a diet aid (not saying you are doing this, just a pet peeve, don't mind me!).7 -
Some practice fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday's only here. I simply cannot do that. I usually go without meat on those days and all the Fridays in between. When I was young the Knights of Columbus would always do Friday Night Fish-fries Friday during Lent. I've not heard of the no-oil, but it's neat to hear what others across the world do. I wish you much success in your Lenten Journey.
Catholic fasts are super wimpy these days -- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (although the requirements for those are lenient), and no meat (but fish is fine) on Fridays (and it's not supposed to be fancy fish, the idea is to eat in a less expensive, simpler way, which is not really consistent with the fact that fish in the US is often more expensive than other meat). And then the encouragement to give up something (or give up/and add, which I like).
Beyond that, it's of course not mostly about food, but the three pillars: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
And of course the idea is not to make a big thing out of the sacrifice, although I always am interested in talking to others about what they are doing and so on, if they want to talk about it.
No oil is an Orthodox thing, I think -- my good friend is Greek and her family does (mostly, there are exception days) no oil, no animal products. She only does it during Holy Week and Fridays (it was her personal compromise, as she finds it very difficult), but still likes to point out how easy Catholics have it.3 -
Some practice fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday's only here. I simply cannot do that. I usually go without meat on those days and all the Fridays in between. When I was young the Knights of Columbus would always do Friday Night Fish-fries Friday during Lent. I've not heard of the no-oil, but it's neat to hear what others across the world do. I wish you much success in your Lenten Journey.
Thank you!0 -
No oil is an Orthodox thing, I think -- my good friend is Greek and her family does (mostly, there are exception days) no oil, no animal products. She only does it during Holy Week and Fridays (it was her personal compromise, as she finds it very difficult), but still likes to point out how easy Catholics have it.[/quote]
Yes you are right there , I am ortodox Christian from Serbia originally ☺ As kids we would fast on Fridays,my Mum would always fast for a week but she has done the whole 40 days one time and it did not look easy. There's only so much you can eat that's water based0 -
I have a hard time understanding how giving up chocolate will bring someone closer to God, but whatever!16
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I've given up chocolate before. Then when I re-introduced chocolate, I found I didn't crave it as often so that was a nice little bonus! Have you discovered Ritter brand mini chocolates? They're a nice little serving, come in lots of varieties, and come in at just under 60 calories. I no longer need large servings to satisfy my sweet tooth. I like the discipline I developed when I eliminated chocolate and candy for awhile.
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I have a hard time understanding how giving up chocolate will bring someone closer to God, but whatever!
And I have hard time understanding why people have a need to argue it if they have nothing to contribute.
I have asked for others experiences as I haven't done 40 days before .
I have fasted and gone to church since I was little so I do know the reasons behind it.I haven't been able to carry that on once I moved away and haven't been maintaining same traditions as when I was living in my home country .
I also know that people often use Lent to challenge themselves and give up something they struggle with. It would never cross my mind to judge someone based on what they are giving up as basis of it all is to improve themselves.
So why are you judging?
If this is going to turn into" I'm closer to God than you are " religious argument lol I'm not taking part in it.10 -
DebLaBounty wrote: »I've given up chocolate before. Then when I re-introduced chocolate, I found I didn't crave it as often so that was a nice little bonus! Have you discovered Ritter brand mini chocolates? They're a nice little serving, come in lots of varieties, and come in at just under 60 calories. I no longer need large servings to satisfy my sweet tooth. I like the discipline I developed when I eliminated chocolate and candy for awhile.
Thank you ! No I haven't tried them before,I'm in UK so will see if available here.
That's what I hope to do,develop more discipline and look after myself a bit better .
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