What do you give up for Lent?

I am giving up stuff, as part of de-cluttering, I want to get rid of 1 un-needed, or un-used, or un-loved object per day.

Perfect - think I'll join you in this endeavor.

I am not a Catholic, but you do not have to be to observe Lent for the purpose of preparing yourself to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Each time you crave the food you gave up or take an action you committed to is the perfect time to reflect on the purpose.

well I can't say smoking since I have stopped 6 years ago, i don't drink much so i guess that is out.....so what I really crave a lot candy...........that is what I will give up.

I'm giving up 3 things:

1. Being late for work... I have a fairly flexible job so can come in a bit later and stay later in the afternoon. For Lent I'd like to try not to take advantage of that and get to work "on time" so that I can leave "on time" as well. Because I have two young children at home I have very much appreciated this flexibility, but would love to figure out a better morning routine so that we can get out the door a bit earlier and as a result have more time together in the evening.

2. Eating out for convenience... There are often times I end up buying lunch at work because I didn't take the time to pack it or we stop and pick up dinner on the way home because it is late and I don't want to/or my girls will completely melt down if I do take the time to make something once we are home. Sticking to the first idea should help me with the second. More time in the evenings to make dinner and pack my lunch

3. Sleeping through my workouts... also related to first idea. I PLAN to workout every morning... however, at least once a week, sometimes twice, I turn my alarm off and go back to sleep until the girls wake me up. I justify doing this with things like... I didn't sleep well, the girls woke me up several times in the night, I can work out this evening, etc. etc. But... this is also what leads to me being late for work as waiting until the girls wake me up usually puts me at 7:00 am and it is absloutely impossible for me to get myself and the two of them dressed and fed and out the door in an hour. Impossible! I've tried it. Several times. I continue to tell myself I can do it, but really, I can't.... and then, I'm late for work AND I haven't worked out not to mention that I am now going to try to squeeze a workout in sometime in the evening, which is all the more difficult because I will be getting home later because I went to work later...

And so the cycle goes... which is what I hope to use this time during Lent to undo... and in the end I will gain a better morning schedule, a healthier lifestyle, and more time with my family!

I'm giving up diet soda. I'm SO addicted to it, which I always thought was ok since it has no calories. But I've read a few different studies that say diet soda increases sugar cravings - I have enough of those with out inviting more. So I'm going to do my very best to not even have any on Sunday (Sundays do not fall within the 40 days of Lent).

I'm also going to try to go to some weekday Masses - something I used to do in the past but feel out of the habit.

I'm not Catholic but as a Christian I like what Lent stands for. Giving up something that we enjoy to remind us what Christ gave up for us. I am giving up Tim Hortons ice caps (I have a slight addiction) I like the idesa of giving to charity so I'm going to give the money I would have spent to a charity. I think if I put the change in a jar evey time I would have bought one it might be a bit scary how much I spend over 40 days.

I'm not really giving up anything, but I am being more responsible for my own health and also going to Mass twice a week and attend the Stations of The Cross on Fridays!!:happy:

I'M GIVING UP CURSING. MY MOUTH IS WORSE THAN ANY OF THE MOB WIVES. I HAVE BECOME SO USE TO IT THAT I DON'T KNOW I'M DOING IT ANYMORE. I USE TO NOT EVER CURSE.

my diet LOL

I am giving up nail biting. Thought it was about time at 36 years old...

I am 34 and my new year's resolution was to stop biting my nails. I would argue that this is harder than giving up any substance because what you are trying to give up is literally ALWAYS at your finger tips! But it's not impossible and I have done pretty well with it (I actually have nails now)! I chew a lot of gum and play with my hair more. Hope you are able to find healthy alternatives. Best wishes!!

I have decided to make a list of 40 people who have touched my life in one way or another. Each of day of Lent, I will write a letter of thanks to a person on the list for how they touched my life and I will pray for that person on that day.

I think I'm going to give up swearing and chocolate--in all forms--syrup, ice cream, candy, coffee, etc...and I'm going to do the quarter in a jar every time I swear--I'll donate it to my favorite charity--St.Baldricks when I'm done!

Wow after reading this is kind of funny, well first I want some of these folk to stop being ignorant, you do not have to be Catholic to participate in Lent, and whoever gave that generic Wikapedia definition of Lent need to do a little more research, Its about change and refraining from the luxuries of life that have us so blinded feeling like we cant live without them, the purpose is for us to do a complete 180 from cetrain things that have us bound and we should probably not go back to them anyway. As a Chrsitian I fast all the time, and I've been fasting since January so becase Lent is here I dont really have anything extra to give up but just to keep doing what I'm doing but adding to it. With that being said, for Lent I'm adding more workouts to my regimine. SELAH

What is the purpose of Lent?

Lent is the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence

Technically it is a catholic observation

This year I have decided to give up Lent for Lent.

Amen to that. I've given up on Catholic hypocrisy and rules. I've been burned to many times by those who treat me like crap in the name of the "God of Love".

Ah, but is Lent really a Christian tradition? The answer, like all their holidays, is no "Lent" or 40 days of fasting before the resurrection, was being practised by the Babylonians before "Jesus" was supposed to be around. And I say supposed to be around, because the early Christian leaders decided to placate the ignorant masses by historizing stories that had been around for thousands of years, and then passing the ideas off as their own.

Candy. I tried to last year too and failed. The biggest issue is the Mini Eggs... darn them!!
We're doing it full force this year though!!