What are you giving up for Lent this year?

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Phew. I think it’s about time I actually compile the list:

Additions:
Started praying 6 of the 7 LotH’s back in November. For Lent, I’m adding the 7th - Office of the Readings.
Attending 7am daily mass (or noon daily mass if I miss 7am…which totally has not yet happened yet /s)

Take away, annually:
Meat

Take away this year, specifically:
Alcohol
Cheese

Additional challenges, although not the main goal:
No pizza (let’s be honest, cheeseless pizza isn’t pizza)
No pasta (let’s be honest, cheeseless pasta isn’t pasta lol)
No snacking, and up to 2 meals a day (breakfast/dinner), preferably both small and quaint (e.g. no 2nd and 3rd helpings)
Ride at least a 30 minute bike ride every day
No non-water except for a morning glass of breakfast essentials mixed with milk. e.g. no soda
No deserts (e.g. cookies, brownies, cake, etc.)
No eating on Friday’s (may need to rethink this…last Friday was pretty brutal)
Oh, and no music with lyrics. Just instrumentals.

I think that’s about everything I’m doing. My goal is to more or less perpetually fast and abstain until Easter. Not just give up one thing. I don’t know - it doesn’t feel right. Last year, I gave up pasta and meat, but I ended up making alot of homemade pizza. It wasn’t really in the spirit of fasting. My goal is to actually fast and not just replace what I gave up. So far it’s working, but I’m not one week in yet.
 
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Honey has sugar, I was going to suggest molasses but that does too. Just about anything sweet has it, be it natural or not. Organic stevia is a great alternative.
 
I’m giving up cursing. I have a foul mouth and it’s been difficult to abstain absolutely.
 
May I offer a suggestion? Do a swear count tally. For every bad word you say, pray on decade of the rosary. It worked like a charm for me!
 
I should probably clarify that I mean refined white sugar.

Yes you are right that honey has a sugar. But it also has antioxidants, enzymes among other benefits over white sugar.

The point of using honey is that I only use it at home. Avoiding white sugar means, well that I avoid pretty much anything sweet outside of the home. Which unfortunately includes all the Valentines Day chocolates and cinnamon hearts 😫

I still think stevia is gross, it just has this chemical taste to it.
 
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It’s a tough time to be giving up white sugar I agree. You will feel so much better without it though! What helped me stop using it is the fact they dye the sugar using crushed animal bones. After I learned that I was done for good. I wish you luck.
 
I did that either last year or the year before. I keep my car radio on Catholic radio all the time now and haven’t looked back.
It’s actually hard for me to listen to modern music anymore because I point out all the things theologically wrong with the lyrics.
 
Thank you, I have faith that it will become easier with your advice. Perhaps someday I won’t curse at all. 😊
 
Thanks! That’s an interesting fact, I did not know that.

When my wife and I do a detox we avoid sugar, gluten, alcohol, dairy, caffeine, most meat among some other foods. The focus is to cleanse the digestive system and clean up the liver. I do feel better, have more mental clarity (after the caffeine withdrawal subsides.) and lose weight. But the biggest difference is with my skin. I almost have a glow after we finish it. I think avoiding sugar has a lot to do with it.

Though the detox is for just 11 days. I’ve never gone this long with just avoiding white sugar.
 
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What a coincidence I was thinking that as well. I’m in the midst of a shaklee detox and I have noticed a skin tone change. I’m happy to hear you and your wife care about your bodies so much.
 
Alexander said:
It’s a tough time to be giving up white sugar I agree. You will feel so much better without it though! What helped me stop using it is the fact they dye the sugar using crushed animal bones. After I learned that I was done for good. I wish you luck.
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Do you have proof about the crushed animal bones?
 
I just saw something excellent this morning.

Everyday for the next 30 days (or the rest of Lent if you like), you get rid of stuff.

On Day 1, you get rid of one thing.

On Day 2, you get rid of two things.

And so on…

The woman I learned this from has gotten rid of junk (straight to the trash), as well as useful things (donated to charity).

It’s a discipline, to be sure. Just thought I’d offer it up as a suggestion. 😋
 
Shaklee! My mum used to be a distributor for them, still might be. I’ve been taking their stuff for years. Quality products.

I wish you the best in your detox as well! :hugs:
 
ice cream. I don’t have a real sweet tooth, but I love ice cream. I think I’ll make some homemade ice cream after Lent!
 
Your list made me think of things I have done in the past.
Only water to drink (except for 1 cup of coffee in the a.m. or else I get a headache!)
No music except Christian music. (I STILL Do this every day, I loved music, all kinds but realized the words weren’t always good thinking.)
No reading books except Christian book. (I still try to do this. I was reading all sorts of junk!)
Bow my head in prayer when saying the name of Jesus. (This became a good habit. :slight_smile:slight_smile: )
I was just thinking how many of the things I gave up have become habits for me and seems for the better???
Trying to curb food and choices of food? Not so much!!!
 
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