I think most of you know what Lent is, but since I got some questions here is a Cliffsnotes version:
Lent is a (mostly Catholic) tradition of prayer, observance and fasting in the 40 days leading up to Easter. Today is Ash Wednesday, so Easter is 40 days from now. (Note: I just wrote “Eater” instead of “Easter” because I’m preoccupied with food.)
I was raised Catholic and have been giving something up for Lent since I remember. Even though I don’t attend a Catholic church now, I still observe Lent. 
(This pic is me and my bff in third grade. I am big boned or she is tiny boned, pretty sure it’s the former.)
For the next 40 days (and nights) I am giving up sweets and diet soda. To me sweets are cookies, cake, candy and ice cream.
I decided not to give up all sugar because that immediately seemed a little obsessive. Plus, people were all over me and really I am going to get all the judgment I need from Jesus.
So that’s that.
I ended up doing a slow 5 miler about 2 hours after breakfast. Yeah, my body prefers to run when it’s still asleep and it was rough.
Plus, waiting meant it was pretty warm and I was thirsty when I got back. I immediately chugged water and had an apple. Like my new water bottle? It’s massive. 
Lunch was an egg salad sandwich.
With chips.
Dessert was a finger of this new banana PB from the jar. It’s good.
I grew up in New Orleans which has a large Catholic population – as evidenced by the feast before the fast known as Mardi Gras. I remember in grade school all my friends worrying about what they’d choose to give up for Lent. As a Presbyterian that wasn’t an issue for me but I always wondered why we didn’t celebrate things the way the Catholics did. Catholicism was so interesting to me as a child and even now about some things.
I don’t celebrate Lent, but good luck on your goals! They sound like great things to give up and I’ll bet you’ll even feel better. 🙂
I gave up sugar as well and started to freak a bit when I saw that sugar is in our turkey bacon and deli meat from Trader Joe’s. I don’t eat the deli meat that often, but I eat turkey bacon once or twice a week. My husband snapped me back to reality and helped break down the nutrition facts to remind me that eating turkey bacon in moderation does not equal the sugar load of eating a chocolate chip muffin. 😉 It helped to be reminded about the sugar work I am doing during lent and to not focus on the other little things.
I haven’t decided what I’m going to give up for lent. I’m thinking beer or wine. Sweets would be WAY too hard for me. Though maybe that means I should…heh
Good luck with the sweets! It’s rough, but I’m finding that protein shakes with chocolate protein powder and half a banana really help my sweet tooth without cheating. 🙂
I’ve already been trying to swap out protein shakes for ice cream, so I’m totally on to this “trick”! Love it 🙂
That egg sandwich is calling my name!!! Girl, you are my hero….no sweets. I will try to talk about my candy consumption a little less just for you! Have an amazing night gorgeous girl!
Luckily, I’m not a big fan of Skittles, but your Girl Scout Cookies are gonna kill me!
I am a practicing Catholic and I have given up all diet soda. My husband gave up wine. God help our poor children, it is going to be a rough few weeks for all of us.
That said, I also stopped drinking all soda/anything with artificial sweetners when I was pregnant/nursing my kids….and as soon as it was done, I started drinking Diet Coke again. Each time, it was almost 2 years total. I wish it tasted gross to me, but it doesn’t. I LOVE it.
Good luck to both of us! This is going to be rough!
Great things to give up for lent. I’d never give up sweets – I’d miss them too much! Last year I gave up Nutella and the morning of Easter, right after church, I had a couple huge spoonfuls. Gotta love that stuff.
Aw, what a cute pic! Egg salad is so good, haven’t had that in forever!
someecards always has the perfect thing to say!
You were so cute as a little kid I can hardly stand it.
I am Lutheran and I have been observing Lent since 8th grade when my confirmation teacher (our Pastor) told us he still thought it was important that we give something up. I am giving up added sugar..EEEEEK. I know that sugar is sugar, no matter in what form, but my problems are cookies, candy, brownies, chocolate, all that jazz, so It’s going to be a real challenge of my faith and I am excited to see what these 40 days have in store!! Good luck with yours, I am glad to know someone is with me on giving up sweets!
Maren,
This is going to be super tough for me! Good luck to you too 🙂
banana pb!?!?!?! what kind is it???! i want.
i kind of love your “dessert.” 😉 i like your style.
I bet you’ll never want to go back to diet soda when lent is over. I gave it up about three years ago and never looked back. And now I can’t drink it even if I wanted to. Good lent choice. 🙂
That’s what I’m hoping! I know when I don’t drink it for a while and then try it again it’s super sweet and gross (I just always keep going back for more because I don’t take that much time off).
I did not grow up Catholic, but I went to church my whole life. We didn’t observe Lent, probably because, like I said, we’re not Catholic. Although people of all denomonations do the lent thing. I was talking with my 9 year old about Lent last night and about how we’re supposed to give up something we love, something that would be a true sacrifice, just like Jesus sacrificed for us on the cross.
She immediately said, ‘mom you should give up coffee’ to which I replied, ‘uh, we don’t do Lent, remember?’ 😉
I’m literally brewing coffee right now!
Your egg sandwich looks delicious girl! 🙂 I hope you are having a great week!
You too! Have a great week 🙂