What are you giving up for Lent?
In the past, I've tried doing something more for Lent, rather than giving something up. Avoiding soda just doesn't seem to have the same impact as being more charitable or letting go of anger...
One year, I gave up ragging on my roommates. At the time, I lived with three other girls in a tiny college apartment. Things would get pretty catty, so that Lent I decided to do my part to stop it.
Surprise. Surprise. Things got easier to deal with when I stopped taking everything so personally or cataloging every misdeed to anyone that would listen... To this day, we are all still friends and I learned an important lesson about being more easy-going.
Well this year, I am giving up the sauce, people. I mean it. Stop laughing.
Wine. Martinis. I never really cared much for beer, but I'm giving that up too. I'm shelving it all 'til Easter. I'm not even going to "cheating" on Sundays.
Why?
No reason in particular. I just thought it would be a good idea to practice some moderation in my life. To be around something and not automatically consume it in large quantities. Why not start with the booze?Oh beautiful, sanity- restorative drug of choice.
On that note, it's probably not a bad idea to use this time to find other ways to detox (so to speak) at the end of a stressful day...
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As for my other form of penance.... I signed up for fitness boot camp earlier this week. That New Year's resolution of getting fit in '08...
Yeah well, I was going strong for the first two weeks of the year. Weak Abs are so '07 and all. By Week Three, I started to fizzle. I would go the gym to attend classes, but not much else. I guess I set my standards too low by "just showing up". I wasn't pushing myself and started missing classes to sleep in... staying up way too late... eating lots of crappy stuff... Basically, back to my old habits, again.
One of my friends suggested hiring a personal trainer together and splitting the cost, so I looking into it, getting jazzed once more. Unfortunately, she and I couldn't make a time work for both of us, but the trainer told me about this boot camp starting in two days...
It's TWELVE weeks of 6 am workouts, 5 days a week with a former Army drill sergeant. Yeah, I was intimidated, too, but my lame-o trips to the gym were starting to be a waste of time. I need a kick in the pants. I need someone to tell me what to do and hold me accountable. I need to lose 40 pounds.
So here I am again. Today is Day Three. I'm sore. I'm tired. I want to die. I think that's a good sign.
Oh, and the drill sergeant. HOTNESS. That's not bad either.
6 comments:
You are WAY braver then me.
Sweeet! I did the boot camp thing here but it's not with a drill sergeant. It's called Adventure Boot Camp for Women. It's the same concept but women only though. We met at 5:30am and if you can get through the first week you will be ok. Aleve is your best friend. I felt it was worth it! I did it several times but had to drop out since I'm preggers. Good Luck to you and hang in there!
Way to go on the workout gig! I would love to do that! I have been pretty good on my own getting up at 5 and getting my hour in 4 to 5 days a week. 13 lbs down WOOHOO!!!
But as for the Booze things more power to ya sista! I don't drink also really only on a Friday or Saturday night and then it is only a glass or 2 of wine, but the thought of giving that up :( very sad! keep us posted on your progress!
sadly, i've come to a point over the last few years where my lenten observance is now going to be "go to mass every sunday." because going to mass on ash wednesday? was my first time since christmas 2006. and the last before that was christmas 2005. bad times for me, who used to love celebrating mass each week.
on the topic of difficult things to give up, i actually chose - completely on my own - to give up TV for lent when i was 13. it was actually really good for me. and when i was a sophomore in college i gave up IM, which was SO hard, but also good. :)
Braver than me to give up the booze. At your post about drinking with friends, I thought you were preggers again and not able to drink...now that I know it is self inflicted, then I don't feel so bad! Just kidding. Good luck with your Lenten promises. I'm trying to do positives as well. I have not been entirely successful as of yet. Good luck!
There are so many Catholics on EW (I'm one of them). Inneresting...
Pretty blog, still reading and like mucho so far.
Night night!
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