The beginning of Lent is only a few weeks away which usually means two things: fish sandwiches will start popping up at all the fast food places in town and people will start debating about what vice to temporarily give up. I’ve never given anything up for Lent before because I didn’t have the best track record for sticking to my goals. But this year is different. For starters, Lent begins the day after my 26th birthday, which seems like an opportunity of sorts. I’ve been building momentum for a couple months now and making steady progress, so why not take this opportunity to keep pushing myself? Plus, when you think about it, the parallels between making a Lenten promise and trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle are pretty remarkable. They’re both all about goals, challenges, temptations, and self-reflection.
The question is what should I give up?
I could go the traditional route and give up something like candy or swear words or trips to the shoe store. There’s no doubt that making those sacrifices would cramp my style. Not a bad idea, but I don’t think it’s a big enough step for me. It kind of reminds me of all those times I tried to lose weight by ordering the diet coke with my Big Mac and large fries. Isn’t the idea to give up something that will really hurt? To make a sacrifice that, in the end, will help you gain some perspective and really impact the way you live? I think this might be a chance to go for broke, you know? Fish or cut bait. Shit or get off the pot…
You get the idea.
So here’s what I’m thinking: since my biggest vice at the moment is lack of physical activity that’s what I’ve giving up for Lent. I’m committing to a minimum of 30-minutes of dedicated cardio activity every single day from February 25th through April 11th. I’ve been trying to get back into the gym routine but struggling against an overwhelming desire to be lazy. I could make excuses about work and being tired and increasingly high stress levels but BLAH WHO CARES? Enough excuses already, right?
Do I think it’s going to be easy to workout 30-minutes every single day for more than six weeks straight? Sure Hell no. I think it’s going to be hard and I’m going to complain and there will be days when I’ll be tempted to give up. But that’s the point. This is a chance to push myself to do something that seems impossible and build some healthy habits in the process.
40 days. Heaven help me.
I feel like you spirited my mom into your blog today. She would always say “shit or get off the pot” and would regularly remind us of our Lenten promises. As kids, we’d do something nice in addition to giving up a luxury (uh, typically candy or gum, which is funny because my mom never let us have any).
I no longer identify as religious, but I will continue the tradition by:
1. promising to give up holding myself to such high expectations in regards to weight loss.
2. commiting to adding at least 15 minutes of yoga or stretching to my daily routine.
I wish you much success in your holiday goals!
I think you’ve chosen an awesome commitment for Lent. You now have me thinking of what I should give up or commit too (even though I’m not Catholic)!!
I’m thinking about giving up coffee and all things caffeinated. Just thinking about it. I’ll let you know.
fun fact: i was born on shrove tuesday 1984 (er, mardi gras). i’m not even kidding, so you’re like 54 weeks older than me!
anyway… we were always encouraged to commit to WORKS instead of sacrifices as kids. alas, the only pieces of lent i hold to now are 1) making fauchnauts on shrove tuesday, 2) making italian easter pies, 3) making a lamb cake with my great grandmas mold and 4) insisting on being pampered on my “ecclesiastical birthday” as well as my calendar birthday. (and sometimes my due date!)
amazing… i’ve managed to make LENT be about food and pampering. i’m a freaking magician.
I think 30 minutes of exercise every day is a great idea. You can do it!
You also have me really hungry for fish sandwiches. LOL
I’m laughing right now, because every year, I tell my husband that I’m giving up sex and smoking (I don’t smoke) oh and watermelon.
I think, no, I will join you in your lenten penance. I personally think Krissie is batshit crazy to attempt at giving up caffeine especially considering that Nate makes such perfect lattes.
Enough rambling. We’ll have to encourage each other.
I agree Carla, and I say that having tasted one of Nate’s famous lattes. But I’m glad to have a partner for the Lenten challenge! We can do it!
Great goal! You can do it…just think how smashing you will look come the lovely Spring. A new you for a new season!
Great goal!
I’m not Catholic, but I thought about trying something similar this year– something that will help take me towards a new healthier and happier outlook, even if it does give me days that make me grumbly.
I’m not Catholic either, but I really dig the idea behind Lent.
I think that is an awesome idea! Doing something instead of NOT doing something. Being proactive is a good thing. You just might inspire me to do the same.
I thought you were going to say “coffee”! That would really be something!
Good luck with you Lenten exercise challenge. I think it’s a great idea…
So, for 40 days you are giving up your laziness and your excuses? That is brilliant. I might just have to join you on this one.
I’ll represent the Catholics
and put my two cents in – I think that your Lenten promise is a great one! People always get bogged down in the “giving up” for Lent when that isn’t really what it is all about. It’s about preparation and reflection.
Conveniently, 40 days is just about enough time to make a new habit and by the end of it you’ll find yourself WANTING to go to the gym everyday instead of, “oh yeah, it’s still Lent and I have to go to the gym.”
Good luck!
That was my thinking too Miss A!
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That’s a great idea. I think I might join you in that. When my mom tells me I should go to church, I tell her that my church is the elliptical and God wants me to exercise for an hour instead of sitting on my butt in church checking out everyone’s outfits.
Thank you. I just spit coke all over my laptop after reading “Shit or get off the pot”. I’m still laughing so hard that tears or rolling down my face. I needed that laugh!
On a serious note, good for you. 30 minutes of cardio is a great goal. On a side note, I tried the stair stepper today at the gym. I last for 3 minutes 28 seconds before I had to quit. Damn is was hard but effective. It now hurt to climb the stairs in my mom and dad’s house.
I don’t think Lent should be about giving something up, it should be about challenging yourself. Funny you’ve chosen the challenge of going to the gym for 40 days because mine is to go 35 of the 40 days!
I too have been struggling with motivation to get to the gym, so I’m hoping by going nearly every day for over a month will help me get back into a routine and make going to the gym seem like just another something I do everyday, like brushing my teeth!
Good luck!
I did something like that for a new years resolution. Well, I decided not to make a resolution to lose weight but commit to a 90 day work out program. So far I have missed 4 of those days due to work travel but I have not used that as an excuse not to continue.
I think you have a great idea here!
30 minutes is SO doable! But here’s my two cents: God created Sabbath so man can rest. At least give yourself ONE day to rest!
I can’t wait to see the results
I think I’m going to join you with the exact same goal.
@DonnaLynn Sweeet! I’m happy to have company!
I think that this is a brilliant idea. I’ve been toying with doing something along the same lines – but have been scared to even put it out there because it seems that I am all about the excuses lately.
Maybe it’s time to see how much I really want what I want eh?
I will be cheering you on FB!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Wow – I am totally inspired. Way to go – now you have me thinking about a similar goal.