Lent - A word which means springtime, a time of new growth, a time for getting in shape spiritually.
~ http://www.catholicbible101.com/lentenfasting.htm
~ http://www.catholicbible101.com/lentenfasting.htm
Over the last few days, I’ve been reflecting on my experiences during Lent. This year, as part of my efforts to have a healthier and more balanced diet, I decided that during Lent I would work on consuming less sugar. Taming my overactive sweet-tooth and tendency to stress eat, and in the process dropping a few pounds of my winter insulation, seemed like a positive way to appreciate the approaching Easter season and also to facilitate more rigorous training now that the weather is nice.
The specifics of my Lenten goal were, I’ll admit, a bit convoluted: I committed to giving up buying sweets for myself in bulk, except for something for Sundays. That meant that treats provided at work for holidays or birthdays were fine, and if I purchased a small treat mid-week it wouldn’t be the end of the world, though I tried pretty hard not to do that as well.
I chose those specific, if complex, parameters with good reason: Quitting sweets completely has been unsuccessful in the past. The all or nothing thinking somehow turns one slip up into a downhill slide. The most serious excesses in my sugar consumption don’t come from parties and social events or some chocolate here and there, but buying junk for myself…in large quantities. My inner cheapskate wants value for my money, and so I’m actually more likely to buy a bag of mini candy bars than a single candy bar. I tell myself that just one or two minis is better than a full size, and that the package should last weeks or more. Instead it’s usually consumed more than one or two at a time and in far less time than is healthy.
A part of me still wonders if I should have made my goal more ambitious and absolute. On the other hand, I committed to a goal that was quite a big step in the right direction but was manageable enough that I stuck with it. And I did stick with it—and that is something to be proud of.
I experienced real and tangible progress and benefits. There were days that were hard and a few times I went beyond just bending the admittedly already incredible flexible rules of my goal. When that happened I managed to be positive and forgiving, recommit and refocus on my goal. Because I was consuming less sugar, I was more sensitive to it—which meant that I didn’t feel good when I overindulged, and that right there is worth it's weight in gold.
Some other things that I did in pursuit of a more balanced diet were (1) meeting with a nutrition consultant—an awesome free perk provided by my employer, (2) starting work with a personal trainer. Focusing on eating more produce and lean protein plus adding more aerobic exercise to my lifestyle definitely helped—in shedding a little weight and also curbing cravings to make my Lent goal more manageable.
The moment when I felt like my goal had been incredibly successful was this Friday, the day after Lent had ended: I didn’t feel the need to rush out and enjoy a large sugary indulgence, instead I decided to keep going another day. That was a very Good Friday. Mostly, it was very good for my psyche to commit to a challenge and follow through. Feeling healthier, more alert, and less sugared helped me appreciate Easter today. I’m also feeling very excited for the balance fun I’ll be having this spring and summer, especially as I continue to pursue a more balanced diet and exercise regime.
Happy Easter everyone!
The specifics of my Lenten goal were, I’ll admit, a bit convoluted: I committed to giving up buying sweets for myself in bulk, except for something for Sundays. That meant that treats provided at work for holidays or birthdays were fine, and if I purchased a small treat mid-week it wouldn’t be the end of the world, though I tried pretty hard not to do that as well.
A part of me still wonders if I should have made my goal more ambitious and absolute. On the other hand, I committed to a goal that was quite a big step in the right direction but was manageable enough that I stuck with it. And I did stick with it—and that is something to be proud of.
I experienced real and tangible progress and benefits. There were days that were hard and a few times I went beyond just bending the admittedly already incredible flexible rules of my goal. When that happened I managed to be positive and forgiving, recommit and refocus on my goal. Because I was consuming less sugar, I was more sensitive to it—which meant that I didn’t feel good when I overindulged, and that right there is worth it's weight in gold.
Some other things that I did in pursuit of a more balanced diet were (1) meeting with a nutrition consultant—an awesome free perk provided by my employer, (2) starting work with a personal trainer. Focusing on eating more produce and lean protein plus adding more aerobic exercise to my lifestyle definitely helped—in shedding a little weight and also curbing cravings to make my Lent goal more manageable.
The moment when I felt like my goal had been incredibly successful was this Friday, the day after Lent had ended: I didn’t feel the need to rush out and enjoy a large sugary indulgence, instead I decided to keep going another day. That was a very Good Friday. Mostly, it was very good for my psyche to commit to a challenge and follow through. Feeling healthier, more alert, and less sugared helped me appreciate Easter today. I’m also feeling very excited for the balance fun I’ll be having this spring and summer, especially as I continue to pursue a more balanced diet and exercise regime.
Happy Easter everyone!
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