Hey y’all! Let’s have a heart to heart, shall we? I’m feeling a bit of a throwback to the old Confessions of SE that used to take place on Tuesday mornings here in Sound Eats land.
As I’m sure most people know, Lent began last Wednesday. There’s been a lot of “what I’m giving up” or “what I’m adding” posts going on in the blog-world, and I certainly contributed with my proclamation that I was giving up sugar for Lent.
After a few days of reflection, I realized something: I was doing this for the wrong reasons. If you are going to give up something or add something to your life and do it FOR Lent, that means (in my opinion) you need to be doing it for the right reasons. I’m not going to get all preachy on the blog because I want everyone to feel welcome here, but I will say this: I think most people could agree that despite religious affiliation, Lent should not be a 40 day diet.
I really don’t like what I feel like Lent has become in mainstream culture. Since when is it about a 40 day diet of no sugar/ no ice cream/ no soda/ gym everyday/ no meat/ no (fill in the blank)?
With this realization, I also had to look at my own motives. Why was I wanting to give up sugar for Lent? Is this something I felt led to do, something I felt would bring me closer to God? I realized that no, this was not the case. Giving up added sugars is something I had been thinking about for a while, and I realized that I didn’t feel “led” to do it. It was merely a good, short-term opportunity to implement something else that could hopefully help me lose a couple more pounds.
Wow, how’s that for turning something that’s meant to bring me closer to God into something that’s all about myself? And honestly something that’s motivated by my physical appearance at that!
When I realized that, I felt like it would be even more of an insult to my personal faith if I were to continue doing it. So, I’m not on the no sugar for Lent train any longer. This does NOT mean that I’m going to start gorging on sugar every night. I’m still limiting my added sugars, but I’m being honest about it as a continual lifestyle change in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle (and losing weight!) and not as a 40 day diet. I really LIKE coming up with recipes for no added sugar/ health nut vegan chocolate shakes and sugar free cookies, and that’s something I plan to continue well past 40 days. I would honestly much rather have a dessert of banana-cherry soft serve than sugar-spiked cookies and cake for a sweet treat after dinner!
Also, I realized something else. If I feel led to do something to bring myself closer and more intimate with God, especially if it’s through sacrifice, I don’t think I should be proclaiming it from the roof tops (or internet in this case). It should be something in my personal faith alone.
Anyway, those are my .02! What are your thoughts on Lent and diets? Do you feel like Lent has become an excuse to diet for many in our mainstream culture?
I think you 100% read my mind with this post! Last week I went through the list of things to give up for lent (no candy, no dairy, no white flour, run everyday, blah blah blah) and then I stopped myself. I realized that, in your words, “Lent should not be a 40 day diet.” I completely agree. Lent is more important than that. It is a shame that it has become a way for people to feel justified in their dieting.
I definitely agree that people have started to use Lent as excuse to lose weight, diet, etc. Personally for me, I gave up all meat (except fish. Some may see these as a diet excuse however giving up meat is a HUGE sacrifice for me. For these 40 days, I am forced to think outside of the box cooking wise and when I go out to eat.
I think sometimes people forget that they can start doing something for 40 days too. You don’t see it that often but I would say 95% of what I hear is people giving up something.
This is a GREAT post and to be honest I think this exact thing happens a lot. So many people use Lent as a “diet” and it shouldn’t be that whatsoever. On the other hand a lot of people do use Lent as a way to get closer to the spirituality and for the right reasons. Good for you for realizing that was not what you were doing. I really admire that!
I work at a chocolate shop, and last week I had someone take a sample and stick it in her purse, as she explained to me that she had given up eating between meals for lent. What?? At least no sugar/junk food, etc. is some sort of sacrifice (if you want to look at it that way), but eating between meals??? Haha, I had a bit of a chuckle. I, for one, will be heathen-ing my way through the next 40 days, same as usual!
That is absurd! Ugh, that’s the exact kind of mainstream Lent-diet I was talking about. So unnecessary.
I so appreciate your honesty on this. I think it’s sooooo easy to get caught up in what others are doing (especially in the food blogging community). I respect that people use their blogs to keep them honest on their challenges but I personally think everyone practices their spirituality in different ways and keeping it authentic and real to you is what spirituality and religion is all about.
Lindsey, I am a regular reader but not a usual commenter… I have just got to say GOOD FOR YOU.
I am not a religious person (read: at all), but to be quite honest how lent has been treated in the food blogging community is one of the things that really turns me OFF of Christianity.
I realize people enjoy sugar, so it is a “sacrifice,” but, really? There is no other personal motivation there? If you want to give up sugar for 40 days, great, just don’t make it about God. I also believe religion should be highly personal, so I applaud you keeping it that way.
Sorry to come off as so cynical, but like I said, way to have a good head on your shoulders.
You didn’t come off as cynical at all! Thanks so much for your feedback.
Very true. That’s why I didn’t give up anything food related. I did though mention what I was going to do or not do for lent on my blog because I wanted people to see that it wasn’t all about diet restriction. I don’t think it was a bad thing for me to share it on my blog, while it is personal I also think it could have been a way for God to lead someone else to do something similar or just open peoples eyes. I don’t often share a lot about my faith, but around this time when everyone was talking about lent I felt the need to share just a little bit. Just my opinion.
But I love this and love your heart!
I agree with you.. I had a hard time thinking of something to give up for lent.. Ultimately I decided to give up candy but not for a diet reason more because I have candy at least once a day and it is a huge sacrifice for me to five it up.
I really enjoyed this post where you opened up.
I am another reader but non-frequent commenter and i just had to tell you i have so much respect for you. While i am not personally religious i find it highly admirable that you are able to recognize what lent is meant to be about and WHO it’s meant to be about. Cheers to you
Thank you so much!
Well said, Linds. I very much agree. Whatever someone chooses to give up or add or whatever, should be a personal and special choice, and an actual sacrifice based on their own beliefs. I applaud your “confession” that your heart wasn’t in the right place (for you). This is one reason you rock, girl…your heart
PS-I’ll fb you back about the blogger meet up…xoxo
I seriously can not agree with you more! Man, leave it to our society to take this holy and scarred act of connecting with God and turning it into something as superficial and selfish as a reason to diet. Ugh, sickening!
Thanks for sharing this Lindsey. Very brave of you but I am 10000% behind you on everything!
I could not agree more! I personally do not observe Lent, because of what it has become. So mainstreamed and far from the point. I believe that I work on my relationship with God every day and giving up a food for 40 days is not going to make a difference in the long run.
Oh and P.S. I miss you.
Again, really love this and you opening up and sharing something that needed to be said. Love love love.
Great great post! I think that SO MANY people give up something for Lent because it has almost become *trendy.* I actually heard two Jewish people in my office discussing what food/treat they would give up for Lent… I couldn’t believe it! I think it is important to separate the two. If you want to cut back on sugar for a healthier lifestyle, that is a great goal. But Lent is about the preparation (through prayer and self-denial, amongst other things) for Holy Week. (That sounds sooooo religious- I’m not actually extremely religious, so I just mean this as fact- not preaching!)
Anyway, I think you are on the right track and I applaud you for blogging about this and opening up about your thoughts!
That is ridiculous!!! Honestly, quite comical too. You are dead-on in your definition of Lent. Christ practiced prayer and self-denial in his 40 days in the desert being tempted before entering into full time ministry, and that’s exactly what we should be mimicing in true practices of Lent! Definitely not preachy, it’s what Lent is!
I too like the topic of today’s “heart to heart”. My church really doesn’t do lent but I was thinking about some things personally that I could “give up”. I had decided to give up alcohol but when I think about it more, I think it would be more beneficial for me to just encourge another habit I’ve been really trying to work on — reading my bible every night. Like someone mentioned above, no one said that you have to give up something for lent. I also don’t think that this is something specific for lent but just overall that I want to do.
Very true- great post! My fiance and I had a similar talk just before lent started and agreed that, rather than give something up, we would start making prayer part of our daily events. Whether before dinner, or bed, we’ve been basically saying our thanks and prayers, which we know we should be doing anyway and plan to continue beyond the 40 days.
~Christie
I really appreciate and respect your honest in this post. And, as a Christian, you’ve set a really great example for me. I don’t practice Lent (my family never really has), but when I feel like God wants me to give up something, it’s usually something that I don’t really want to give up. But then when I *want* to give up something and I ask Him for help, well that’s a different story. That’s the story of my spiritual life – actually. As selfish as this sounds, I’m much more apt to give God the glory when I feel like I’m going to be blessed in return, rather than giving Him the glory simply for being…Him!
Thanks for being so honest! And you are definitely not alone in feeling like you’re more apt to give God glory when you feel blessed in return. Honestly I think that’s natural for everyone! I think the real test of faith is still giving God the glory (and trust!) even when things aren’t going our way and we don’t “feel” like we’re being bestowed with blessings.
I agree with you completely. I have only given something up for lent once! Last year, my pastor talked about “taking something on” (a spiritual discipline, for example) instead of “giving something up.” I reflected on this, and wound up doing nothing because I feel so much guilt in my relationship with God sometimes and I decided I was going to “take on” not feeling guilty and not doing anything differently. It might seem that I “gave up” feeling guilty, but it felt like taking something on because I couldn’t just flip a switch and avoid feeling guilty. Instead, I started praying that I could be okay with where I was at in my relationship with God and I began to remind myself that He loves me no matter WHAT.
I think it is good that you came to these conclusions about your motivations, and that you were willing to admit them and share a little bit of your heart here. I miss the Confessions posts and I was glad to see them back!
This may sound weird coming from me, but how is your weight loss going? I know it really bothered you to have mysteriously gained weight, so I have really been rooting for you to be restored to your fully healthy and comfortable body!
I”m glad you liked the Confessions post! I’m hoping to bring them back more often.
I honestly have not been weighing myself. I’m doing my best in making healthy food choices, trying to ballpark calorie count, and have been working my butt off in working out/ P90X. I can tell that I’m getting stronger and healthier, but I’m not sure if I’ve lost too much weight if any yet. All I can do is keep trying!
This is a very healthy mindset! I hope you can be successful and feel happy with your body again, wherever it decides to settle!
I know that my body is 5-8 lbs more than I really “like” on myself in terms of looks, but being able to live with an emotionally healthy mindset is what really matters. This is my weight when I’m happy and exercising at a healthy level and enjoying some social eating events, so this is where my weight will stay! Please keep us posted on how YOU are doing as you go through this hard journey of figuring out where that is for you! You are beautiful no matter WHAT you weigh though!
I do feel like some people have used Lent as an excuse for losing weight. I gave up sweets/desserts for Lent and this is the first time I’ve ever participated in Lent. I truly feel like I have idolized/worshiped sweets/desserts so I felt convicted to give this up to focus those thoughts on Christ and be satisfied in Him and what’s He’s done instead of turning towards food for that satisfactory feeling.
Lauren, I identify so much with what you said. I struggled with whether to “give up” something this year but in the end I chose something that would be challenging for me in order to teach me that I need not be dependent (or idolize, like you said) certain things. And to make me realize how truly blessed I am to be able to afford such luxuries.
I’m so glad you made this choice. You strike me as someone with genuine faith, and in general it’s been bumming me out to see people giving things up “for Lent” when it seems like they really just don’t trust themselves around certain foods and want the threat of an angry God to keep them from eating them or something.