I’m doing Lent. Yes I know its a bit late, but nevertheless, i’m doing it. This is how I came to do this.
One of my best friends is Catholic. I am not. Almost 6 weeks ago he told me he was doing lent and that he was giving up his temptation of chocolate. This was the first I’d ever heard of Lent or what it was. Now that his time is almost up, I asked him when he gets to eat chocolate again (this Saturday night). Now, before I continue, I should enlighten you on some background information to this story. Short story: I want to lose 5 kg. I’ve been ‘trying’ to eat well and resist all temptations (you can see where this is going...) but I haven’t done so very successfully. After a weekend of pigging out on cakes and the like, I had decided that enough was enough and I was going on a ‘diet’ or ‘changing my eating habits’ for good! So Monday was the first day of my new healthy eating regime. Ok. Back to the original story. Lent. So I was working with my buddy on Monday and we were talking about the chocolate. I stood there and thought for a moment and then said ‘What if I go without chocolate for 6 weeks?’. [quiet]. ‘What would you give me?’. We pondered this and I said to him, ok, So if I can go 6 weeks without chocolate, you give me a Red Tulip elegant rabbit easter egg. Deal? Yep deal. We then discussed that this ‘bet’ shall we say, has to be based on honesty... of course.... if I cheated with chocolate I could never live with the guilt anyway. We agreed that if I cave and eat chocolate, that he gets to eat MY elegant rabbit in front of me! Deal done. The challenge was set.
But. I began to think more about this. No chocolate. For 6 weeks. Hmmmmm. Well..... that’s not really THAT hard is it? I mean, I love chocolate as much as the next girl carrying an extra 5 kg who can’t resist the temptation of melting chocolate in her mouth, but, I don’t always eat it. Perhaps 6 weeks without chocolate won’t be that hard of a challenge I wondered. So, in my new resolution to eat healthy and not give in to all things good that are tempting, I decided that. No. My challenge will not be just chocolate! It will be all of it! All things sweet. Cakes. Desserts. Sweet pastries. All of those too. I can’t eat ANY for 6 weeks!!!! BUT , I have allowed one exception to the 6 week challenge. I am allowed ONE muffin per week from my favourite coffee spot. (they have THE BEST muffins). I mean, these muffins are so good, I just can’t resist. To give up those muffins for 6 weeks, I know I couldn’t do that !! Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking. What is the point of this lent challenge if I am going to allow myself a sweet treat? Well. This is my defence. Before the challenge was set, I had already in my own mind decided I would ‘do my best’ to avoid these sugary temptations. And I had actually already decided I would allow myself one muffin per week as a treat. To... you know... keep me going! Because I know myself all too well. If I restrict myself totally, I will cave. I will want it. I will need it. I will have to have it. And I will. So I figure, I could set myself up for success with this small scaffold to help me along the way. Get it? I mean, its just one muffin. I have to avoid EVERYTHING else! And I did extend the challenge from chocolate to include sweets too so... I think its a pretty good deal. And of course, the whole 6 weeks I will still be ‘doing my best’ to eat well, healthy, avoid all other fatty foods and exercise lots. So...
Challenge accepted.
I am doing lent for 6 weeks commencing Monday. At least the first day was easy :)
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