What did you give up for lent?

**ElsiaStar** · 03-12-2011 11:23 PM

Please don't post any negative comments about religion here.. this is only for people participating in Lent this year.

I gave up Facebook. I didn't think I was addicted to it but I thought I could use a break from it. Now I'm beginning to realize that I was more addicted to it than I thought I was. I keep getting email notifications(even though I turned them off) from FB so it makes me want to look but so far I've been able to stay away from it.

I also attempted to give up saying negative things about anyone, even behind their back. But that sort of failed.. on the first day.

So.. what are you guys giving up? And how is it going so far?

**Rawracookie** · 03-12-2011 11:51 PM

I'm not a lenter (I'm agnosticish athiest kind of), but I find your choices very interesting.

Of course I don't have a facebook at all. Nor do I look at facebook. Welcome to the club!

**Scatterbrain** · 03-13-2011 01:08 AM

What is lent?

**Spartiate** · 03-13-2011 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by Scatterbrain

What is lent?

It's a period of time preceding Easter where Christians are supposed to fast and abstain in homage to Jesus' supposed 40 days of wandering in the desert. Nowadays, most people who chose to observe it at all simply give up a trivial element of their daily lives because they aren't as hardcore as Jesus.

**~~DeletePlease~~** · 03-13-2011 03:28 AM

^ Stephen Colbert takes it seriously. He gave up Catholicism, picked up Judaism, and then gave up being kosher. He then feasted on some bacon.

I didn't know what Lent was until that segment of the Colbert Report; I saw him with that ash-smear on his forehead and couldn't stop staring until he addressed it.

**Xaqaria** · 03-13-2011 04:11 AM

I gave up giving stuff up. I'm serious.

**Marvo** · 03-13-2011 04:14 AM

I gave up thread shitting.

Just kidding.

**Descensus** · 03-13-2011 04:30 AM

I gave up religion, but that was like 3 years ago...I thought Lent lasted forever?

**Nevik** · 03-13-2011 07:51 AM

I'm a recovering Catholic. I, of course, gave up nothing. Kudos for giving up saying negative things about other people behind their backs. I may not agree with the idea of Lent, Catholicism, or religion in general, but that is something everyone could afford to abstain from.

**StonedApe** · 03-13-2011 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

I gave up giving stuff up. I'm serious.

Same

**greenhavoc** · 03-13-2011 08:47 PM

catholicism

**Raphael** · 03-13-2011 10:53 PM

I'm giving up junk food.

**ElsiaStar** · 03-14-2011 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Raphael

I'm giving up junk food.

I gave up junk food last year for lent and was actually really successful! Now I don't eat as much junk food as I used to.

**Raphael** · 03-14-2011 02:55 AM

Nice! I gave up drinking soda a few years ago, now I just need to give up on chips and frozen pizzas

**Zhaylin** · 03-14-2011 03:00 AM

I don't celebrate Lent, but there's a lot of stuff I definitely NEED to give up.
My main thing, though, is smoking.
How do y'all do it? Is it easier because you know it will only last a certain time (or is it forever)? Does your faith alone give you the power to quit or do you rely on other things too (like replacement items or peer support etc).
Either way, I admire y'alls willpower and dedication!!

**no-Name** · 03-14-2011 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

How do y'all do it? Is it easier because you know it will only last a certain time (or is it forever)? Does your faith alone give you the power to quit or do you rely on other things too (like replacement items or peer support etc).

peer pressure was more than enough for me to give up sodas last time I gave up something for lent.

**davej** · 03-15-2011 07:25 AM

I don't practice Lent but when I became a Christian I turned from dranking and smoking (cigarettes).
Zhaylin, it is a very hard habit to break. especially when they are in every store in America. You just have to stay strong. I used the patch for about 2 weeks which helped a lot. after that two weeks the physical part of the addiction was easy to get over. I still had cravings but they weren't as bad and didn't last as long. To this day I still have cravings but they only last like a minute or so.

**tommo** · 03-15-2011 08:16 AM

haha I knew this thread would be loltastic.
Thanks peeps!

**Zhaylin** · 03-15-2011 11:22 AM

Aye... I quit smoking back in 2000, I was smoking 4 packs a day back then and had been for years. I was very spiritually inclined back then and I had just read Clan of the Cave Bear and felt very empowered and inspired

I quit for 8 years. I dreamed of smoking almost every single night lol

Now, I've lost my connection/relationship with God and I feel inspired about very little in my life. Which is why I wondered if people were successful because of their love for God alone.

Back on topic... how long does Lent last for? I know certain holidays have food restrictions that are temporary. The things given up for Lent, though- are they temporary as well or is it more permanent?

**Philosopher8659** · 03-15-2011 11:25 AM

Good choice. One way to master obsessive compulsive behavior is to choose your compulsions.

**Zhaylin** · 03-15-2011 03:36 PM

rofl, Philosopher!!
I have no idea who your words are directed toward. You're usually pretty cryptic, but I may have to quote you sometime with this one

**pllplp** · 03-15-2011 04:37 PM

Lent is 40 day and 40 nights. From ash Wednesday to Easter. Its the time Jesus walked the desert and was tempted by the devil. What you give up can be temporary for that time.
I am not Catholic but I am giving up KFC Double Downs. My need for them was getting way out of hand, with the delicious greasy chicken and the bacon mmmmmmm...... bacon.

**Zhaylin** · 03-15-2011 08:31 PM

Curse you, Pllplp! I have a serious bacon addiction, but I'm currently broke. My craving is now unbearable!

In all seriousness though, thanks for the explanation.
Were you formerly a Catholic and find the habit hard to break, or are you being funny, or using the time as an opportunity for change (like a New Years Resolution)?

**siuol** · 03-16-2011 09:29 PM

some people gave up fb at my school. watch out if your in high school, cuz were planning on finding the ppl who gave up facebook and rape their wall (posting a ton of useless posts on their wall to fill it up) and im sure other people will have the same idea.

**Rawracookie** · 03-16-2011 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by siuol

some people gave up fb at my school. watch out if your in high school, cuz were planning on finding the ppl who gave up facebook and rape their wall (posting a ton of useless posts on their wall to fill it up) and im sure other people will have the same idea.

Solve that by not having facebook, like me.