I’m with you there, Kevin. I have a 12 year old, and a 5 year old. With spring break for the last 2 weeks, it’s been hard even getting on the machine at home with them squabbling. Kids are wonderful, but not conducive to a structured workout.

Bree

Well I made it through Lent without, candy, sweets, pastires, desserts and only blew it once on my lenten ban on eating beef (I didn’t have the heart to tell my Mom “NO” when it came to a home cooked meal of Meatballs"). I’m going to continue my denial of candy/sweets/pastries/dessert for the foreseebale future along with the beef ban and see how long I can go. 

Now I’ll prepare myself for the looks I’ll get while tapping myself (on the pressure points) while in line at the grocery store as I look at the candy

Hi, Mark. I’m glad you found satisfaction in being faithful to your plan. When you wrote that you plan to “continue your denial” I wondered whether you might reframe that in a more positive way for yourself. Had a discussion with a friend a while back over my weakness for breads. Now, I let myself have bread once in a while, of course. But say I’m at a restaurant which routinely brings a basket of rolls to the table. If I request that they not bring me the rolls, I won’t say I’m denying myself, I’ll just see myself as one of those sensible people who wants to fill up on my healthier, more nutritious meal than the bread-basket preamble. Ever know people who “don’t really like chocolate”? (I’m incredulous.) I’m thinking, I could be one of those people who doesn’t really “do” dessert. Sounds better than “I can’t have it.” Not that there’s not power in sacrifice as well!

-- Ann

Ann,
No, I look at it more as a positive life change overall for my mind and body. Sweets have always been a road bump that can derail me with just a taste of that sugary sweet decadence crossing my lips and since I’ve purged sugar from a false want for the past 40+ days this year, I’ll just continue that mind frame (since I’m already there) for a wee bit longer.  To me it’s sort of my brain telling my body, well you haven’t missed this long let’s see how long you can go with the flow. There are years where it’s fairly easy to accomplish what I’ve set my mind to and other years it’s a struggle, although I’ve found it easier as I get older Some years I’ve been able to go the whole year with what I’ve given up for Lent (Diet Coke was one of these), but in no way do I look upon it in a negative light if I don’t make it out of Lent or even past Lent with what I’ve given up. If I give in later on down the road and have that piece of cheesecake, I’m not defeated, I just say what a ride and go on with life.

I agree, Lent is a great springboard for purging the things from your life that really shouldn’t be there. The 40 days shows you how life is without those things and lets you then decide if it’s worth having/doing/being, and it shows that you can do it.

Personally, I have no plans to go back to yelling or raising my voice unless there’s immediate danger. And having given up sweets for a week for the 7/7 plan, I would prefer to do without those as well. I just feel so much better without that crap in my body. Regardless how wonderful the taste is, sometimes its just not worth the energy drain later.

Bree