Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Following Fat Tuesday, Here's Nonreligious Lent II


I got a chuckle out of this somewhat inappropriate but hysterical question posed on Facebook by my friend’s brother Metrodad “How come black people get an entire month and fat people only get a Tuesday?”  C’mon laugh (or don’t). Anyway, when I was at Tulane, Fat Tuesday was the day to take a breath after Mardi Gras, a day when the visiting freaks left the city. I never stopped and thought about how the fat got in Fat Tuesday.

Mardi Gras, in French, literally means Fat Tuesday.  Some say the origin of "Fat Tuesday" is believed to have come from the ancient Pagan custom of parading a fat ox through the town streets. I’ve also heard explanations in which it was a cow that was fattened and then feasted on. Other variations have households using up fat or eggs and dairy before Lent. The common thread here is indulgence before abstinence, one last binge before getting serious.

I am not religious, not Catholic either but last year I professed my love for Lent.  I love the time frame of roughly 6 weeks (Lent lasts until Easter which is April 8th this year), appreciate the idea of making one meaningful sacrifice and let’s face it even if it’s not the point I love the potential benefits. I did check with my resident religion expert C, which doesn’t stand for Catholic, and benefiting from your sacrifice isn’t against the rules. While I can’t imbue a fear of God in you, I am pretty good at laying guilt. For example, didn’t we talk last week about not letting fear hold you back? Let’s do this. Last year after dinner eating and elevators topped my Lent list, here are my 2012 sacrificing suggestions:

Artificial Sweeteners and Soda- I can’t believe you are but if you are still sipping Splenda or nasty NutraSweet imagine how much healthier you will feel after 6 weeks without them. Or just take my word for it. If you need to be swayed, here's some info on that "diet cancer".

TV- if you’re spending a couple of hours a night tush-to-chair watching other people lose weight or procreate or what have you, those are 2 hours that aren’t making you thinner, smarter or more fit. Actually, as little as 1 hour of daily TV is correlated with weight gain. At night, go for a walk; take a workout class, clear clutter. Juices aren’t the only way to fast, going TV-less is beneficial too.

Purge the Plastic- if you’re not the fasting or diety type (unlike some I have nothing against the word diet) let’s ban the BPAs and do something for the planet (if not for god). For Lent, dust off that reusable water bottle (love Bkr bottles myself) and replace those misshapen plastic containers with glass ones. The benefits will last beyond the six weeks. Many components in plastics are hormone disruptors, need I say more?  

BYOL- maybe you’re spending $14 dollars on a salad (not including the plastic water bottle or diet “cancer”), maybe you’re concerned that the so-far-from-organic chicken in that grilled chicken salad is pumped up with salt, antibiotics and hormones (yum) or perhaps it takes too long to leave work and bring lunch back. Whatever the case may be call on your inner cheapskate, food phobe or worker bee and bring your own lunch.

Give up Gluten- while I’m not convinced everyone has to be gluten free, many people feel better with gluten gone. There’s no way to know if you’re one of those people unless you try.

For the record, I also asked C about the tendency to substitute one bad habit for another. You know how this works; you give up sugar and start overeating bread.  C said, “as far as I know, you might be the first person to question substituting bad habits :) I think it certainly would be frowned upon, since it's supposed to be a time of sacrifice.” So no vice-swapping. Got it?  Here’s to fewer “fat” Tuesdays from now on or at least until Easter.
Do you like the idea of giving up one thing? What’s it going to be for NRL (non-religious Lent)? If you have something else you’d like to temporarily abstain from, let’s hear it.

35 comments:

  1. My only bad item at the moment is Splenda. I still use it in coffee. How many packets is too much? When the reports are written on Splenda, are those based on people who have 20,30 packets a day?

    I have recently purchased other sweeteners and am slowly working them into my coffee and teas.

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    1. Yes, Bzybee the studies are often based on 20,000 packets a day and on rodents but I'm still concerned. Sounds as if you are going down the "methadone" path at least maybe for 6 weeks take the plunge?

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  2. Religious or not, I do like the idea of giving up one thing or adopting a good habit for 6 weeks. I logged onto Facebook this morning and laughed at how many friends are swearing off coffee and chocolate for the next 40 days.

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    1. So Jess, what's you're good habit?

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    2. Jess, because you do not believe in something does not mean you can scoff at others for their beliefs. For some lent is a time of spiritual renewal. Others treat it as a time to complete a goal. Just because you don't agree with it, does not mean you should put others down who do.

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    3. Anonymous- I think I opened the door for being casual about this. For many Lent is an important time. As a nutritionist, I just piggybacked on the "swearing off" part which, as you said, many do as a goal. I can't speak for others but faith is a wonderful thing and I'd hate to think you or anyone reading this felt anything was a put down. All about feeling better.

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    4. No scoffing implied—Having been raised Catholic, I am quite familiar with that element of spiritual renewal and actually find it a wonderful practice that can be applied in other walks of life. I just had a giggle over the fact that chocolate and coffee are often the first things many of us turn to when we think of giving something up. I've definitely been there, done that.

      As for my good habit, Lauren, I'm making a more conscious effort to avoid sources of BPA, as it's been on my mind for a while. My other intention is to make life easier for those around me by staying calm during what is a busy, stressful time (mostly though journaling, breathing exercises, yoga, etc).

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  3. I consider myself culturally Catholic -- raised in the church, no longer a believer, but can't deny the influence. So I observe Lent each year, with varying degrees of success. We were always encouraged to both give up something and try something new in Lent, with an eye towards sacrifice and/or self-improvement. So this year I will give up meat and I will volunteer more at the North Texas Food Bank. Hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras!

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    1. I like the self improvement piece. I'm trying to waste less. Thinner and "improved" how cool is that?

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    2. Waste less is a great goal! I should consider that, too.

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  4. Great topic! I'm not Catholic, but am a Christian with lots of Catholic friends and families. So it's always interesting to discuss at Easter dinner the whats and why something is done during Lent and how well it turned out.

    This year, I'm giving up fried potatoes, including French fries. I hope that after the 40 days that the French fry craving will become a once-or-twice-a-month indulgence instead of my weekly treat!

    Good luck everyone!

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    1. good one Pearl, I'm with you on the potato love but when I went to only stealing fries from my kids 1/month I now eat them far less.

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  5. This year for Lent, I'm giving up celibacy and sobriety. Yay me!

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    1. Doesn't count, C says it has to be a sacrifice. Seems Metrodad can't accept a challenge. Where's that HMer in you?

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  6. I like this idea - mostly because 6 weeks of abstaining from something is probably long enough to make it a habit. Once the 6 weeks is up, it will probably be ingrained in my weekly/daily routine and I won't notice it anymore. I think I'm going to try a double whammy - reducing my portion size at dinner and bringing those leftovers for lunch the next day, thereby reducing my reliance on frozen meals (amy's, lean cuisine, healthy choice, etc.). I work in the Bronx and there aren't a lot of good food choices near my office (can you say McDonald's) so eating lunch out isn't my vice, but eating those frozen meals 3x/week isn't great either. Thanks for the push :)

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  7. The overachieving lenter, love it. Less for dinner = lunch for next day why didn't I think of that? Yes, 6 weeks is the perfect time for a change that can then be permanent (that's the hook).

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  8. I grew up catholic and I remember giving up candy and tv as a kid. Now, as an adult, I give up things when I see the need for it or when I feel God is telling me to do so. For example, being more patient, getting more sleep, spending time reading the bible, etc.

    Your list is inspiring. I think giving up the artificial sweeteners is a good one and I might join you in that. I love feeling and looking healthy...

    Hope your "non-religious" lent goes well ;)

    http://www.ladyonaroof.com/

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  9. See, for someone like me God has never told me to do anything, I sort of feel left out (but that's another topic). Patience is something I struggle with especially as a parent. I do feel doing more "self improvement" as Marie said above goes hadn in hand with striving for health. Try the sweeteners, it's a biggie. Thanks for your comment.

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  10. Hmmm not sure that I want to give up coffee or chocolate =) I do like the idea of giving up one thing for 6 weeks. If I had to go w/ 1 thing it would be gluten.

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    1. And it doesn't have to be giving up as much as making a change. Earlier bedtime, more conscious, slow eating I think it's about making a concerted effort more than taking out an item.

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  11. I'm giving up overeating and because that's so vague, I'm using a calorie base for it. Mind you, this isn't a reducing calorie base. I believe it's my non-reducing, non-gorging calorie area: 1,500 daily. That's enough to allow for more than mere dreams of beer and birthday cake, but not enough to allow entire pizzas to aimlessly wander past my teeth.

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    1. What a good way of putting it Caron. It's dietary clean-up as I call it. You're giving up the big volume, big ticket items.

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  12. Oh Lauren, keep laying on the guilt about the "Diet Cancer"...my most recent blog post (http://goodandbrokenn.blogspot.com/) is about my 10-year-long diet soda addiction/love affair. I am not ready to say goodbye to it yet but four years ago I was drinking TWELVE a day, and now I am drinking two. It's a challenge to stay this low for me, and my goal is to keep it at two and not let that number creep up like it often does.
    I have my own reasons why I don't do the whole NRL thing (need to separate from Catholicism - I am "half and half" - in support of my Jewish identity) but you definitely mention some good ideas! Very worthy things!

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    1. never meant to offend, I would say keep up the selective soda drinking and when it's gone let me blog about you (incentive) maybe you go down to 1 for the next 6 weeks (I didn't call it lent) .

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  13. I think that the idea of giving up artificial sweeteners is a win-win situation. Everyone can stand to give up those!

    And during Ramadan we give up everything for 16+ hours a day. I often wish we only had lent to contend with!

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    1. exactly ameena, maybe I need to do a Ramadan post, I am an equal opportunity giver upper.

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  14. I was raised Catholic and I always chose sweets (or something along those lines) to give up for Lent. It's funny that we always choose something like food to give up.
    I have been trying to buckle down a bit more since my birthday (and 4th wedding) is coming up. I have a hard time completely eliminating things. Even though I usually don't order too many unhealthy options at Starbucks, I should try and cut that out.

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    1. 4th wedding you had me rereading that K, starbucks, c'mon ditch it for 6 weeks and blog about it. A new tea habit? could be exciting.

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  15. I laughed at "I'm not religious, not Catholic either" You probably didn't intend it to come across as I took it, but given, err, certain, um, politics of late and you know, the many issues with pervy priests, I found it to be pretty funny.

    Great suggestions on things to give up! I have a few things in mind for myself...that's for sure. Can't say here.

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  16. I will steer clear of anything religious. Cameo so out of blogging character for you to be so tight-lipped about your goals.

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    1. Wise to steer clear. OK, OK...I will say it outloud so that I am accountable. Cigs! My fiance is a smoker and over the past year what started as a drag here and there and one on a night out has turned into 1-2 a day. And multiple on a night out. I hate to admit it because it goes against everything I know about health! It's rather embarrassing. But, yeah, I am giving them up! For longer than lent.

      PS. Ever since reading this I have REM "Loosing my Religion" stuck in my head..."Oh no I said too much..."

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  17. i love this, definitely re-cutting elevators which have snuck back into my life, tv (ok i forgot that for a second, but just turned it off) and like i said on twitter, sucky people. also cutting out gym excuses. wow my #nrl list is longer than my new years resolution list.

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  18. it's only 40 days not a year though so more of a deadline, go for it.

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  19. I'm Catholic, and this year I'm giving up shopping (although not giving up grocery shopping) and eating junk at work (i.e. candy, bagels, meeting cookies, etc.). Since I'm religious, I try to go mass during the week in addition to Sunday--I've found that it's really nice to have that extra time to reflect/be thankful/think, and I think carving out that 'peaceful' time is good for everyone, religious or not.

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  20. Couldn't agree more. Love the zen-Betty. I go across the street from office to the park and sit on a bench when it's nice out. Totally therapeutic. So Central Park is my "church".

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