Lent

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February 17, 2013 by little hurdles big race

We are 4 days into Lent, a 40 day period when many around the world give up luxuries as a form of penitence.  I am, for the third time in four years, giving up sugar.

The first time I did it I really ended up giving up sweets because I didn’t know any better.  There was a great moment early on in my journey when I was watching some competitive cake show.  I was actually sitting on the couch salivating.  I thought ” I have a real problem”.  It’s shocking to learn how much sugar is in the food we buy.  Nearly everything that is processed has sugar added.  Now I give up all sugar, and it takes a lot of label reading.  I knew most packaged fruit, yogurt, granola, and protein bars had some level of sugar.  But if you understand ingredient labels – then you know that items are listed by largest ingredient to smallest.  You find sugar pretty high on the list of many foods.  Spaghetti sauce, barbecue sauce, yogurt, cereal bars, and instant cereals have high levels of sugar.  Not to mention almost every item on the fast food menu contains sugar – just watch Super Size Me.  I cant remember exactly but I know there were only 4 items on the McDonald’s menu that didn’t contain sugar one of which was black coffee.

I’ve had some people ask me why I give up sugar when it appears that I can do it so easily – trust me it’s not easy at all.  I have always had a sweet tooth and it has always been my downfall.  I remember as a little girl breaking out into a terrible rash all over my body.  It was concluded that I was eating too much chocolate.  Even with that memory…I’d still never refuse it and still have chocolate to this day.  Well, not these 40 days 🙂  But I like nothing more than a challenge and am deeply and severely competitive, even with myself.

So, religious implications aside – why not challenge yourself?  It doesn’t have to be huge – but we all have vices we know we can do without.  Drinking too much soda, coffee, eating too late, dessert, snacking, junk food.  Not only will you feel good about yourself for meeting a goal – I guarantee you will feel better about your health.    I’m still waiting for that moment when I stop salivating over cake – but while I wait I’ve already feel better and coupled with my new workouts my jeans already fit better.

Challenge yourself – you have the strength.