so yesterday william, parker, and i were at the grocery store. i had this crazy idea pop in my head. “william! let’s give up sugar for lent!!” (you’re probably thinking right now, “uh bridge, lent began in february.” i know, i know. i’m a little late to the game already thus I HAD BETTER NOT CHEAT.). he hesitated at first but then was all about it when i told him we’d be keeping each other accountable, competing (in a sense) in our attempt, and working towards a nice prize at the end. here’s the thing: i grew up catholic, through and through. altar girl and all! and yet, i seriously can’t remember a time where i ever gave up anything for lent. whaaa???? that’s like heresy. so, here we are, already almost half way through before it occurred to me that i should give it a go. i guess you could say i’m easing in slooowly. nevertheless, we’ve got till easter, and william and i are on a SUGAR-FAST people. you might be thinking this shouldn’t be a hard feat for a girl who posts crunchy recipes like granola and almond milk. but my friends… it is. yesterday i ate nearly three glazed donuts because i COULDN’T HELP MYSELF. and coke on ice? i mean, it doesn’t happen often, but when it’s around–and it is sometimes because jordan buys his own and puts it in the refrigerator since i refuse to buy it–i will steal! yes, i have succumbed to stealing (only like once or twice, guys, and i fess up!). i steal something i refuse to buy! what is that? it’s so damn good too! like my eyes practically roll back in my head (once it hits your lips! it’s so good! name the movie!) when i take the first sip. and ice cream?? i mean, don’t even get me started. so, guys, it’s on. from now till easter. no sugar. that includes juice, by the way. and if i cheat, i pay william $5 and if he cheats, he pays me $20 (haha, just kidding.). and then if neither of us cheats, i take him out to dinner at one of our fave restaurants. boom! we’re doing this thang!
and pictured above are our snacks of choice. plus, not pictured, yogurt and granola, carrots, ya know, all that super exciting stuff. i mean, it’s not as thrilling as cookies and donuts, no, but the lime chips with taboule salad is seriously pretty darn good. and i don’t think it’s good cause i’m just convincing myself it’s good because it’s good for me (you totally know what i mean).
so, now that i wrote this here, it’s really on. alright?!
you giving up anything for lent??
sushiandstrudel.com says
meat!
The Bookness says
Yum!
sdb says
isn't the reward at the end the resurrection? 😉
Elizabeth says
I should probably give up root beer.
Haha.
I'm proud of you though!
Emily says
wedding crashers. boom.
and i gave up sleeping for Lent. not on purpose. it just happened. but whatever.
i should look super pretty on Easter Sunday.
Kaitlyn Luce says
i gave up purchases from restaurants. I've cheated a few times, and I probably won't ever give something like that up again, but it's been cool.
Happy lenting!
Lynn says
if you're super serious about really giving up ALL sugar.. be careful cause it's in nearly EVERYTHING!! salad dressings, bbq sauce, ketchup.. when i started eating "paleo" that's one thing you're not supposed to have and it's so easy to eat it without even knowing!!!
anywho, good luck!! sugar is my biggest weakness!
bridget says
@lynn, yeah… i don't think we're being THAT serious. let's say we're going by the spirit of the law instead of the letter.
withywindle says
I also gave up sugar!! Except I'm allowed to have one "sweet" on a Saturday. It's all about building sustainability… right??!
Kathryn and Ryan says
Last year I was prego during lent so instead of giving something up I decided to do something extra. I set a goal to attend daily mass once a week. It was great! So this year I still shyed away from giving up food but I gave up facebook. It started just on my phone but then I decided to give up completly. Sounds lame but I now realize how much I got on…and I am doing the same as last year; attending daily mass.
I cherish the lenten season much more now than I ever have.
Good luck with no sugar!! I have a few family members who are doing the same.
Cinzia In Italia says
I gave up lent for lent. Isn't that quote from Old School?
Meg G @ Pugs, Kisses, and Bumblebee Wishes says
Not Wedding Crashers – it's Old School, when Will Ferrell drinks a beer at the "frat" party. Then proceeds to go streaking in the quad.
Boom.
Julie Ann says
Good Luck!
I have up eating out and all spirits. Which includes a glass of wine to unwind. What was I thinking?!
Lisa @ honibun@blogspot says
I have been coke "free" for two weeks….just because I know its bad for me but after reading your blog I raced down to the canteen to buy a can before they close.
I am so easily persuaded……
Sini says
Hahah that's pretty bad to steal afterwards if you refused to buy 😛
I won't give up anything just because it's lent but for the sake of my healt I should give up sugar,too! It's like a drug that I need to get haha.
Sini says
Hahah that's pretty bad to steal afterwards if you refused to buy 😛
I won't give up anything just because it's lent but for the sake of my healt I should give up sugar,too! It's like a drug that I need to get haha.
Lauren & Corey says
I grew up Catholic as well, altar serve over here too! I'm still a practicing Catholic and this year I gave up all refined sugar (so basically all desserts, sweets, treats) and fast food (which I don't eat a ton of anyway, so this was lame on my part). I've been successfully eating clean so far! Good luck to you 🙂
jora says
I never had much of a sweet tooth until I started nursing….I wonder if that's where your big cravings are coming from! Regardless, giving up sugar is going to make you feel sooooo good. I need to do it myself. Good luck, B!
LKF says
Old School. Boom.
I gave up not going to church once a week…so now I actually have to go or the Catholic guilt will set in. Not sure how I'm feeling about it just yet but I'm trying to keep an open mind. So far the sermons at two different churches have been duds…here's hoping that church #3 is a keeper!
Susan says
Yeah, I gave up nutella.
And yeah, I've already cheated. I am the worst catholic ever.
Lottie says
i gave up caffeine and alcohol and the one thing I have found so hard is coke because it is so good! I would be stealing it oout of your friedge too! 🙂
Brooklyn says
Bread! I'm now eating hummus with a spoon instead of warm pita and it's been tough but not as tough as the husband giving up his true love…PIZZA! One of his friends found out about the pizza-fast from my blog and now we get a picture of one in the mail box every. single. week. ha! Good luck with the sugar-fast!
Dancing Branflake says
You can do it! I love all the snacks you bought. I'm rooting for you!
Kacey says
Good for you! I SHOULD give up sugar, but I'm pretty sure I'd be setting myself up to fail. I'm that bad.
Unpublished Life says
I tried to give up swearing … it lasted a good three days. Oh well … good luck with the no-sugar thing!!
http://unpublishedworksofme.blogspot.com
Amy says
Can I just say that you are the cutest, coolest and best step-mom ever? I think this little challenge between you and William is adoreable, and such a great way to encourage healthy eating! Which it sounds like you guys pretty much do anyway, but still! Happy Thursday 🙂
Erin says
I'm not Catholic, but I gave up fast food and soda. Not super hard, but because I'm a college student on the run, I have had to delay a few meals.
kaylan says
tv at home. trying to break the habit of turning it on in the morning and glancing at it as i walk by all day. totally unnecessary. but i've cheated in the sense that my bff is a stay at home mom and lives right down the street so she invites me over to watch her tv. but i get the bonus of baby snuggles and friendship.
Dayna says
Hold up. Are you doing no sugar like NO SUGAR (for example, some "healthy" cereals even have a little bit of white sugar in them) or no sugar as in no sweets/treats/desserts? I'm not even sure why I'm really asking… cause both would be hard for me to do. Just curious. I am a sugar addict, so this would be an interesting thing to try out, and one I would probably fail the moment I thought about eating something sweet.
Maria says
Goood luckkk! I thought about doing this but chickened out!
Meredith says
I grew up in a protestant home & did the lent thing up through adolescence. I understand the practice, but think of it in a different way now. To borrow my husband's mantra: "I'm giving up guilt for Lent."
The Hoscheits says
I gave up alcohol and it has been rough!
Katie says
i should really give up sweets! i seriously would struggle going a few days without them (as i'm eating jelly bellies right now!) Maybe I should really try though!!
Fran says
YOU'RE MY BOY, BLUE!
Are you doing the age-old, "we can have it on Sunday" thing?
The last time I completely gave up sugar unfortunately did not have anything to do with Jesus, but I DID completely lose my mind and start sobbing in my car by myself.
I didn't give anything up. I regret this decision.
Emily says
I'm giving up sugar as well!
The first few days are hard, but it gets easier : )