Lean for Lent: Curbing the Chocolate Cravings

Posted on Feb 24th 2010 10:00AM by Karla Carrington

Filed Under: The Good, The Fat and The Hungry, Motivation

Every year on Ash Wednesday, Christians worldwide kick off the season of Lent. Most pick something to give up during this season as a way of denying self and drawing closer to God in the lead up to Holy Week and Easter. I have participated many times giving up an array of things ranging from beef to makeup. This year I am giving up chocolate. And it has been hard.

Only five days in and my co-workers are begging me to eat chocolate as they think I am noticeably more irritable. Between me and you, I agree. I am certain that this experience has shined a light on how heavily I rely on chocolate without even knowing it and how much I consume. Even the frequency is surprising, but I'm sticking to my commitment and have no designs of eating a morsel of chocolate until Easter. Avoiding chocolate has also sparked the urge to consume less sugar.

In my attempt to avoid chocolate or any of its derivatives, I've been reading every label. What has become obvious is the many different ways of unknowingly consuming sugar. I refused ahead of time to give up sugar altogether because I have suffered more than one failed attempt -- but figured chocolate alone would not be so bad. And it's not if you don't count the cravings! They are starting to wane a bit, but the first few days were like chocolate withdrawal. I never realized that I eat chocolate in some form almost daily. While there are many health benefits to eating chocolate in moderation, I tend to lean to the chocolate extreme.

I am going to stick out these full 40 days and continue to see how I feel. Maybe my irritability will subside and the cravings will go away completely. To keep me on track, I have enlisted the help of my nieces and nephew -- Catelynn, age 6, Christian, 9 and Caroline, 12. Catelynn and Christian have given up candy, except gum and Caroline has given up tea and juice.

At the last check in with my sister, all three had fallen off the wagon and slipped up with candy and a juice chaser. Fortunately, all three have picked themselves up and started again in hopes of making it to the end successfully. I am happy to report that I am doing well and have not fallen off. Doing it with the kids makes it more rewarding and motivational for me to be the example and stick it out to the very end. I won't miss the extra calories, and may even be able to buy an Easter outfit in a smaller size. Hmm, lean for Lent sounds pretty good to me!

Discover more ways to curb your cravings.

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Tags: chocolate, craving, easter, fasting, lent, motivation, weight loss

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Tom 2-25-2010 @ 7:19AM

This is not exactly news worthy! Fat woman gives up chocolate! So what!

Mc 2-25-2010 @ 10:09AM

Geez Tom, lighten up. If you didn't find it to be newsworthy why did you click on the link?

JKJBrady 2-25-2010 @ 12:42PM

Part of Lent is not to BOOST of what you are doing? You dismiss the real purpose of sacrifice. If you need to broadcast what you are giving up it is bragging. Remember the Beatitudes: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Ruby 2-25-2010 @ 12:56PM

I too gave up candy but not gum. It's like Christmas it's not about the presents. Lent's about getting yourself for the coming of the Lord. It's not about "I" it's about something a whole lot bigger than candy.

Lori 2-25-2010 @ 2:46PM

Being a Catholic and knowing what Lent is all about makes this article an embarrasment for the church. Giving up chocolate or going on a diet for yourself is not what Lent is all about, it is giving something up for Christ, sacrificing. Yes, fasting (not giving up chocolate) is a part of it, and the money you save from eating less you can give to a charity. You can do things that you might not normally do, such as helping the less fortunate or doing additional prayer that what you might normally do. As a Catholic I am embarrased by this article.

Adam 2-25-2010 @ 3:08PM

I agree 100% with Tom. She is giving up sweets for lent as well as probably 20 million other people. I can't believe AOL posted this on the homepage. What a joke.

Rosey Serabian 2-25-2010 @ 4:30PM

Big deal, someone is giving something up for lent. Chocolate is not a big deal. Try giving up negative comments, or swearing, or running red lights (admit it some of you do that), sacrifice something real, not junk food. She would loose weight if she went on an entirely healthy diet. Chocolate wouldn't matter if she balanced everything the right way.

magesse 2-25-2010 @ 9:37PM

I have a few comments:
1. She is not FAT, she just not twig-like.
2. What matters is that she is trying to sacrifice something that is meaningful and important to her to honor Christ's sacrifice for us all.
3. Your feeling of superiority (or is it inferiority?) is not very well founded if you can't think past your knee-jerk reaction and control your own desire to be better than she is.

Al Schrader 2-26-2010 @ 5:23AM

What the Jews wanted was a new king or Mesiah like Moses to lead them again out of bondage. But, instead
God sent Jesus to give them his words and God is more powerful than any king. If you obey, and listen to his words, you will prosper. I also consider Lent a time for us to consider all of the blessings that God has given us...Amen (Alfred-)

captenz 2-25-2010 @ 7:39PM

She should know that lent is 40 days...just like the length of time Jesus spent in the desert...40 days and nights. Lent is over on Palm Sunday!!

Lotte 2-25-2010 @ 7:52PM

Lent–noun
(in the Christian religion) an annual season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesdayand lasting 40 WEEKDAYS to Easter.

No one that I know has EVER heard of the "Sundays are free days and you can have whatever you want" business. While the time frame is considered the 40 weekdays, the entire period is still lent. Sort of defeats the purpose of sacrifice if you know you only have to hold on till the weekend....geez

Kris 2-25-2010 @ 8:39PM

Then why give a response? Why even read the story.

Jolene DeGroot 2-25-2010 @ 7:48AM

This is news. In a society where we feel it is our right to give into every craving or whim, to indulge to our hearts delight, it is refreshing to see someone strengthen their character by giving up something that gives them pleasure. It is also nice to know this rich tradition is being passed on to the next generation. The fact that the children "fell off the wagon" but got back on gives us all hope.

Unfortunately it is also news that in this age, people still want to be closer to God.

You go girl! Peace be with you.

mygang 2-25-2010 @ 9:34AM

Thank you for bringing to light this sacrifice. As you noted it is nice to know that people want to be closer to God in this world of Me, Me, Me!

Pam 2-25-2010 @ 8:08AM

What is wrong with this story? The purpose for Lint as well as all religious holidays is the rememberence of the gifts and sacrifices we received through Christ. We do not do these things for recognition. We do not pray and wail at the top of our lungs so people will see us. Giving up chocolate and having our picture on the internet screaming "Look at me, I am giving up something for God" not only negates the purpose for Lint, you have given up NOTHING. You have swapped your chocolate for 15 minutes of fame. The right hand is not suppose to know what the left hand is doing. Your sacrifice is between you and your God, whatever God you worhsip. The world does not need you to tell us when you are being "christian". We need to see for ourselves through your deeds and everyday actions.

Donna 2-25-2010 @ 8:34AM

There is NOTHING wrong with this story. She is not glorifying herself with a picture and caption on the Internet. By becoming more aware of what she has been doing to her body by indulging in what she thought she wanted, she is in fact glorifying God Himself. The body is the Temple of the Lord and she is making a day-by-day conscious effort to step closer to God in these 40 days of penance and meditation on what Christ did for us by making herself aware of what she has been doing to her body. I support her all the way in this time of sacrifice and reflection.

TC 2-25-2010 @ 9:59PM

LINT is the fuzzy stuff on your clothes, it really has nothing to do with Christ, unless maybe one of the hairballs looks like him.

LENT on the other hand is the season begining with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter, where Christians prepare for the coming of Christ by study and sacrifice, both of which should be done in private and not publicized- because publicizing your sacrifice is making oneself no better than the priests who boasted in Christ's time about what they were doing- I belive Christ called them hipocrits?

there's your lint

dori 2-25-2010 @ 8:22AM

I have bene doing this for the past 10 years, it does get easier - the cravings do go away, this year I have challenged myself to give up all sweets/goodies and I have been successful so far. Good luck!

Pam S 2-25-2010 @ 9:17AM

I agree it does get easier I have given sweets up every year for lent for as long as I can remember and why does she think she's more special then anyone who gives something up this time of the year? This is something between you and god what you want to sacrifice.

LinMG 2-25-2010 @ 3:01PM

Geez, everyone needs to lighten up. I sure hope and think GOD is more non-judgmental and less harsh than some of you here! Hmm..people telling us all what true Lent is about..how not to brag or boast. THAT doesn't sound very non-judgmental to me. It sounds rather arrogant and superior. Just saying..I don't think it is meant to boast; it is just to SHARE and it is a POSITIVE story for a change, so why not? More power to her! I'm happy for her. It's just a simple human interest story, that's all. Why does everyone have to pick it apart and expound on Lent and judge her. And this woman no where says she thinks she is more SPECIAL, as someone wrote here. You all sound like haters. Hmm..wonder how THAT fits into Lent, into Christianity? And she isn't FAT, as one person wrote. Why can't we just say GOOD for her and at least she is TRYING to do something! For heaven's sake, look in the mirror - maybe some of you need to give up judging for Lent!