Crazy Lent idea... I must be crazy for doing this!

[greeneyedlulu]

No wine
No chocolate
No spending....
For Lent I usually give something up.... this year I'm combining a few elements of my life that need a damn good shake up!!
I'm a drinker, not rolling around in gutter drunk every night, just I can easily drink most of a bottle each night without realising it, cheeky glass whilst cooking, top up to sit down for dinner... you know how it goes!

The chocolate tends to be a daily treat at the end of the day once my little boy is finally tucked up in bed asleep and I've done my daily chores and my bum finally hits the sofa, with a glass of wine in hand (the rest of the above bottle) and the other reaching for the remote control to watch some crappy tv show..... yes that includes eastenders but I love it!!

As for the spending..... well as you can imagine the above mentioned products set me back a bit! So that added to the cost of the mortgage, council tax, nursery fees and blah blah blah!!! Everyone has these costs! I know I'm not special but my God, it's just so overwhelming sometimes being a single mum and having so many outgoings! And I know I'm wasting money by buying lunches and coffee and wine and chocolate each day!

My fridge broke down in January (you know... the month we're all swimming in cash) so that cleared out my little bit of rainy day funds and this month, I'm struggling and I refuse to carry on like this and be so worried about money every day so I sat down and worked out my finances and I'm pretty ashamed by the difference on how much I should have left over and how much I actually do!! Eek!!

So Lent starts tomorrow and I've been paid today, all the bills go out tomorrow and I'll update as I go along on how I'm doing as I really want to give everything a shake up so the way I see it is that

1. If I give up wine and chocolate I will save money and lose weight
   
2. If I'm making lunches then that will help to towards the weight loss and I'm saving money
   
3. If I stop spending money on non essentials, I can save and get those few irksome jobs that need doing around the house that are beyond my DIY skills that 'I can't afford'!
   

I want to make this work and figure if I put it out there that I'm doing it then I will more likely stick to it!

Wish me luck!!

PS. Anyone else who is giving up something for Lent you are welcome to share your plight and pain along side me as I will probably need the support too x

[LadyPW]

Giving up chocolate, cake, biscuits (anything nice basically) in attempt to kickstart weight loss & change eating patterns. I might try cutting out non-essential spending too now you've got me thinking! I struggle with willpower - it's all or nothing for me so cutting things out completely for a set period is my best bet. Good luck!

[OneWithTheForce]

I'm giving up crisps. I can't give up chocolate. It's too hard. And I don't drink enough to "go off" it so that isn't an option. Spending money, that's a good one. Will try that too.

[OneWithTheForce]

Bye I have a serious crisp problem so this is a much needed intervention.

[BrownEyedLady]

Right. This has given me inspiration. I'm going to give up TV inc Netflix. I do nothin in my personal time except stare at the box in the corner and it has been bothering me for ages.

[Cinderpi]

Giving up all sweet stuff (chocolate, biscuits, cake, juice, puddings...) - I've been looking through old photos and I want to get back to being my old weight!

[Allfednonedead]

Oh dear. I'm going to have to give up butter, aren't I?

[Letmesleepalready]

I want to give up the internet, but I don't know if I have the willpower 🙈

[PovertyPain]

Do you mind if I join you in giving up alcohol? I rely on it too much and I know it has a lot to do with my weight gain. It's usually red wine for me, then I get the munchies. 😳

[Idbemonica1]

Inspired me too. I'm going to stop my twice daily visit to the biscuit tin ; non essential spending can go too. Good luck all.

[stevie69]

Hey guys, wishing you all luck with your Lent missions.

I fast between sunrise and sunset during Lent. I don't drink and I'm not a big fan of chocolate, so not really an option to cut back there . But I LOVE my food so it is something that I really have to work on, which is as it should be.

Good lick all

S xxx

[MrsDustyBusty]

I'm doing taking up a good habit for lent so I'm going to be getting my ten a day with any treat contingent on success. So any day I don't get my ten, no chocolate or wine. I predict little of either for the foreseeable.

[NotUriGeller]

I am giving up alcohol and caffeine (coffee/tea) except for a glass of champagne for the toast at a wedding.

I would also like to give up the snooze button on my alarm...hopefully the above will assist!

[newlabelwriter]

Can I join as well? Normally I give up chocolate, cake and puddings but I became vegan this year so those treats are in such short supply that I feel I need a bit more of a challenge. So, I am giving up drinking at home, which is where most of it happens as hardly out these days. Facebook (did this last year and was really good, made me realise how little I missed it) and I also (inspired by you OP) non essential spending and linked to a weekly budget. Perversely, I love giving things up for lent... reminds me I actually have some willpower.

[PeppaAteMySoul]

I'm giving up eating meat (I live in a household of vegetarians so would make my life easier). Trying to decide if I'm brace enough to also ban gelatine etc but I live for packets of sour haribo!

[jollyjester]

Good luck everyone.

I give up sweets, biscuits and crisps each year. Need to kickstart the weight loss and my alcohol consumption is a glass of wine on a Saturday night so I'll keep that!

[diddl]

Crisps, cake, chocolate, biscuits & sweets here.

Can't hurt, can it?

[EmGee]

One year I took up jogging three times a week rather than trying and failing to give up chocolate, cake etc. It worked a treat. I actually managed it.

This year I really, really need to kickstart being more active/healthy. I have far too much of a sweet tooth, and while I do exercise, I am also far too good at thinking 'oh I'm a bit tired today, I'll just give my ex class a miss'. I feel flabby, my clothes feel tight so I am hoping Lent will force me to develop a bit of will power. I've never succeeded but maybe this will be the year??

Also aiming to walk more. Now that the mornings are lighter, the kids can scoot/cycle to school rather than going in the car.

[Lariflete]

I'm giving up chocolate but I like the idea of giving up non-essential spending.
DC are giving up sweets and donating the money to charity.

[Vermillioncomfyshoes]

I can get through a bottle of wine of an evening, and I'm not proud of it. Only saving grace is that it's not every day. It's either when I go out with friends, or it's a weekend night - so a couple of times a week on average.
I did dry January and lost 8lbs without any other effort. I don't think it's the alcohol alone though. I also make bad food choices when I've had a couple. Like choosing fish and chips off the pub menu when there are far healthier options. Wine makes me hungry!
I bet giving it up for lent loses you a few pounds.

[Nocabbageinmyeye]

I am giving up chocolate but I just said to dh that it was chocolate only so I could have a biscuit if it had no chocolate or some jellies, he reckons that's cheating, is it? I rarely eat jellies anyway and I eat chocolate by the bucket load so surely chocolate in ant form is enough??? I don't drink enough to give it up so that's out, chocolate really is my vice

[dangermouseisace]

you are certainly ambitious greeneyedlulu. I'd struggle with 3 things so I'm only doing one- chocolate. My 6 year old daughter is joining in!

I did dry Jan and found my chocolate consumption went up in the first couple of weeks and helped me retain my sanity. However, it was worth it as I've drastically reduced the amount of alcohol I drink from around 14 units a week to about 2-4…thinking of giving it up completely now though.

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm doing the 'clear out a bag of stuff and donate it to charity everyday of lent' challenge. We really need to clear out all ds's outgrown clothes and loads of no longer needed books and toys, and this way they will do good

[sadallthetime]

I'm giving up bread that is all bread products including rolls and wraps etc. Also biscuits and chocolate.

I'm not giving up crisps as don't eat many and will want a test on fri and sat nights .

Also I'll exercise 5 days a week for min of 30 mins

I know lent is supposed to be a sacrifice and not an aid for weight loss but what the heck . Need it for my head and health

[sadallthetime]

Treat not test lol

[danTDM]

I'm in! Thanks for starting this thread OP, I was just thinking of doing the same this morning.
For various reasons I have to start on the second...
I am doing 10 a day, low carb and no booze! I did all last year no booze but, like you it has become a daily habit again... not good.

I was also thinking of joining the gym to get ready for summer.

Good luck everyone!