# What are you giving up for Lent? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921 "2004-02-24T16:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/1 "2004-02-24T16:41:57Z")
This can be serious, or not so… In the past , I’ve given up: [ul] my virginity promiscuous sex intraveneous drug use armed robbery atheism religion my sanity [/ul] This year, I’ve settled on **unemployment**. ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/2 "2004-02-24T18:19:37Z")
Desert & French fries. Used to also give up desert & booze, but research is now suggesting that a modest tipple is actually good for you… 🙂 I usually find myself wanting either sweets or fries often enough to remember it’s lent and keep the frame of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/3 "2004-02-24T18:41:11Z")
Lint. I’m giving up lint for lent. I’m also giving up lending my lint for lent. I’ve lent all the lint I’m willing to lend. I’ve lent lenten lint in the past and had no luck with the lendee. Neither a borrower nor a lenter be, that’s my motto. ---
**Author:** ![DoubleJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DoubleJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoubleJ)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/4 "2004-02-24T18:45:49Z")
Catholocism. Oh wait, I gave that up _years_ ago 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snuggles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Snuggles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snuggles)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/5 "2004-02-24T18:56:06Z")
I am not religious, but I am going to attempt to give up something as well. I am giving up chocolate and pizza, and for me that’s a big deal. _laughs_. My boyfriend is giving up soda, tea, and fast food. I bet we don’t last a week! We’ll try though. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/6 "2004-02-24T19:47:28Z")
Still haven’t decided, but I cut myself some slack as an agnostic. I just “celebrate” Lent because I think it’s cool…a religious observance that has practical value and can actually affect someone’s life for the better. The one I really need to give up is sweets, but I still have some chocolate in the house, and I’m bound to encounter some doughnuts or something at work. I just don’t feel bursting with willpower this year. I also give up cursing sometimes, which seems to have the effect of making me curse a lot more. Posting to the Dope from work? Naaah. I’m toying with the option of going whole hog. All of the above, plus a lot of other stuff. Now we all know that’s just not going to happen, but it would work for a little while, right? Maybe I could be perfect for a whole week! Then maybe I’ll find out there’s nothing to it and just go on being wonderful forever! Or maybe this thread will give me some ideas. ---
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/7 "2004-02-24T20:10:29Z")
Chocolate. Right in the middle of Cadbury creme egg season. And from my username, I’m sure you can guess that those little eggs are very important to me. One year I gave up meat, and one year I gave up being single, so I had a Lent boyfriend. He was nice. He’s gay now. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/8 "2004-02-24T20:30:56Z")
For New Year’s, I gave up reading horoscopes (still haven’t read any.) For Lent, I’m giving up saying anything nice about George W. Bush. I might just hang on to that after Easter. Next year, I might give up giving up stuff for Lent. ---
**Author:** ![Dawne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Dawne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dawne)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/9 "2004-02-24T20:36:17Z")
I’m giving up procrastination, again. Never works for very long but it’s worth a shot. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/10 "2004-02-24T20:59:28Z")
I’m giving up sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/11 "2004-02-24T21:10:32Z")
I’ll give up my boyfriend- he is driving me nuts!! 40 days right? Thats a nice break! Hehe! Just kidding! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/12 "2004-02-24T21:12:22Z")
I’m giving up soda and all sweets. A different sort of Lenten discipline is that I’m going to head for the gym and work out for an hour every day. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/13 "2004-02-24T21:23:21Z")
Well, I’m not Catholic, so I don’t actually celebrate Lent, but I started a diet/exercise routine a few days ago, and I’m hoping to keep with it. It’s not gonna last. ---
**Author:** ![wuzupgirll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3bc359/32.png) [@wuzupgirll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wuzupgirll)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/14 "2004-02-24T21:26:11Z")
one word: jewish ;j ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/15 "2004-02-24T22:04:31Z")
Moderation. * * * Jesus was in a coma. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/16 "2004-02-24T22:11:52Z")
At the risk of being too serious for this thread, I’m devoting myself to two disciplines for the Lenten season: – daily prayer for the Vestry and Rector Search Committee of my church, as they try to find the man (or woman) to be our new Rector. I have a certain selfish interest in getting this accomplished as soon as possible. – fasting one day a week ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/17 "2004-02-24T22:19:56Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > At the risk of being too serious for this thread, I’m devoting myself to two disciplines for the Lenten season: > > – fasting one day a week You mean…no _lentils?_ ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/18 "2004-02-24T22:23:35Z")
I’m going to try to give up meat. God and I have been having some serious conversations, though, about his not holding it against me if I lapse. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/19 "2004-02-24T22:38:41Z")
My serious response (as opposed to my OP), is that if I continue to lose 3-4 pounds a week, I could lose 18-25 over Lent, so I’ll try sticking to my diet. If so, I may celebrate with a dark chocolate bunny at Easter. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921/20 "2004-02-25T01:43:25Z")
I’m devoting an extra 1/2 hour each day to prayer. I’m trying to get back into the habit of praying the rosary every day. I’m also giving up chocolate (of course). There will be something else, but I’m not sure what. StG [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent/230921.md?page=2)