Do without? Or do with less?

Dove asked me for some final week of Lent inspiration. Of course I have none. Just in case any of you missed it, this is where my do without-ing began. Each year I choose something to give up. Usually it is sugar/candy/sweets. Last year, I did this again but with the exception of really good dark chocolate (which, let's face it, is more of a health food) and a couple of taste tests to see if I miss it (within a few days of Easter last year), I have yet to eat sugary sweets. I don't really miss it. A little here and there but I am good.

This year I gave up Diet Coke. I didn't do it for the caffeine, I did it because of the aspartame and because I drink it every day. Or did. I did it to see if without that aspartame in my body, would I get some of my memory back (reports show, among other things, that it can mess with your memory). But 35 days into it, my memory still fails me and I can't wait for Sunday and that Diet Coke can that has been in my fridge.

I don't have great self control. It works for me for these few weeks. I think it is always good to check yourself once in a while. I do it just to see if I can. The good things from the last few weeks? I've visited my local gas station with the best fountain drink around less. It has saved me at least $28.40. Who knew? I have been drinking more water - I hope. But frankly, I am tickled pink that it is almost over. There have been so many times this week that a DC would have been so refreshing, it would have been just what the doctor ordered.

So here are my "inspiring" words: whether you did without or did with less or did none of it, what did you learn about yourself? Did it make you stop and think? I don't know that there are any inspiring words from me for you. I don't know that I can tell you that I have any great epiphanies, at least none that I can remember to share with you (see, memory still faulty). It does make me feel good that I stuck to something, however small, when most days I just do what makes things easier, like chicken nuggets for dinner.

T minus 5 days,
~mavis

image from here

How are you doing at doing without?

Our friend, Mavie Mave, suggested followers of this blog join her in the sacrificial quest of Lent. For the period of time between Ash Wednesday & Easter you have to give something up. She chose Diet Coke. I chose sugar.

I want you to know what I've said no to in the past 2 weeks.

3 layer red velvet cake

Double chocolate torte

Dozens & dozens of chewy Costco cookies

Any & all deserts at Little America's famous brunch

A divine looking carrot cake

& plenty of others. Okay, I'm going to be very honest. I did have the double chocolate torte. It was 2 days in and the baker of the torte was such a devil on my shoulder by telling me it is mostly dark chocolate, butter & eggs. Very little sugar (and absolutely heavenly). Hey, admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?

Well, ever since that night I have done very well. I've given up sugar before, but it's never stuck as well as this is. For some reason having a "reason" even if the reason is sorta bogus (I'm not Catholic after all) has given me the motivation I need to follow through (torte aside).

Then I read an article this weekend about how Catholic leaders have suggested the faithful try to give up technology for Lent this year. Texting, Facebook, something of that nature. It also went into the purpose of Lent, which (please forgive me if I'm way off) seemed to be that for this specified period of time, we sacrifice something and replace it with God or a deeper spirituality. Hmm, that got me thinking. Maybe I can look at this no sugar thing not just as a quest for better health & smaller buns, but as an opportunity to increase my spirituality. Wow, these are 2 very big birds with one stone (ew, I love birds [obviously] and I hate the image that just crept into my brain).

So now when I walk into the break room at work and see that gynormous bowl of Easter Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and my glands excrete a little saliva and I have to remind myself that I cannot partake, I will seize the opportunity and allow my heart to feel the love and reach back at that force that is always loving and reaching out to me. That will be so much better for me than sugar.

Do without shmoo without. This Lent thing rules the school.

Do Withouters

It has been 5 days without my Diet Coke. If you are wondering why, go here. I have to admit, the thought of it still has me salivating but I am doing better than I thought I would be. The first couple of days had me feeling a little like the picture above - deflated but with children inevitably jumping on me and using me for their plaything. But yesterday, I even made it through the McDonald's playland without a Diet Coke. Water. Just Water. Yay for clear, tasteless, refreshing, non-carbonated, bland water.

I'm not giving up Diet Coke because of the caffeine. I'm doing it because I have read numerous places that the aspartame in it has been linked to memory loss. And I have lost my memory. Or my mind. Both.

I will admit that three young kids may do that to you. The youngest has been a doozy, not a good sleeper. So couple hectic days with not a lot of sleep and hormonal fluctuation and memory loss is probably a given. But when I go out with my girlfriends and they are telling stories about me to me and I have no recollection? Not good. Because the stories are fun ones, it would have been fun to be there. Oh wait, I was.

So, I am testing to see if indeed my memory starts to recalibrate and re-emerge at the end of the 46 days. I hope I remember that is the reason I am doing this.

How is your do withouting (either by cutting out or adding more) going? I want status updates. And remember, you can fall off the wagon and jump back on, even with a different thing. And you can join in now, don't be shy.

~mavis

p.s. did you look at the giveaway? I'm having some serious issues with all of Ruby Sue's stuff. And by stuff, I mean those bright, airy, dreamy adornments, the ones I salivate while looking at and pretty much want to set up a shrine to. The salivating may be due to DC withdrawals, but the rest...