Lent is not a Diet, it’s a Live-it with God

“Hmmm… I’m going to give up junk food and eat better!”

-My words throughout the past several Lenten seasons (then picks up first available donut).

donutsIn recent years, Lent has meant trying to give up unhealthy food, one of my greatest challenges throughout my life. I say this as a 22-year-old woman who has struggled for most of my life with being overweight. For so many Lents, I’d always tell myself to give up the chocolate, give up the junk food, etc. etc. However, even in my recent college years, this seemed harder than ever with the crazed school environment I lived in.

However, no longer am I the over-tired college student who graduated nearly a year ago, failing consistently for four years to be healthy. Now, I’m a working woman who needs to check her e-mail every couple of hours, just to make sure everything at the job runs smoothly. I love working, but I’ve been leaning on it as an excuse of why I keep eating badly. I tell myself that I need to be able to keep up with that “New York pace,” meaning I’ll go to happy hour (is it EVERYWHERE!?) or go out to eat with co-workers. Late night drinks turn into midnight dollar pizza or McDonalds (oh how delicious it all is!).

Despite my failures at these attempts, I know God’s never left me. How do I know this? Mainly from the extreme guilt I feel when I’ve broken my Lenten promise not to be unhealthy, but ultimately fail only two weeks in. Disappointment, not so much at failing, but at the feeling that I couldn’t be a strong enough person to want better for myself. As an independent, working adult, I’ve realized that very few figures in life really hold me to any moral standard. In truth, as long as I do the work that needs to get done, very few intervene on my life choices (unless you’re part of my Filipino family who never fail to remind me of my weight).

Therefore, this Lent I will not be giving up on a specific thing in my life. Instead, I want to be the better person I know I can be. Sure, I’d love to lose weight and be the healthier person I’ve never known, but even more, I want to strive to feel that a Lenten “sacrifice,” will not be so much about denial or giving up. Rather, I see Lent as Jesus’ gift that despite temptations, troubles, or tribulations, the greatest gift that this season can give is realizing the power of the love of God to realize abilities and gifts that I never thought I could have. Doesn’t hurt that Ash Wednesday means FASTING!

Instead of turning to a tempting, bad meal, this Lent I will be focusing on exploring the religious sites of New York City and taking time for meaningful prayer.

Stay tuned to see how I do!

Vicki originates from sunny San Diego, but she's living and loving life in New York City as a recent Fordham University graduate and as an HR/Executive Assistant at her first job! In her spare time she loves to explore New York City, especially the food and theatre scene.