The Breakfast Clause

First off, let me clarify – I did not actually give up “sugar” for Lent. I gave up “sweets” – a malleable term, to be sure. You knew there had to be a crutch in there somewhere, didn’t you?

I truly think it would be impossible to totally give up sugar. It’s everywhere and in everything, well, almost. Seriously, I don’t think anyone can totally foreswear sugar ENTIRELY. How would that – happen – exactly? You would have to give up fruit and veggies and lots of good and healthy things, too. That could not happen in my world. Even with God’s help, I don’t think that would truly completely happen – and why would you want it to? So sure…there were some “exceptions.” Like I said, I gave up “sweets.”

A “sweet” – to me – was any kind of unnecessary, unhealthy, sugary TREAT (ice cream, cake, cookies, candy, popsicles, chocolate covered pretzels, pudding and the like). Said sugary treats could not be replaced by “diet” alternatives, either. All sweet treats – both real or artificial – were banned, with the exception of sugar-free French Vanilla coffee creamer or sugar-free vanilla coffee syrup; my day was not, is not, nor ever will be complete if not started with one of these items in my cuppa Joe.

So where did that leave breakfast?

Think about it. Did you have something sweet for breakfast today? What about cereal? What about muffins? What about pancakes and cinnamon rolls and jelly donuts? If you’re eating that stuff for breakfast – a main meal – does that make it a “treat?” Heck yeah, sure it does. It’s freakin’ donut – you could eat some fiber cereal and call it done. At least, that’s how I feel about it this year. (See, I’ve given up sweets for Lent again this year – along with alcohol, fried food, potato chips and Diet Coke – EASTER CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH!!) But, hoping to succeed, I was a little more lax with myself last year, and yes, there was a “Breakfast Clause.” I think it’s the only thing that got me through those 40 days. If it was sugary, but it was breakfast, I allowed it.

FYI - My kind and generous husband has joined me in my Lenten ban on sweets and alcohol this year (not the other stuff) – but to help keep him on track, I have allowed HIM to take the Breakfast Clause (not me, just him). If he does it next year, there will be no saving donuts. 

Besides the Breakfast Clause, I think I only slipped up once during all of Lent. Through lots of spontaneous prayer and taking it one day at I time I was even able to say “No, thank you,” when my mother-in-law presented me with a plate piled full of homemade, fudgy, chocolate cake AND Miss Muffin strawberry cake – my absolute favorite – at her father’s birthday party! That was hard as heck, but I was good. I explained my situation and politely declined – but not until I’d taken a good long whiff of the chocolaty strawberry goodness, though.

Like I said, I did slip up once. During this time, we took my daughter’s Girl Scout troop on an overnight mother-daughter campout. And no, there was no camping involved, only nice cabins with indoor plumbing and a staff on hand to cook our food – that’s the only kind of camping I “do” – but we did build a fire and make S’mores. I figured God wouldn’t mind if I shared a S’more with my kid and her Brownie troop. And, in hindsight, I guess He didn’t.

When Easter finally rolled around, and I’d finished eating half the chocolate in my son’s Easter basket, I was pleased to say that by doing nothing except giving up sweets – for forty days – I’d lost nine pounds. I didn’t know what to think of that except A: Thank you Jesus!! and B: I must eat a TON of crap!

But nine pounds was not enough. I’d started to feel a little peppier. I’d started to feel a little happier. I’d done something good for myself, and I’d started to feel a little more confident - but I still had a long way to go (still do, we all do - we are all Works In Progress). Even so, I couldn’t stop at nine pounds and go eat my fill of Reese’s again and gain it all back – which easily would’ve happened. I’d been given a gift - an inspirational, motivational gift - and I had to keep going. So I thought about it, and I did a little research, and I took the next steps forward.

Which you can find out about come this Sunday (Easter!! FINALLY!!) when next we read again.

Keep trying for what you're trying for, Friends!

TTYL - Ali