For many, the tradition of Lent serves as the perfect time for a change of lifestyle, but without the religious connotations, writes BRIAN O'CONNELL
SOME WEEKS ago I asked on Twitter what, if anything, people intended to give up or alter about their lifestyles during the period of Lent. I had decided to try to give up chocolate and desserts and wanted to see if others were in a similar position.
There was a huge volume of replies, many of them from people who described themselves as not having a strong Catholic faith. It would seem that for many, Lent is a time when dietary and fitness regimes are adapted under the umbrella of religious penance and tradition.
Many Catholics will remember making sacrifices as children, either through financial contributions or abstaining from sweets, and while they may have moved away from religion in the intervening years, as adults Lent can be seen as a time to address certain lifestyle changes. But how long after the wrapping has been peeled off the chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday do these new regimes last?
And what benefits do people who actually change their diets during Lent feel in terms of their overall health?
I’d love to be able to say I felt renewed energy and focus from my sugary denial, but it lasted all of two weeks, before a cheesecake in Avoca led me astray. Others have been far more successful at making and continuing with lifestyle changes.
Twenty-four-year-old Susan Doyle decided at the start of Lent she would try to reduce her dependence on chocolate and so adapted a strict new diet change. Half-way through Lent and she has managed to remain both committed and focused on her diet, despite the resulting impact on her mood.
“It’s the first time I have given something up for Lent,” she says. “I have given up chocolate, biscuits, cakes, ice creams – anything sweet basically. It is driving me mad and I was very cranky at the start. I had sugar withdrawal symptoms including headaches and things like that. My boyfriend was not too happy as he’d get grief from me every time he ate anything sweet.”
Doyle says she is not a religious person, but the existence of the Lent tradition has given her the excuse she needed to address her eating habits. On the whole, she says it has had a positive effect on her wellbeing.
“I feel better. At first I didn’t really see much benefit from it, but I am eating way more fruit than I ever did, or I will have things like smoothies in the middle of the day when I feel a slump.”
Susan says she may not even gorge on chocolate as is tradition after Lent, and hopes some of the diet changes will continue. Typically, those who do decide to alter lifestyles for the 40 days of Lent may not stretch their health kicks far beyond Easter Sunday.
Brian O’Connor is an assistant manager at a leisure centre in Cork, who notices gym members returning to fitness regimes for the duration of Lent. “I notice it does pick up for Lent. You notice people saying, ‘Okay, I have 40 days to make an effort’.
“People seem to use it more for lifestyle reasons these days instead of the religious side of it. It’s a good time of year to start a fitness regime also, with the weather picking up.”
O’Connor says the issue for many is ensuring any increase in training and fitness is persisted with after Lent.
“It can last with certain people, but we do try our best to hang onto people and keep them to their plan. I usually say to them that Lent is a good step and I call it block one. Block two is a longer term fitness regime.”
But are religious people themselves concerned that Lent is seemingly now just an excuse to adapt lifestyle changes rather than do penance? And isn’t it a bit unusual that of all the Catholic traditions, many seem to observe one of the most demanding?
Fr Noel Kehoe is a Redemptorist priest who believes Lent taps into something deeper inside us. “I hear young people saying they are off this and that and some of them may not be religious at all. I think actually it is one of those times of the year which gives us permission to challenge ourselves in health terms,” he says.
“There is probably something deep within us all where we know we develop habits that aren’t psychologically or physically healthy, and we all need periods to take stock. We probably know also that the greatest source for healing comes from within and not the biscuit tin or off-licence shelf.”
Fr Kehoe says that it’s the maintenance of life changes during Lent that is the greatest challenge for many who start out with good intentions.
“I’ve given up cigarettes myself and am doing more exercise. The cigarettes are a big one, so we’ll see how it goes afterwards. They say the road to hell is always paved with good intentions!”
And finally, for a slightly more grounded view of Lent, marketing executive Emily O’Dwyer says she will not be forcing herself or her family to change diets or exercise regimes this Lent. Instead, she will be asking her children to make contributions to local charities with their pocket money.
Emily doesn’t share the view that Lent is used to implement lifestyle changes, and sees it as a far more commercial endeavour.
“Personally, I think if it weren’t for the Easter egg market, this religious vehicle would be long since parked up for all but the ultra devout.”
SINEAD DESMOND: ‘It's just for 40 days’
“I don’t know why but I have always enjoyed giving things up for Lent. For me it was always about trying to be healthier. My brother is a diabetic, so when we were young I would often give up chocolate and sweet things in solidarity with him. Thirty odd years on from those childhood memories and here I am giving up sugar all over again. I have a ferocious sweet tooth. I have given up sugar only once before as an adult for Lent – it was hell. It was honestly tougher than giving up smoking, which I managed five years ago. The only way I can get through this is knowing that it isn’t forever – that it’s just for 40 days. I keep reminding myself that on Easter Sunday Ill be knee deep in Easter egg wrappers! Whatever your religious persuasion it’s a fact that Lent for many now has little or nothing to do with Jesus and sacrifice and journeys of the soul and everything to do with cutting out wheat or dairy, or going to Pilates.”
Sinead Desmond is a presenter on Ireland Am on TV3
ORLA BARRY: ‘We do it for personal benefits’
"I'm not good at observing any religious festivals or traditions. Someone in the office suggested we should all give up chocolate. I was resistant as I am a demon for it. By day four, the craving was unbelievable and trying to read and write was difficult. One evening I said I couldn't do this anymore and went to a Butlers Chocolates shop. I convinced myself a hot chocolate was not strictly chocolate! I drank half of it and felt very guilty. I know I should be feeling health benefits, but I'm not. I think we observe it for selfish reasons and not with any view of religion in mind. We do it for personal health benefits I think more so than penance.
Orla Barry presents the Green Room on Mondays from 10pm to 12pm on Newstalk
