I have sometimes in the past. I once gave up ice cream, and that was really good for me - I still like it and eat it once in a while, but now I am content with a spoonful or two. It's not like I binged on it before; I just enjoy it more now.


I think it's good to challenge yourself, to exercise restraint and practice moderation where you would normally overindulge. Willpower is like a muscle; the more you employ it for trivialities, the stronger it is when facing the big stuff.

Oh, and religion... well, I've been drifting for quite some time now. There's a gorgeous Episcopalian church near my house, but it's almost a little too old school for me. (Never thought I'd say that!) I would like to start attending church regularly again, but I don't want to be surrounded by stiff-necked old parishioners. I'd like to have it be more of a social venue. If I could get involved in some projects that help the community (Habitat for Humanity, things like that), that would be even better. Problem is, I don't know how to figure out which churches in my area are both liberal and socially conscious.


I usually give something up, but I could try to take on weekly church attendance this year. (I had that for the first seventeen years of my life, so it wouldn't exactly be hard.)


I became vegan one year. It was difficult - and ultimately not good for my health.


Well, adding church is one idea... I'm not sure I have too many shallow pleasures that I can reasonably give up right now. My body has been rejecting food anyway, and I'm so not abstaining from sex. Maybe Diet Pepsi, but I feel like I'd fail very hard at that. Hmm. Ideas?


I have sometimes done this, sometimes not. It always felt like cheating to me - giving things up isn't exactly very hard if you can tell yourself, "In just six days, you can have it."


Apparently I think so too, since I used it in my last answer!