Welcome to this week’s waffle, in which I find myself wondering how many of us are engaging in some sort of Lenten giving-up-of-stuff.
I’ll declare my hand up front and say that I am not. As an exercise in discipline and religious observance, I do respect it… but as a strategy for managing my health, I find it fundamentally flawed. My reasoning is this: if something is so bad for me that it merits giving up for 40 days, why stop there? Whereas if it’s something I simply need to dial down a little, stopping dead for 40 days does two rather counterproductive things, for me at least…
First, it makes that thing a much bigger deal in my life, purely because it’s not allowed. Try being told not to think of something as a guaranteed way of thinking about it all the more!
Second, the very clear 40-day time horizon immediately puts a massive neon flashing sign on the grassy uplands of day 41. It says, “Binge me!”
But let’s not dismiss Lent entirely as an opportunity for self-improvement. Like it or not, installing any new habit takes effort, and a catalyst to get started. So why not harness the general self-improving energy that comes with Lent?
Plus, in terms of timing, Lent beats New Year’s Day hands down, coinciding with green shoots appearing, lighter evenings and (mostly) brighter skies. I’d go so far as to say that if ever there were a time to find your lifestyle antidote to “Netflix and the stolen remainders of three children’s Christmas stockings” (an entirely random, dreamt-up example there), then Lent is about as good as it gets.
And while we’re on the subject of sustained lifestyle improvements, there are some really useful tips in Dr Catherine’s blog post on maintaining weight loss after GLP-1 medications. Although originally written for those who are weaning off Mounjaro/Tirzepatide et al, its principles hold for all of us working hard to maintain a healthy weight.
You’ll notice there’s a distinct lack of “never” or “always” in her advice — it’s all about finding the sustainable middle road. You’ll find the full blog post on our website, but here are the headlines:
1. Keep meals regular and balanced
Skipping meals often leads to reactive snacking later. Regular, protein-rich meals with fibre help stabilise energy and appetite — making it far easier to stay intentional.
2. Prioritise protein and fibre
Think of these as your quiet allies. They support satiety, muscle maintenance and metabolic health — especially important if you’re reducing certain foods during Lent.
3. Protect muscle, support metabolism
A couple of strength-based sessions each week (even simple bodyweight exercises) can make a significant difference. Muscle is metabolically active tissue — so it’s worth giving it some attention.
4. Practise mindful awareness
Hunger isn’t a failure; it’s feedback. Slowing down at meals, noticing fullness cues and distinguishing between physical and emotional hunger can transform how we eat — far beyond these 40 days.
Wishing you all a balanced, happy and fulfilling week!
Gemma, Tom and all at
Winchester GP xx
p.s. If you're unsure where to start with your health improving habits, an Enhanced Wellness screen can give you all the info and inspo you need to channel your efforts where they will make a real difference! Y
