Quadragesima II (no, it's not The Who's follow-up to the Quadragesima album)

I posted about Quadragesima last year around this time. Traditionally Lutherans aren't required to fast or sacrifice something for Lent as some other denominations require (see here for a brief theological discussion), but I will be doing it again this year. Last year I gave up desserts and sweets. In order to make it a true sacrifice, as a way of remembering and personalizing the great sacrifices made for me, it has to be something that's significant. I made a list of some considerations:

Eating out for lunch (I've never consistently brought my lunch since grade school)
Dining out altogether (I've been eating out most nights, even though I love to cook)
Drinking alcohol (I've quit for 6 months before, not a big deal)
Watching television (I quit for a week in college, very difficult to do)
Eating beef (never tried, might be interesting)
Sleeping late (my most cherished vice)
Drinking soda (I drink 6-8 Diet Cokes a day)

I chose to give up drinking soda, it's something I do every day and it will give me a chance to recalibrate my taste buds back to drinking water and iced tea. Lent is actually 45 days (the Sundays in the Lentan period don't count towards the 40 days), and it was difficult to maintain my will power last time. Of course abstinence is a given.