Southern chick here for the first time....

Hi Erica, I'm here in Alabama... so I'm no stranger to southern comfort food. However, the weight comes off the same for us all! Through a calorie deficit. Plain & simple. Whether you do that with diet or exercise, or both... entirely up to you.

Welcome to MFP!

Born and raised in South Carolina. Love fried chicken, sweet tea, butter rolls, and much more. BUT, I have come to a conclusion....Food loves me to much! lol. I have done great by stiring away from those bad foods, I do have one day a week where I have ONE item of my wanting...it could be a tall glass of sweet tea, a cheese biscuit, part of a snickers bar. But I have to have that one item to keep me going!! Good LUck!!

Born/raised in Alabama, now living in Tennessee, so I can definitely relate to the Southern comfort food challenge. I joined Weight Watchers last year and lost 40 lbs but hit a plateau. Decided to try MFP last month, so I'm a newbie, too. I haven't eliminated all those fabulous foods; I allow myself to give in from time to time. However, I severely limit my portions. It's amazing to me when I reflect back on the size portions I ate, at home and dining out.

Good luck!

Texas Girl here and definitely a southern food junkie. But I have decided it is time to do something. I am a empty nester now and I am bound and determined to start living life again with my sweet husband and I want to do it in a healthy way. I started TaiSlim 10 days ago after visiting with some friends from church who have lost a ton of weight in less than a year. I have lost 7 lbs and I am feeling great. Never thought I could stay on a program that required you to drink two shakes a day and a sensible meal. The shakes are wonderful with a little frozen fruit added to them. I am very excited this is working for me and I am praying I continue to stay focused. Good luck with your WW meals, and 1200 calories a day is a good goal.

I live in TN and I have to say that I would rethink your calorie limit being 1200 calories. The reason is you might see a difference in the beginning and then your resting metabolic rate will start slowing down thinking that you are in starvation mode. I did that and although I saw my weight drop screechingly slow, I had more fat% and I was tired more easily.

Hey Im in Tennessee I will add you and anyone else can add me too :happy:

Girrrrllll, if it didn't have gravy on it, I didn't want it. Until I decided that my health was more important than the food. You can still have the "bad" things, but just not all at the same time. Moderation is key and calorie deficit is really important. Less calories in, more calories burned = losing weight. You will start to feel better and not want a lot of that stuff once you start to see how many calories are in the things you love. When you start equating how much time on the treadmill or in the gym it takes to burn the calories, you'll put that biscuit down. This coming from someone who could eat a whole plate of southern food with sweet tea, or 'Southern table wine' or 'diabetes in a cup' as we like to call it!! I haven't had a sweet tea in a month and I don't miss it at all. I have lost 10 pounds in less than a month by just paying attention to what I'm putting in my mouth and not killing myself with exercise. I'm walking on a treadmill for approx. 30 minutes a day 3x a week. I will do more as time goes on, but I am trying to teach myself how to eat better and that I'm worth it. Good luck to you - don't go for a fad diet or a quick fix - try to better yourself. YOU are worth it too!!

Hey Erica!! I'm Stephanie and I was born & raised in Charleston, SC myself.
I now live in Chicago, IL. I not only miss my southern food, I have all the good up here to worry about too!!
Working and raising three kids makes it REALLY difficult for me to cook a good dinner every night so we eat out a lot, unfortunately.
I've really had to reprogram my brain and start ordering better for me food. I actually starting working out (only about 4 days a week) mostly treadmill but I also do the Zumba DVDs. (They're actually kinda fun.)

I didn't think any of the above was going to work for me but I've lost 25 lbs, so far.
It's not much but it's a start.

I guess what I'm trying to say is just making the effort and making some small changes does actually make a difference.
(Not sure if any of this helps but I did at least want to say "hi") :happy:

South Louisiana here~Cajun country. The only thing we love as much as our family is our food! I don't eat the 1200 calories each day and it's frustrating. I'm accustomed to eating smaller portions because we do eat so much comfort food. Now that I'm making healthier choices daily, I need to have a little more to meet my goal. It's all very new to me, but I'm determined to try and live a healthier life, so I'll just keep on trying. Good luck to all and feel free to add me, as I can use the support!

Girl we are going to do this together!! Then we are going shopping together!! Once the kids get out of school and I'm not on such a tight schedule in the afternoons we can plan to walk together. We can pick a new place to meet up each week so it doesn't get boring. Whatcha think?!

P.S. Anyone on this thread can feel free to add me, as well. I am going to need all of the support I can get. My weakness? Biscuits with honey butter & grape jelly. Yes I am South Carolina born & raised, too!!

Have a great night, y'all!