I was born and raised in the south - Georgia to be exact. A southern accent and a love for things fried were 2 of the many gifts bestowed upon me for living there. So when I went there to visit over Memorial Day weekend I was a tad bit afraid. I was afraid that all of the hard work I had put into getting fit and losing weight was going to be undone. This wasn't because I thought I would eat at fast food restaurants or anything. It was because my mama CAN COOK! And I don't mean that she knows how to throw a meal in a crockpot or put a box in the microwave. That woman can make things taste amazing! Not only is she great at cooking Filipino Cuisine, but she is a master of Southern Cuisine as well. So in order to set myself up for success at my mama's house, I told her that I was eating healthy and needed to stay away from certain foods. I also told her not to fix anything special for me and that I could fend for myself. So what does she cook for breakfast the first morning? Sausage, biscuits, and gravy! My favorite! It was a trap,really. If I refused to eat it, I was being rude because she did prepare it especially for me. I was doomed and did what any Southern Belle would do. I ate a very conservative portion. In order to keep from consuming the whole pan of biscuits, I drank my Shakeology first. That seemed to work and that was what I did throughout my stay. It kept me from over indulging while still being able to enjoy the wonderful Southern Cuisine that my mama was so intent on feeding me. I was surrounded by grits, bacon, fried eggs, and biscuits in the mornings and steaks, salads, and grilled corn for supper. And even though I was not able to squeeze in any workout time, I managed to maintain my "pre-mama's house" weight! That was truly an accomplishment and I made sure that I shared my triumph with my husband at least 3 times on the morning of our last day there. You see, every time we've gone to visit my family we each gained 5-10 pounds. This time, thanks to my decision to take better care of myself and eat healthier (or at least in moderation) I finally broke the cycle and thwarted off those extra pounds. It was not an easy task, but I made it out without having to loosen my belt.