If you have ever lived in the South then you will completely understand the title of this blog.
However, let me explain for those who have never dwelled in the South-Eastern region of the United States.
The South is known for quite a few things. Southern hospitality, thick accents, and great food. I was born in one of the iconic Southern towns, Charleston, South Carolina. My family moved to Florida when I was very young, but don't let my title of being a Florida Girl fool you. The South most definitely extends much further than Alabama and Georgia. I was raised in the Florida Panhandle and I grew up drinking sweet tea, saying "Yes mame" and "Ya'll" but I grew up with a great moral standing. I grew up respecting my elders, learning how to cook, clean, and most importantly, I had a great support in preparing me for my life in the real world.
Now, I may have a strong tie to my Southern roots but I am also very proud of my Native American heritage. I participate in gatherings, Pow Wows, and even ceremonies to keep my heritage alive. Alongside being Native American, I am also Italian on my fathers side but I do not know much of my Italian heritage.
The main priority of this blog is to become healthier. I am currently overweight for my height - a whopping 5 ft an a half inch - and I know it can cause health issues later on. My family has heart problems on both my mama's side and my dad's, diabetes runs in he family, as does high blood pressure. I know this already puts me at risk but I know being at an unhealthy weight can put me even more at risk. I want to live a long healthy life, I want to be able to pass down the family traditions to my own kids eventually and I want to be able to spend my life with the man of my dreams - who I have been blessed enough to be able to find this early on in life.
I believe everyone has different hardships when it comes to losing weight and being healthy. I identified mine long ago, but I have been unable to overcome these things. I know commitment makes it hard. You have to be committed to find the time - to make the time to be able to exercise and stay active. You also have to be able to eat healthy, enter the title...
The South is known for many things when it comes to cooking -
Fried, Fried and double fried is the first. Fried chicken, country fried steak... It is a Southern staple and always will be. The second in line is sweet tea and true Southern sweet tea is super strong (as in you can not see through it at all) and super sweet and obviously the caffeine and the sugar could not possibly be good for you, but we still drink it.... Daily.
On top of these there are, baked beans, potato salad, biscuits, gravy, and tons and tons of butter.
Southern cooking is probably the top of the line when it comes to unhealthy food, which is probably why diabetes runs in my family to begin with.
However, I believe it is possible to lose weight and be healthy while still holding onto those Southern traditions... Cause lets just be completely honest with each other - There is absolutely no way I could give up sweet tea... I could give up soda, I don't drink coffee, but there is no unearthly way I could no drink sweet tea. I know I will have to work twice as hard to lose weight if I am not eating the healthiest food but I am completely okay with that.
I believe I can do this, and I think it would be great to smash all that talk that you can't eat whatever you want and still take care of yourself - of course you have to take care of yourself, eat enough veggies, get all your recommended vitamins, eat enough protein, etc... But I don't believe that you should have to give up recipes that have been passed down generations just because some doctor on TV says baked chicken is better than fried.
I know this is going to be a long and winding road but it will be fun at the least.
- B
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