So every Thursday at my grandmas our family gets together for dinner. Uncles, aunts, cousins, everyone.

Why do we have to have fried Talapia, Hush Puppies, and French Fries. Fried fried fried fried fried! Dern southern people, lol.

But gosh guys, it smells so good and all I've eaten today was a salad im saaaddddddd lol!!!!

I know how you feel. Lol. It's so hard to resist, but so worth it in the end when those pounds start dropping.

Try taking a fruit salad with you. That's one healthy option everybody will enjoy. Maybe it could help them catch on with some healthier choices

aww man I feel your pain. I dislike being around good smelling foood that I can't induldge in lol :-( but its worth it in the long run!

Whenever I get tempted, I work out how I can treat myself and still stay in my calorie goal by working out. Like going on my exercise bike for ages, or something. It really helped me get through Christmas - I didn't gain a pound, in fact I lost two, and I ate treats and fast food. I just got on my exercise bike afterwards until I'd made up for every calorie, no exceptions. It's worth a try - it depends on how you feel about it!

Maybe you could ask your grandma to broil or grill you something and you could bring your own sides. Just a thought! I know how hard it is!! don't know where you are from but that southern food is a tricky thing! A lady at our church came the other night with fried squash which I just adore!!! and a few nights ago she showed up with the same thing AND fried okra!! I didn't eat any thankfully but I know how hard it is.

Hang in there!! You can do it

So, I ate a piece of fish and two hush puppies and like five fries. *sigh* but compare that to if I wasn't body aware. Any other day that would of been 3 pieces of fish, about 4 hush puppies and handful of fries (which was on everyone else plate)

But I went crazy on the spin bike tonight.

That doesn't sound bad at all, you did a great job of controlling yourself while getting a taste of the goodies. Way to go!

I think that's the way to do it! Earning your treats is so much better than eating them anyway then feeling bad about it. I'd love to taste good Southern cooking!

You can also try eating a full meal before eating with your family. A salad wont fill you for long, try eating a wider range of food too. a baked potato with flavored hummus is really good and filling, so when you have your higher calorie dinner, you'll want less of it. Another good trick is to eat off of a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. it is only slightly smaller in diameter, and your smaller portions will look similar on a smaller plate, than small portions on a large plate. (it will also invite less commentary about the healthiness of your diet)

I think you did a great job in a difficult situation Also agree with eating something healthy and filling just before you enter one of these fried family situations.
you GO mello!!!

I agree with the previous posters. What a good idea to make your own healthy item to bring to these get togethers!

Kudos to you for being aware and limiting the fried foods that you did eat!