#TOTS2014

If you think this is going to be a post about how I'm going to eat clean/healthy at my first Taste of the South (TOTS), you're wrong. I'm sorry I'm not sorry, not even a little.

Saturday night I will be going to my first Taste of the South gala here in D.C. I have a handsome date and a pretty dress, and I'm very excited. For those of you who don't know about TOTS (I did not until I moved here), I will share my impression.
I frequently hear how Southerners always find reasons to get dolled up and throw extravagant parties where guests indulge in delicious food and toast to their good fortune. 
That is precisely what I envision for TOTS. Started by a few Southerners who wanted to share a taste of their culture, this event has been a long-standing tradition in D.C... Since its debut in 1982, TOTS has become a "must go"  event. All proceeds go to a different spotlight Southern charity, and then to a selected charity from each of the featured states.
All of the 13 Southern states select a few of theirfamous signature dishes that signify their own unique "taste." I am too excited to try things like parmesan grits from Georgia and jambalaya from Louisiana, and to have my new favorite sweet, Goo Goo Clusters from Tennessee. I haven't been eyeing the menu or anything.Additionally, in Southern style, it is a black-tie occasion with open bar. This will certainly be an experience, and one for a great cause!If you haven't gathered this so far, I will come right out and say it now: Saturday night I will be "cheating!" I've accepted and embraced that fact from the moment we got tickets. Let me get a few things straight:

• No, I'm not going to be shoveling food in my mouth as if I've never eaten before.
• Yes, I am going to try out and enjoy a lot of (unclean) food I wouldn't on a regular basis.
• And yes, if it comes up in conversation while I'm eating fried catfish, folks may find it ironic that I have a fitness/lifestyle blog.

My point is, if an interesting event or opportunity comes along that you're feeling inclined to do and the only thing  holding you back is your diet...then you have nothing holding you back. There are "cheats" we canschedule and should. What is life without a little indulgence? Indulgence is made even better when you've maintained a steady level of discipline with yourself. It's okay to loosen the reigns every now and then, knowing that you'll crack the whip back before it gets out of control. 
A huge part of maintaining a “Too Fit” life style is creating a balance between the days you walk by those cupcakes in the office kitchen, and the nights you eat pizza & mozzarella sticks for dinner. The balance isn't an even one. We know we need the first instance to happen more than the second, but the fact is we can't appreciate one (fully) without the other.
"Cheats" should be both spontaneous and scheduled. Don't say, "On Saturdays every week, I will cheat." A) You're going to likely binge, and B) You could not have an occasion to "cheat" on that specific day, and then it’s not worth it. The combination of both A) and B) bring me to the most important point: C) It's not sustainable.

Work in, and work around the cheats in your diet to best fit your lifestyle. T-minus 3 days until my #TOTS2014 cheat! Ya'll stay tuned for pics & food reviews!