One-Month Challenge: No Fried Food, Week 1

[Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. For April, Jill gave up restaurants. This month? Khalea is giving up....wait for it....FRIED FOOD. Can she do it? We shall see.....]

By Khalea

I’ve lived in the South for a good portion of my life, which means that everything is deep fried – vegetables, candy, cookies and my absolute favorite – chicken. If it doesn’t have a crispy, golden brown finish then I usually stay away from it. From the bacon and hash browns I have in the morning to the French fries I eat with my dinner, I can honestly say that I don’t have the healthiest diet at all. And when my physician told me that I’m at risk for diabetes, it was obvious that something had to change. African Americans are the leading race plagued with diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol. The lack of exercise and greasy, indulgent soul food has to be a factor. I don’t want to be a statistic – I have too many dreams for my future…and too many clothes to buy.

So I decided it was time to make a change. A big one. A one-month one.
For the entire month of May, I’m giving up fried foods. I won’t be eating any of it. At all. Not one fried thing.

I think that cutting fried foods out of my diet will begin a slew of healthy habits. I already workout (Flirty Girl Fitness works wonders), but I still indulge in the occasional Chick-fil-A sandwich or a Bloomin’ Onion. Talk about counter productivity! I’m hoping that cutting out fatty fried foods will cut major calories from my diet and leave me with more energy to exercise. It’s quite a healthy change, and just the change I need  for myself, my family and Strappy, the Dolce and Gabbana number I want to fit into one day. Why not start now?

In true Southern fashion, I ended my fried food frenzy with a big bang: all-you-can-eat wings at Hooters. As I stared at the mounting pile of bones and wet wipes, I felt greasy and bloated—it was not pleasant at all. I always feel that way after a huge, breaded feast. “What are you gonna do without these?” my friend asked, waving a lemon-pepper wing in front of my face. I didn’t know. Anything would be better than my food daze, though.

Feeling rather disgusting, I thought the transition would be smooth. While I was grocery shopping, I thought about all the changes I could make. Instead of my two strips of pork bacon, I would eat turkey sausage. I’d trade my fries for a side salad. I was excited for this change and all the fun new things I could eat.

But the fantasy is always quite different from reality, right? Not long after my fairy tale grocery expedition, things got difficult. I had a relatively healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner on Sunday, but then Monday morning happened. While walking to school, I could smell everything I was giving up – the chicken biscuits, the waffle fries, the fried rice from Panda Express.

Thankfully, my determination dominated my temptations and I’m still hanging in there. While my friends gorge on their number six combos from McDonald’s, I eat at home to avoid indulging on my delicious enemy. And I even forgo walking by my favorite fast food joints to play it safe—anything to avoid backsliding. But with the support from family and the “after” dress that I purchased to celebrate the month, I can’t go wrong!

At least I hope.

[Check out the other One Month Challenges we've taken on. ]