re: Those in the South -- How do y'all keep weight off?

What you do most of the time matters way more than what you do some of the time. Just like a person can't get shredded by eating right a few weeks per year, you also won't get fat by eating poorly a few weeks per year.
I track everything in myfitnesspal and stick to it. There are several nights a year where I go to visit family, go out on a date, or go on vacation where I just eat whatever the hell I want. It helps keep you sane and it won't make much of a difference if you're doing everything else right. Plus if you're eating healthy 95% of the time your cravings for shite food are going to disappear and on those nights away from home you'll naturally choose healthier options anyway