The same week I started W8 Watchers, I was offered a new job that required me to work from home and travel once a month.  So while major life changes would normally make one gain weight, I seized the opportunity for a complete lifestyle change. That said, I never thought the week I popped my Chick-Fil-A cherry, and consumed 49 points of gin in a day, would also be my highest week of weight loss.

Last week started with a two day training session at an office here in Boston so though I was technically traveling, I was not working in my home of smoothies and wheat bread.  On the contrary, I was at an office with a candy wall and ‘Waffle Wednesdays’.  While everyone else went to the candy wall, I opted to stay back.  I told my classmate to bring me back ONE pink Starburst so I could still feel part of it.  What did she do?  She brought me back a cup of them….all pink. I was good and only had one four.

The real test didn’t start until I took off to Orlando where I had 48 hours before starting work duties.  Oh, and I had tons of free drink coupons on Southwest…great combo. The first day there resulted in 49 points for gin and tonics, 5 points of movie theater popcorn and a Bud Light – gotta stay hydrated, right? 

Hey, at least I tracked it.  Activity points? Holla!

Needless to say, I wasn’t up for drinking the next two day; which meant I didn’t have to drink my points.  I just had to navigate the steak dinners, happy hours, omelette bars and cheese platters that were everywhere.  Did I mention this was all work related so I didn’t have to pay for any of it?

After successfully tracking every morsel of food that went into my mouth, I thought I had made it!  Until the ride to the airport when I made the mistake of telling my boss I had never tried Chick-Fil-A (sorry gays, but I have no regrets.) I did what any fat would do, I investigated the menu, stared down people with waffle fries and made the tough decision: if I want the large fries, the sandwich has to be grilled with bacon.

As if I wasn’t fat enough, I ordered a burger with fries on my layover.  Although I had the points, I still felt like a fat ass and there was no way this could be true….WELP.

Thursday morning, I had to weigh myself. I originally thought this post would be about how there are exceptions to W8 Watchers and I had failed/spiraled/was fat again.  UNTIL: the scale said I lost 4.4lbs. To take it one step further, I’m officially down 20.8lbs!  I have no idea how it’s possible other than the fact that I tracked EVERYTHING and never went over my points!

I do not advise drinking 49 points of gin but When in Rome Orlando…

Moral of the story: always get the burger….if you have the points.

HAPPY FRIDAY, FATS!

During the weight loss process aka life, there is pretty much a “healthy” substitute for any food out there.  Sour cream has Greek yogurt; there are baked chips instead of full-fat; real strawberries instead of pink Starbursts – you get my drift.  But what about alcohol?  And don’t you dare say, “Michelob Ultra”, that stuff might as well be water; Propel gets me going more than that shit. 

I can be having the perfect W8 Watchers week, (always on my points, consistently earn activity points), but put a drink in front of me on a Tuesday Friday night, and I am suddenly a W8 Watchers dropout.  The combination of booze and drunk food sets me back to Biggest Loser contestant status.

Most adult beverages are four W8 Watchers points, unless you’re sipping on a fruity umbrella drink, then they’re as high as 8 points; in which case you better have earned it that umbrella. A standard bottle of wine is 22 points – what gives? 

The UMASS alum in me has lived by the mantra, “If you remember how much you drank, you didn’t drink enough!”.  So how am I supposed to track each drink?

Being on W8 Watchers has certainly made me more aware of drinking and the need to plan for it.  Now I see a casual beer or twelve after work as wasted points (no pun intended). 

To quote our fellow fat and W8 Watchers buddy, Jill, “Go big, or go home!” Meaning if you aren’t going to achieve ultimate ‘drunk at your cousins wedding’ status, it’s not worth it.  I tend to agree…

On top of alcohol, there is the 2am Chinese Food that comes along with it!  You know what I’m talking about fellow fats, we’ve all woken up with seven Crab Rangoon in our bed, right? RIGHT?

Do you have any tricks, tips, or magic fat-free alcohol secrets to share? Post them in the comments below!

Have a Good Week! CHEERS!

Having recently turned 32, I realized that I’ve been on a weight loss journey for about 32 years.  Ever since I was force-fed formula to get my ‘baby weight’ on, I’ve been trying to shed it.  That’s not to say I’ve never been an ideal weight or even thinner than I ‘should’ be, but for as long as I can remember, the struggle has been real.

 I am one of four brothers, two of whom are natural beanpoles; who can eat what they want, when they want and never gain weight.  I, am not one of those two; my younger brother and I gain weight by just thinking about food.  The two ‘lucky’ brothers still seek empathy and talk about what they’re doing to “gain weight” and “bulk up”.  While I sit there like…

Since my birthday, I’m down 15.2 pounds on Weight Watchers.  I’ve only been successful because of my supportive friends and my ability to make fun of myself, and the weight loss process.  I have a Twitter and Instagram account so the next step is a blog – well, here it is!

Whether you’re skinny, a fellow fat, or a reformed fat – WELCOME!

 This is a judgment free full blog that I’ll use to share the trials and tribulations of being a fat 30 something who is Over Being Overweight!