So far, so good

I reached 29 years old recently, and I must say things have been going well for me lately. I received a promotion at work, and I have a great family and wonderful friends. Even the weather is getting better here in Louisiana. The cold, dark winter days are slowly but surely giving way to brisk, sunny ones.

Dare I say it would be tough to complain about anything. Of course, just like Adam Carolla and his "What Can't Adam Complain About" segment from his radio show, and now, podcast, I'm sure I'll think of something.

Ah, here's something...Wendy's. That's right, the burger joint with the cartoon ginger kid. I pass by that place at least twice a day when I'm going to and from work. Do you know how hard it is to pass a place that you know has bacon double cheeseburgers, fries and a soda for around five bucks? For a guy like me, it's rough. I didn't get up to 230 pounds by not eating, I can tell you that much.

Right now I'm running on will power, but soon I'll be running on Weight Watchers.

My uncle Vinnie over at SaveGasBurnFat.com gave me the tip to look into the program. I figured he knows a thing or two about staying fit, after all he's been living out in Los Angeles for years now working as a professional fitness trainer. When he talks fitness, I perk up my ears.

I'll have to admit, I was caught off guard when he suggested I check out Weight Watchers. To be honest, I thought it was only for women.

Educated as a journalist at Louisiana State University, I tend to be good about putting in research. This is no different.

What is the Weight Watchers diet?

 According to Web MD (reviewed by expert Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD), since the early 1960s, Weight Watchers has been the gold standard for successful weight loss programs.

"You don't have to eat less, just smarter, on the Weight Watchers diet," Zelman writes. "No foods are prohibited. Instead, each food is assigned 'points' based on its calorie, fat, and fiber content."

That's what I like about it - Weight Watchers is really not a diet, it's more of a way of life. It's not about gimmicks to lose weight to fit into a swimsuit and then balloon back up in time for Christmas. I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in the long haul. I don't want to have a spare tire belly hovering around my waste when I'm 40.

Football and Weight Watchers

So can I still watch football with my buddies and stick to Weight Watchers? First of all, there will be lots of buffalo wings and greasy pizza to go around, so that will make it tough. And secondly, there is the whole announcing that I'm not eating the dip and chips because I'm on Weight Watchers.

As Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, writes in the Web MD article, the Weight Watchers online program provides "anonymity that some people need (especially men), and the convenience called for by those who cannot attend group meetings."

Sure, making it to group meetings may be tough, especially with the nature of my work. But as far as needing the anonymity? I'd say it's not a requirement. For crying out loud, I'm writing about this for all the world to see, so I'm beyond the "admitting I have a problem" step.

I really like the idea that my favorite foods are still allowed as long as eaten in moderation. Living in Louisiana, food is a way of life, for better or for worse. At least I won't be the oddball at the crawfish boil who's only having a cracker, or the weirdo pushing aside the jambalaya bowl for some celery stalks.

Here we go, just found a whole section of the site just for men. At least I know I won't be the only one.

I've got a feeling I have my work cut out for me with this project.