My situation is close to your's, Sean! I must've gained at least 20 lbs. since my divorce a year ago--but then, again, back then I was always so hungry and barely eating, maybe I was too underweight for my health!! I finally had the freedom to eat what I wanted, and how much, eventually ended up gaining extra pounds!
Anyway, I still got a natural excercise plan--raise arm to mouth, back to table, back to mouth (similar to the "Beer Curls")<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Just kiddin, I got a brisk 10 minute walk to the train station from home; then from the train station to work, which is another 10 to 13 minutes of walking! (tough in the rain!) And, of course it's repeated for on the way home!
Then, since there are absolutely NO decent restaurants, udon shops, etc., I have no choice than to eat the "cuisine of the day" (Company's Lunch Box), in which the specialty always contains fish (can't eat the whole type, hate it when their eyes are looking right at ya!) and, of course, RICE!! Most cases, there's not enough calories in the lunch, so I'm starving by five pm. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
Next potent stuff to beer<img src="i/expressions/beer.gif" border="0">, is Rice Sake!! Had that with Sushi a week ago, taking the wife--boy was I feeling go~od!! Fortunately, we waited before getting on a train, hate to waste an estimate $80 worth of "Shark Bait" on the way home!! However, the funny part was, about two hours later, I was hungry again, and had Mickey Dee's specialty for a midnight (it was eleven pm) snack!!
I had to be carefull about the alchohol, due to the liver involvement. I won't drink if I haven't been feeling so well lately, nor will I drink if I have work the next day! To many episodes of bad days related to alcohol changed that situation. So, my average intake is maybe twice a year or so.
Mehgan, congrats! If you knew what you were doing right, maybe you can increase that value when you go back to work! (to add on the plus alpha factor for being active again due to work)