Funny that, I have never put on wait from drinking beer and did not when I was working abroad, what did get me though was 5 years as contracts manager, out for lunch and dinner nearly every day. Now, that is a killer......I had the same problem when I used to work away, abroad as well as in the UK. I found it wasn't the food as much but having a drink every night - even a couple of pints mount up when you're away for a couple of weeks.