Fat Pants

I don't understand Fat Pants.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong?

Not long ago I discovered that all of my work pants were way too tight.  I mean, I could just barely fasten them and when I did I was immediately uncomfortable and grouchy.  So I figured I needed to lose a couple pounds.  But that could take a few weeks, right?  So I decided to get a couple pairs of stop-gap Fat Pants to meet my needs until I dropped a couple pounds and went back to my usual pants.

Also, I figured, it's only a few pounds I need to lose, so I don't need a serious diet, I'll just cut out junk food, including the (almost nightly) glass of wine and some-form-of-chocolate.  In a few weeks, I'll be back in my regular pants.  Right?

This does not seem to be how it works  Instead, it went like this:

Purchased 2 pairs of Fat Pants and experience immediate relief.
Lost all desire to squeeze into old pants.
Lost all desire to lose a few pounds.
Drank lots of wine and ate lots of chocolate.
Can now ONLY fit into two pairs of Fat Pants -- regular pants will no longer fasten.

When I was wearing the Tight Pants and feeling uncomfortable all day long I was much more motivated to diet.  Now that I am comfy in my Fat Pants, why would I bother?  Actually, even when I was sausaging myself into my old pants from 9am-5pm, the motivation was only present when the Tight Pants were on.  As soon as I'd get home from work I'd put on Comfy Pants and miraculously forget about the whole pants problem.  It's like I can only diet when I'm at work, and uncomfortable.

Like right now.  I'm in my powder blue snowflake patterned fleece pajama pants (jealous?) and they feel great!  So what's the problem?  No problem!  Bring me more wine and chocolate!  No problem all the way till tomorrow morning when I have to dress for work.   And even then, I have the Fat Pants.

This all reminds me when a friend of mine gained her Dissertation Weight (it's a thing, really) and she went out and bought bigger clothes.  I remember she said, "I'm not getting fat, I just needed bigger clothes!"  This is exactly my problem.  The bigger clothes take away that sense of expanding waistline, thus all motivation to diet. 

So the questions remain:

(1) How do I get motivated to get back into my old pants?  Keep wearing them?  Wear them 24/7 so I am always uncomfortable?

(2) How do I keep the Fat Pants from becoming the Regular Pants?  Or, God Forbid, the New Tight Pants?

(3) How is this supposed to work?  What am I doing wrong?