The comedian’s new stand-up special, “The Skinny,” premieres November 22 on Hulu

Actor Jim Gaffigan is the first to admit that his weight has fluctuated over the years.

After reaching 270 pounds, he decided to try medication – and has since lost 50 pounds. “I feel good,” he tells PEOPLE. “I’m just grateful because it’s such a better life.”

Gaffigan lost weight thanks to Mounjarowhich is the brand name for tirzepatide, a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It also helps people lose weight.

Initially, Gaffigan had doubts about the drug’s effectiveness. “I had very low expectations because I knew someone who had tried it and said, ‘Oh no, I was just nauseous for a week,’” he explains. “And then I thought my true joy of eating would outweigh everything.”

But once he started seeing the number on the scale go down, he was sold.

Related: Whoopi Goldberg Reveals She Used Weight Loss Drug Mounjaro After Weighing 300 Pounds: ‘That’s a Lot of Me’

Gaffigan struggled with weight gain for most of his adult life. He remembers being in his 20s, when he “worked out twice a day just to be thin and be able to eat,” he says. “And then as my metabolism slowed down, it got harder and harder, and then my knees started to give out, and then fatigue set in.”

Over the years, he continued to gain weight. Then last year, his doctor asked him if he had considered taking medication. “She said to me, ‘Well, some people are against it.’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t care, I’ll try.’ My knees were hurting and my cholesterol wasn’t very good,” Gaffigan says.

“And that’s part of why I wanted to talk about it, because I almost thought it was a little strange that people were reluctant to talk about it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. There are people walking around who obviously don’t have blonde hair – and yet, I don’t think that’s weird either.

Gaffigan’s new stand-up special,The skinnypremiering November 22 on Hulu, includes more thoughts on his weight loss. “It’s something you can take a strong point of view on, there’s a few different sides to it,” he says, adding that he also talks about his children in the special. “I also had strong views on raising teenagers, so the name ‘Skinny’ seemed perfect to me.”

Related: James Corden says he tried Ozempic to lose weight, but ‘it didn’t really work’

As for maintaining his health, Gaffigan says he’s not trying to lose more weight and hasn’t yet decided how long he’ll continue taking his medication. He stays active by walking around New York, where he lives with his wife, Jeannie, and their 5 children. “I don’t exercise as much but it’s definitely a city that works,” he adds. “And I have the Apple Watch, so I make it a point to close all my (step count) rings every day.”

The comedian says Jeannie also seems to be enjoying her improved health. “I mean, she’s one of those people who is genetically thin. It’s annoying,” he explains. “But yeah, I think she likes (her weight loss). It’s like living with a glutton rather than living with a former glutton. It’s a healthier lifestyle.”

Related: Watch Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan Get Crushing in New Video About Their Upcoming Tour (Exclusive)

As he looks forward to his upcoming North American tour with the comedian Jerry Seinfeld next year – which will stop at 10 arenas in Canada and the United States – Gaffigan is excited to try different foods in each city. “Jerry has different rituals before and after the show,” he says. “I can’t look at a map and not know where I’m going to eat.”

The skinny premieres November 22 on Hulu.

Tickets for his tour can be purchased at JerrySeinfeld.com And JimGaffigan.com.