Needs to lose 30lbs in 3 months!

Today I'm going to the gym after willing myself to go everyday all week and instead staying in and eating cheesecake spread on Graham crackers 
(I'm a Brit in America and my hubby is American. ) We just booked our flights home for Christmas, the first time I've been back home to blighty in over a year and a half. 
The first year of marriage has been rough on my waistline, I've had to adapt to life in America (I don't walk anymore!) and being unable to work for a while due to immigration red tape. 
I've put on about 40lbs and my husband about 20lbs, anyone else pile on the pounds during their honeymoon period?
I really don't want to go home and have my family see me totally chunked out. I went to weight watchers but couldn't get into counting points and it was really expensive! I couldn't afford that and the gym so I chose the gym.
But I've been about twice in the past month. I'm reading the Dr Phil weight solution book which is excellent but I'm having trouble getting motivated.   
I wish I had someone like Harvey from celebrity fit club shouting "Get your fat ass in that gym you whale!" behind me and a padlock on my fridge.
Anyone else trying to lose weight for Christmas?

Well, different things work for different people, so I can only share what's worked for me.  I started the South Beach diet (though I LOATHE calling it a diet!) in February and it took me about three months to lose 30 pounds and just under 10 inches.  The first two weeks are difficult, but worth it if you make it through (I lost 11 pounds).  You might want to give the book a read to see if it sounds like something you can do.  For me, South Beach has completely changed my life and I'm eating a healthy, balanced diet that I can actually stick to for the rest of my life.  It's broken my bad habits and has trained me to make healthy choices whenever possible.

Well, different things work for different people, so I can only share what's worked for me.  I started the South Beach diet (though I LOATHE calling it a diet!) in February and it took me about three months to lose 30 pounds and just under 10 inches.  The first two weeks are difficult, but worth it if you make it through (I lost 11 pounds).  You might want to give the book a read to see if it sounds like something you can do.  For me, South Beach has completely changed my life and I'm eating a healthy, balanced diet that I can actually stick to for the rest of my life.  It's broken my bad habits and has trained me to make healthy choices whenever possible.

You've lost 75lbs!!! Way to go !! You must feel fantastic!
My boss from my old job went on south beach and was always trying to get me on it but I never did as I couldn't be arsed reading the book as I knew that I wouldn't have much chance of sticking to the plan.  Sounds pretty defeatist I know. I lost a ton of weight in 2003 by coming home from work then heading off to the gym, then falling asleep by 9pm without having eaten any dinner because I was too knackered and too lazy to make myself anything. I wish I could get into that again!
Is South Beach a lot different from Atkins? I heard its similar but you can eat carbs.

My hubby who is also British put on alot of weight when he got to the US too.  He was used to working out every day and walking everywhere.  The first neighborhood we lived in was not somewhere you would go walking.  It's taken about 2 years, but he's found a good park to ride his bike in and got a dog to run with. 

Have you tried to find a buddy.  I found I usually had more motivation to goto the gym if I know someone was waiting there for me.  Even if you just walk the treadmill and gossip, you're still exercising.

You've lost 75lbs!!! Way to go !! You must feel fantastic!

Thanks!  I do feel fantastic!  Still have a long way to go, but I know I'll get there! 

Is South Beach a lot different from Atkins? I heard its similar but you can eat carbs.

Yep, South Beach is VERY different (dunno how it got lumped in with Atkins.....think that kinda gives it a bad name).  For the first two weeks, you'll have no fruit, sugar, or bread.  Once you've gotten through those two weeks (designed to clear your system and break any dependence on sugar and bad carbs....though beware that you might have some...um....digestive problems  ), you start adding fruit and complex carbs back into your diet.

Basically, what it boils down to is that you'll permanently remove sugar, white potatoes, deep-fried foods, and white flour from your diet.  You're still allowed bread, but it has to be wholemeal.  You'll still allowed potatoes, but they have to be sweet potatoes.  You're still allowed sweet things, but they'll be naturally sweet (i.e. fruit) or artificially sweetened (I prefer Splenda).  You'll essentially end up with a diet full of lean proteins, nuts, seeds, dairy, whole grains, fruit, and lots of water -- which is exactly what we should all be eating, whether we're following a "diet" or not. 

Still, as I said, this is what has worked for me (after being pretty darn fat all my life).  If this doesn't work for you, I'm sure you'll find something that will!

BTW, there's an area on here for those of us who are trying to lose weight.  It's called Shrinkers and you can get access by PMing balmerhon or vnicepeeps -- there's a really good group of ladies in there and they've been a huge support to me!

I haven't read South Beach, but am strict vegetarian and Lola has taken a look at my food diaries and tells me that my diet is a lot like South Beach phase II. Who knew?  

I have lost 43 pounds over the last couple of years by changing my daily eating habits from what I already knew were not-so-good foods to what I already knew were really-good-for-me foods. (Refined flour to whole grain, animal fats to unsaturated fats, eliminating dairy, etc). This occurred very slowly and I am still working on it. Personally I don't go in for artificial sweeteners or any artificial ingredients at all, but that's just me.

The books that really helped me change my life are:

Diet for a New America by John Robbins
The Food Revolution by John Robbins
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat by Howard Lyman

These are NOT diet books, but books that tell you the truth about what is in the food you eat, how it is produced and its effects on your body. You can read the truth and then decide what you want to do. I moved to an entirely plant-based diet, and to be honest I don't know one person who has read these books who did not go strict vegetarian! They are that powerful.

Still, you don't have to stop eating animal products to lose weight. You just have to be honest with yourself and eat the good stuff, try not to eat the bad stuff, and do some sweating more than a couple of times a year. Eat PLENTY of food--never skip meals--just make it the best, most wholesome food you can get.

And drink your water.

That's really all there is to it.

I just gave birth in June..I gained 60 pounds ;/ and have managed to take off 30 of them..I not been doing so well dieting as of late but I dread the thought of moving to the UK being so big...I did the atkins last year and melted away 30 pounds, I should get back into it..I seen they sell alot of South Beach diet foods here but unfortunatley for me I am allergic to splenda I had a deathly react6ion to it 2 summers ago and sucralose seems to be the main ingreidiant in all there foods..heck even all my favorite diet drinks are starting to use splenda as there ingrediant

I think it's high time I remotivate myself..I'm glad to have found this section in the forums

I also  chunked out during my honeymoon phase..to the point that I had to buy new  clothes here!! in the UK .. yikes!  clothes are much more expensive here  and by the time i figured  out sizes..phew.. so  I did the Marilu Henner  30 day total health  makeover..it is a blue book and spells out everything to do  day to day.. i needed that discipline  ..  besdies the eating and the exercising  it  gives you  tips  to try for other parts of your life.. once you realize  the  'way it works'.. you can do it on your own..and not be as strict..but I promise  you will have  a slimmer waitline  and feel SSO much healthier..   she does   not get caught up with pounds as  much  as  how you feel and how your clothes are fitting you.. THAT has been amazing to me  because I don't always feel  I'm  doing much  'less'  yet when  I try on clothes I  notice it..

Good luck with your weight loss.   

I too piled on the pounds in my first years of marriage.  I'm working slowly on changing things so I can lose the weight.

That said, I told my Dad that I was planning to visit, and that if he or his parents said anything about me being fat - I was going to slap them senseless.

heh.

Do you find music helps you work out at the gym better?