Wedding Weight-Loss: Fun Fall Festivities

After my Sunday training session with Bonne Marcus, I was sore until Wednesday. I pushed through and worked out on Tuesday and Wednesday, though. On Tuesday, my workout consisted of a spin class in the morning for 45 minutes, and when I got home from work, I went through the routine Bonne had given me again. The routine included squats, lunges, step ups, and a bunch of arm exercises using a body bar and dumbbells. It's a true full body workout. On Wednesday, I just took another spin class for cardio. It wasn't a great week for me workout-wise; I had a busy week, which I know is no excuse, but unfortunately I used it anyway.

My favorite meal of the week was turkey chili that was cooked in the crockpot. A warm bowl of chili is perfect on a crisp fall night, and I made a skinny version, so it wasn't too fattening. You can find the recipe here from Skinnytaste. 

healthy crockpot chili recipe

My diet was going well until the weekend hit. I've been counting calories, and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I stuck to 1200 calories or less. My meals consisted of hard-boiled eggs and coffee for breakfast, a salad and veggie burger for lunch, and a healthy dinner (typically using a recipe from skinnytaste.com). For snacks, I'd eat a handful of red grapes, a small banana, or some unsalted almonds. Thursday, I ate a grilled chicken sandwich, and then headed to my company's Annual Halloween Party, where I derailed by diet by consuming alcohol.

The party was held at a night club in Manhattan, where we invited all of our clients. I dressed up as Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was a very pretty and easy costume, if you're still looking for an idea! I wore a plain black dress with black pumps, long black gloves, a pearl necklace, a small tiara, sunglasses, and had a fake cigarette holder. I threw my hair in an updo, copied her makeup from the movie and voilà! People loved it, and it was extremely inexpensive and adorable.

holly golightly breakfast at tiffanys halloween costume

holly golightly breakfast at tiffanys halloween costume

Over the weekend, I went upstate with Rene and my family to visit my little brother at Cortland University. We rented a house called Smith View Farms, where we had cows and roosters on our property, and it was literally in the middle of nowhere. We went pumpkin pickings, stopped at cute antique stores, visited the campus, and just hung out with the family. It was fun, but I'm definitely not a "farm girl,” and I don’t plan on hanging out at a farm anytime soon. I also ate horribly all weekend, which was a huge downfall because when I got back on the scale on Monday morning, I had gained two pounds, bringing me right back where I started two weeks ago. There’s not much to do on the farm, so all we did was eat and drink. I had pizza, Chinese food, chips, and sweetened iced tea; all things I’m not supposed to be having while on a diet.

pumpkin picking

pumpkin picking

family farm trip

As bad of a week this was health-wise, it was nice to spend time with friends and family and enjoy the season. It’s important to sit back and take in the moment and spend time with the ones you love, so I hope everyone gets a chance to do that soon — especially before it gets too cold!

As for me, it’s time to buckle down. The days are dwindling, and I have way more to go. I’ve only just begun…

—Jennifer Crow