Spinning

I took my first spinning class tonight. This is not part of some 50 cent New Year's resolution; I've been going to the gym for years and I see a personal trainer twice a week. No, this is worse. It's part of a plan to shed holiday pounds, about a month's worth. Between Christmas in San Francisco and my, ahem, 33rd birthday last Sunday, it's been a non-stop, no-holds-barred food and booze festival since mid-December. My cube at work happens to sit right next to the kitchen, where, during the holidays, an endless parade of chocolate truffles, fried chicken, Chiristmas cookies and other completely unneccessary goodies have confronted me, especially at the snacking hour of 3 p.m. Since virtually abandoning my vegetarianism, after years of persuasion, and being treated to a constant flow of treats, I've been feeling, well, puffy. So the spinning was a shot at trying something new in the fitness realm. I've also been making and brining my own lunch all week, thank you very much. I've been measuring my weight and fitness level not using the scale, but based on the way I look in clothes. Getting dressed for my birthday dinner at Marcel's was less than fun. Massimo does not approve of outfit changes and I tried on a loose black Calvin Klein dress, then a tight one, then the loose one again and opted to draw attention away from my trouble spots with my favorite Steve Madden leopard platforms. I think it worked. Still, here we go again. I am recommitting to eating well and exercising, even when we eat out. I guess it is a bit of a classic New Year's resolution after all. That means skipping the bread, even when it's baked in house they do at Marcel's (caper butter!), avoiding the salsa and chips, and chugging water between drinks. Happy new year. Ugh.