Nina In New York: At Least We're Not Drinking WHILE We're Exercising

A lighthearted look at news, events, culture and everyday life in New York. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
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By Nina Pajak

I just love it when scientific studies echo exactly my lifestyle. It's like they know me, or possibly like I behave similarly to thousands upon thousands of other Americans. Either way, it's nice to know you're not alone on this planet. You know?

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine recently published their findings that alcohol consumption goes up with physical activity. Partly, this is due to the fact that the days when people exercise more—Thursday through Sunday—are the same days people tend to reserve for their heavier drinking. In other words (and in their words), "on days when people are more active they tend to drink more than on days they are less active." This is different from previous studies' conclusions that active people drink more than their sedentary counterparts.

Where the scientists behind the study seem to falter, and where I feel my particular expertise can help fill in the blanks, is on the very important question of why.

They've got some good theories, but they feel further study is necessary to delve deeper into this "problem." Save your time, save your money. This isn't rocket science, guys. What do you think gets half of us off our butts and out the door to the gym? Yes, personal achievement and the gift of health and confidence and being able to button that pair of skinny jeans growing mold at the bottom of your drawer without creating a giant muffin top. Blah blah blah, sure. But also: drinks!

I worked out today! I deserve this.

I'm going out drinking tonight, I need to work out today and tomorrow to compensate.

I went out drinking last night and woke up this morning to work out! I deserve this.

Does any of that sound familiar to you? Of course it does.

I'd also float the theory that those same endorphins induced by all that wonderful exercise make us feel so good that we want to share our joy with friends over a few glasses bottles of wine. And, for women, there's nothing so disappointing as working out, showering, getting dressed, putting on makeup, feeling fit and fine and having nowhere to go. I mean, talk about a wasted effort. It would be a gosh darn shame not to take that nice little figure out to a bar or a restaurant to kick back over a martini or four.

Does post-workout drinking counteract the workout? Perhaps. But I'd argue that the two exist in a kind of beautiful harmony, completing a life-sustaining symbiotic relationship that is crucial to many people like me. That's right, I said symbiotic. Science, y'all.

Nina Pajak is a writer living with her husband, daughter and dog in Queens. Connect with Nina on Twitter!