Cocktails & Pole Dancing

I take myself very seriously.

I take it seriously that I am sitting here in my husband's Buffalo Bills tee shirt alone on a Wednesday night at 10:31pm, wearing it because I have not seen him in a month and I want to feel closer to him.

I take seriously that 3 days back from a "vacation" from my day job (a vacation I took to edit my fitness DVD) I am more stressed than when I left, since the extra person we needed to start yesterday at the office was not even hired yet.

I take seriously that I also have to sub a ton of group fitness classes this weekend, write my freelance fitness article, do PR for my last DVD by convincing Martha Stewart Radio to have me on as a guest, that a delivery I expected was incredibly screwed up, that I had to give blood at the doctors today even though I hate needles, and that I am eating dark chocolate covered almonds for dinner.

I take seriously that the last work email I saw on my blackberry is enough to push me over the edge and into tears. It's been that kind of day.

I take seriously that on top of my 4 jobs - at the office, a DVD producer, a personal trainer/group fitness instructor, and freelance fitness writer - that I just agreed today to do 3 blogs a week for military.com.

So I poured myself a vodka and soda on ice.

This is what your personal trainer looks like when she hits rock bottom.

And this is what I did with that glass half full.

While sitting here, feeling sorry for myself, I called up my co-worker Marzi and said "Please come have a cocktail with me and then let’s go take that 8pm strip-bar class at the gym that we always talk about trying."

Turns out that the cocktail was needed to get a little loose for that experience. Especially when they put the black light on and one woman started exercising in her bra. Not a sports bra, a lacy bra. But I broke a good sweat, listened to amazingly energetic music, and laughed a little. I was reminded why I have the option on my DVDs to choose your own music. Sometimes moving to your favorite beats is half the fun.

After class I felt 100 percent better. Hugged my friend, went home and took a shower, made a healthy dinner and sat down to write and watch the RNC.

I felt good enough to drink water, and write this first blog. If I had sat home on by backside, I would have had 2 more drinks, and sat around watching a movie while sulking and taking it out on my husband while he was away and hard at work.

Now I never recommend drinking before a workout and if you want to see my serious fitness advice, sign up for my newsletter and read my columns each month.

But after the day I had, I found a great way to go and get a workout, hang with my friend, get rid of work stress, and end my day productively.

What I'd like you to take from this is, you don't have to dread your workout. In fact, you can make it fun. Life is too short to not stay in shape, and to take it so seriously.

Nikki
Crunch Manhattan Group Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

More from Nikki at www.nikkifitness.com:

- Military Wife Workout DVD
- NikkiBeachBride Destination Wedding Workout
- Nikki on YouTube
- Nikki on Facebook

Nikki Fitness is a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, writer and publicist living in New York City. She started as a cheerleader at Syracuse University, but became certified in fitness before her beach wedding so that she could get back in shape. Laura, a graduate student, working mom, and military wife, inspired Nikki's Military Wife Workout (MWW) for all military wives. Find more articles by Nikki at her article archive. Learn more at www.nikkifitness.com. For more Nikki Fitness blogs, visit her blog archive.