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Would Vodka Get You to the Gym?

barEdwin Land via flickrReward for a workout well done?
Do a cardio blast, then get blasted.

Buried deep in the New York Times business section today — and for some reason, posted on the "media decoder" blog — is word that a national chain of gyms has started holding vodka-drenched happy hours after butt-kicking boot camp classes.

David Barton gyms are in New York, Chicago and Miami, and owner David Barton says the cocktail hours, sponsored by the vodka brand Svedka, help make the gym a place not just to work out but to hang out as well.

Commented one reader: "Wonderful. Give a gymful of dehydrated people alcohol then pack them in their cars and send them home. What could possibly go wrong?"

But the idea does raise the interesting question of when the rewards we give ourselves for exercising might outweigh the benefits of the exercise itself. How about you? Are you wondering whether the cupcake you treat yourself with outweighs the three miles you just ran? Ask, and we’ll find an expert to answer.

This program aired on August 23, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Carey Goldberg

Carey Goldberg Editor, CommonHealth
Carey Goldberg is the editor of WBUR's CommonHealth section.

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