Balance in the booze biz is my passion and gives meaning to my work world, and I am not alone. So many colleagues and liquor companies are supporting bartenders’ lives and careers by getting involved with balance initiatives. And, many professionals in our industry live balance day in, and day out. Effie Panagopoulos is one of those people…How many years have you worked in the liquor industry? Cumulatively if we count my first bartending gig, 17 years.How do you accomplish the balance between working in the bar biz and staying in the rockin' good shape you are in? Oddly enough yet totally in line with my duality, I got certified as personal trainer and spin instructor same time I started bartending in college when I was 20 years old. I admittedly have yo yo’d quite a bit with weight fluctuations throughout the years, but I HAVE NEVER HAD A PERIOD OF NOT WORKING OUT. It is as important to me as breathing.It is so much part of my routine, on my forthcoming trip to Paris, I’ve already scouted out my gyms there and in Nice. Some think I’m obsessed with it, but actually it’s more that I’m robotic about it; I work out 5-6 days period. If I have to find rocks to pick up and throw I’m ACTIVE SOMEHOW SOMEWAY THAT MANY DAYS A WEEK. I’ve been on a pretty hard core weight-lifting regimen for the past 3 years, that involves a lot of deadlifts, squats, bench, pull-ups, sprint work, HIIT (check out my Bartender Bootcamp workout!), and I eat 5 times a day with a supplementation regimen as well. Can’t undo all the good work I put into my body and diet, with excessive drinking.As far as drinking, when I moved to Miami almost 4 years ago, I had a scare with my father, who, now retired, was GM of a fine dining restaurant for over 20 years—functioning alcoholic turned non-functioning. I had to go back home to nurse him back into health and check him into rehab for alcoholism, we contacted First Step to help us through. Drug addiction and substance abuse is becoming a big problem in the states, if you are addicted or know someone who needs help, please visit this article about Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation. Learn more about the Marijuana addiction info at www.addictionadvocates.com At the same time, I had started working with a killer trainer (named Marc Megna, follow him on FB, he’s an inspiration and motivator like no other), and I was plateauing because I was still “having cocktails 3 nights a week.” Between going through what was a living nightmare with my Dad, and trying to achieve my best physique possible, I did a 360 and cut drinking out to a large degree. Meaning I barely have 1-2 drinks per week. I taste/ I sip. My motto in the words of the great BIGGIE SMALLS is “NEVER GET HIGH ON YOUR OWN SUPPLY” I have legitimate scars from excessive drinking episodes in my 20’s (busted lip and eye), and I’ve done my time. I don’t feel the need to do shots of fernet to be part of the cool kid club, but I also don’t judge anyone who wants to. I can sell brands and market brands without over-imbibing them myself. In fact, I use that expense account to BUY OTHER PEOPLE DRINKS, benefitting my brands, AND MY BODY AND MIND.What are some of the most dangerous practices, health-wise, you notice among bar professionals? At the sake of sounding preachy, bottom line, check out the DSM manual definition for alcoholism. This is a disease of the brain. Qualifying ranges for women are 2 drinks per day, and men a little higher, and of course all depends on body weight etc etc. Please believe that your “tolerance” and ability to drink like a champ does NOT make you immune, but in fact is a worse indicator that you may be on your way to a disease of the brain you HAVE NO CONTROL over. That’s the problem. When you are young, you think you are invincible, and what seems like a harmless “party habit” or “your job” can endanger your health to a point of dependency. My father was NEVER a fall-over drunk. In fact, I have nothing but happy memories of him in my youth. He was, like many people in hospitality, the most charming guy in the room, and after years of drinking “a couple beers a day” became a dependent alcoholic. So in my eyes, 2 glasses of wine a day is just as dangerous as a bender of shots over the weekend.At Tales of the Cocktail 2014, you created a 30-minute interval workout to complement the Keeping It Real: Mind, Body, Spirits 3-day seminar. Can you explain how you came up with this workout, and how this kind of workout can be helpful to liquor industry professionals with hectic work and travel schedules?These exercises are all basic exercises many trainers utilize in bootcamp-style classes, and they are all movements using just your bodyweight. No equipment needed, NO EXCUSES!!! I wanted to utilize exercises that anyone of any fitness level can do, and HIIT is perfect for ppl with a hectic work/travel schedules because It’s SHORT AND EFFICIENT; however, I do think it is very important to get the best heart rate monitor to make sure you don't go over it. I wanted to show that “it’s not that hard” to implement a fitness regimen into your life. and with a short workout 3 x per week, you will see changes in body composition, strength, endurance and VO2 max. You did the workout, don’t you agree it’s doable, yet still ass-kicking?!?!? or better yet, ask Donny Ronen. he loves it!What tips do you offer for maintaining health while working many shifts per week as a bartender, or constantly on the road as a Brand Ambassador or Sales Rep?

Prioritize your health. without your health, you have nothing.
Plan your workouts, and COMMIT TO THEM. No getting dragged out for another drink/cocktail. You’ve made a promise to yourself to get up at 8a to workout, time to shut it down. KEEP YOUR WORD WITH YOURSELF AND BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND.
Let the good times roll….to a point. When I travel, it’s ok1-2 nights I’m allowing myself to eat a cheat, or I’m having this fabulous cocktail from this amazing bartender I’ve never tried before. But no need to have 10 drinks with dinner “because it’s your job.” That kind of destructive thinking is what leads to the excess and then when you get home, you’re playing catch up recovering from a booze-filled trip. Who wants to be part of that destructive cycle? NOT ME.
Hydrate—green juice, apple cider vinegar, and water w lemon, and teas. these are all detoxifiers. I’m notorious for drinking tea while others are drinking cocktails. (and I swear I’m still a good time;) )
FISH OIL—it’s a cure all.

Any other motivational words or tips for creating and maintaing balance?I think I’ve already overdone with motivation words, so I’ll leave it at this. I love this industry. I know and love many people in this industry, and the last thing I would want is for anyone to end up in position like my father.AAAAND, I am working on a beverage with a super—ingredient—one spirit, one not alcoholic, that cures the acid reflux source (healing properties for the digestive system are still retained in liquor form) many bartenders hav incurred from drinking so many cocktails over the years! STAY TUNED!!! Plug plugWho is Effie? Beantown Broad meets Citizen of the World. Polyglot. Plate-breaker. Insatiable wanderlust. Rabble-rouser. Cocktail Geek. Likes F words. Food snob. Fitness fanatic. Fellini freak. Foolish fashionista. Democratic dictator. High-strung undercover hippie. The Greek Spirit Muse.