Health & Workout Routine

I'm not sure how many hardcore online players we have here, or how many here play for atleast some sort of income but I think there is a decent amount.

All poker players need to be on top of their games mentally and yes even physically. The game can be draining at times and can take its toll on the body. I've always heard numerous poker players say that they try to consistently work out or have a routine going.

My question is do you have a workout routine, and for those that do or don't maybe you could offer some healthy eating, workout pointers or what not. It's kind of tough to word the question I'm trying to ask so maybe we should just dicuss it.

I frequently go out to do something in my kitchen garden ... between sittings. Must give myself time away from the terminal. To keep mentally fit, I will often do some WEB or program applet coding, or simply read a good book on my Kindle eReader.

Good topic, I've got a gym membership and go 3-4 times/week pretty regularly actual exercises probably aren't too important just normal stuff like bench/squat/etc. I probably don't pay enough attention to eating I do ok eating healthy stuff but like I'll frequently skip meals and eat at weird times that end up to me basically probably not eating enough.

I dont do much exercise, other than walking along the coast, but as for healthy eating try to eat as much natural foods as possible, compared to processed foods, ie nuts/fruit/veg/legumes etc, rather than chocolate/candy crap like that. drink lots of water, at least 2 litres a day, and try out herbal teas, like chamomile to calm you down, and mint etc to wake you up. oh yeah, and lots of sleep is so beneficial.

I've recently started to get some exercise after a couple years of a very sedentary lifestyle. And, not surprisingly, I think I'm playing much better poker now than I was before.

I'm constantly doing 5 or 6 things at a time, so my brain doesn't get a chance to rest until I try to go to sleep. Just going out for a walk gives me a chance to let my mind wander, and I think it really helps my focus when I return to the tables. It reminds me of something my grandfather used to say when we were rushing around getting nothing accomplished: "Less haste. More speed!"

But eating healthy while being tied to a computer definitely isn't easy. I'd like to know if any of you have any good ideas for quick/easy meals that aren't all fat and/or sodium. I've started keeping light microwave popcorn around for those long MTTs, for a start. The 5-minute breaks are just long enough for that.

Now that summer is here I've started gardening big time, will walk the dog more and get out fishing to blow out the winter cobwebs and get some more exercise.

Actually, I find the best thing, just like poker, is to find something physical that you ENJOY. I train martial arts, and cay say that I LOVE IT. I do it 6 times a week, between 1 hour to 90 minutes, and it's exhausting. But it gets me into great shape, and I love doing it every bit as much as I love to play poker. Really, if you don't like what you do to exercise, good chance you won't stick to it. Find a sport you like, do it 3 times a week at least. It's an amazing alternative.

I found golf helps my poker and vice versa. Walking golf course is good aerobic exercise and playing poker helps me play more patient golf. Any type of exercise helps clear my head, especially after a bad beat.

haha, funny you mention golf, because quite a few of the poker professionals do it. Golf is a great way to get rid of the stress some bad beats or a bad night of poker can cause also. but yea, as you can see, instead of going through an exercise routine, sports might be a much better way to get acomplished what you want.

Ok, in the spirit of this thread, I came home today and had a bowl of cantaloupe, half an orange, and about 8 blackberries. Then I played a $2 matrix SNG. Finishes of 1,1,5,6, and won the outright title. It works!

I used to play golf but as of recent note I've been getting more and more into tennis. I just love the sport and quite honestly it is a great work out. I recommend trying it if you've never played before. I even got a few friends hooked on the sport now.

I think I need to get into a routine where I play golf a few days out of the week (walking) and tennis a few days out of the week. Tennis can be exhausting.

Also has anyone ever dabbled in meditation?

Cleaning is a good because you get 2 things done at once and you feel mentaly and physicaly good when you sit your butt down on your seat ready to play poker for long hours cause you can see smell everything clean around you and you feel relaxed from working out (cleaning) Its so perfect in some many ways ..

Also working out can help you get good sleep and can help you poker game to. So after your poker session if it ends at night you can do as much sit ups as you can or do reps as many as you can , I usually do 300 and im out like a baby !!

Wolfpack43ACC said:

I used to play golf but as of recent note I've been getting more and more into tennis. I just love the sport and quite honestly it is a great work out. I recommend trying it if you've never played before. I even got a few friends hooked on the sport now.

I think I need to get into a routine where I play golf a few days out of the week (walking) and tennis a few days out of the week. Tennis can be exhausting.

Also has anyone ever dabbled in meditation?

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yea i just joined for the first time USTA league tennis ! Im so happy I did it is so much fun we might go to sectionals in seal beach . Pray for us !! lol

look up usta league tennis and you can find a local one in your area. peace

Wolfpack43ACC said:

I used to play golf but as of recent note I've been getting more and more into tennis. I just love the sport and quite honestly it is a great work out. I recommend trying it if you've never played before. I even got a few friends hooked on the sport now.

I think I need to get into a routine where I play golf a few days out of the week (walking) and tennis a few days out of the week. Tennis can be exhausting.

Also has anyone ever dabbled in meditation?

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wolf pack this is a must watch video for your meditation. man it works so well for my tennis matches. When i go play after doing what this video says I feel so strong in my mind and able to concentrat only on the tennis ball meeting my strings !!!

YouTube - How to meditate

I meditate twice a day (in the morning and the evening) and have been doing so for about 10 years. You should give it a try.

I do training sessions 2-3 times a week (pull-ups, push-ups, situps, that type of stuff) and I swim once or twice a week in the ocean, for about 1 or 1.5km.

It's all about what you eat though, and I try to drink 1 or 2 litres of water a day.

Wolfpack43ACC said:

I'm not sure how many hardcore online players we have here, or how many here play for atleast some sort of income but I think there is a decent amount.

All poker players need to be on top of their games mentally and yes even physically. The game can be draining at times and can take its toll on the body. I've always heard numerous poker players say that they try to consistently work out or have a routine going.

My question is do you have a workout routine, and for those that do or don't maybe you could offer some healthy eating, workout pointers or what not. It's kind of tough to word the question I'm trying to ask so maybe we should just dicuss it.

Click to expand...

Ok so now you have given me some food for thought - I can sometimes go for a few days and have difficulty tearing myself away from my pc. My husband is out a lot due to his snooker commitments so I am alone a lot and tend to overdo it without any excercise or proper eating. I get so involved that I forget to eat!

I have actually lost a few dress sizes in the past few months due to my obsession. Granted, its not only poker but I have started writing articles (not poker related) and also gone on a self appointed mission to hunt down password thieves. Sometimes my body is exhausted but my mind wont switch off!!!

I get so involved that I dont even usually know what day it is!

Perhaps its time to try a routine hey?

i try to workoout 4 to 5 times a week. i've been doing this for over 1 1/2 years now. i cant tell you how much it has changes my life. i feel so much calmer i feel and look better. i also feel as though i can think clearer. i do basic stuff situps,pushups,pullups,squats. now i've gotten into weights but have been going light as its not my goal to get bulked up. but it would be my advice as to avoid tilt.

cardplayer52 said:

i try to workoout 4 to 5 times a week. i've been doing this for over 1 1/2 years now. i cant tell you how much it has changes my life. i feel so much calmer i feel and look better. i also feel as though i can think clearer. i do basic stuff situps,pushups,pullups,squats. now i've gotten into weights but have been going light as its not my goal to get bulked up. but it would be my advice as to avoid tilt.

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Do you do this at home or actually go out to a gym cardplayer? I must say that I have noticed on the occasions that I do leave home and go for a walk or do something different that my game improves dramatically!

I actually hate public places so would have to look at something to do at home.

Dam, all this requires discipline, and its easy to apply discpline to something that you "want" to do but so difficult when it is something that you "have" to do!

dropdead1 said:

Do you do this at home or actually go out to a gym cardplayer? I must say that I have noticed on the occasions that I do leave home and go for a walk or do something different that my game improves dramatically!

I actually hate public places so would have to look at something to do at home.

Dam, all this requires discipline, and its easy to apply discpline to something that you "want" to do but so difficult when it is something that you "have" to do!

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i do it at home. i got one of those swiss balls. i love it. its sort of fun to use too. the ball is awesome. you can just sit on it while playing online. this helps your balance as well as works yours abs and core while playing poker. i had a book that went along w/the ball but my sister got it. what i started doing was, take a certain exersise and try to do a certain amount a day. till i got used to them and could do more. when i started i could only do maybe 3 pullups. so what i did was i did 4 sets of 4. i did my 3 then used a chair to get above the bar and would go down as slow as a could for the 4th one. then my second set i would do like 2 and cheat for 2. etc. i would do pullups twice a week each time i was able to do more and more. now i can do like 30 straight. but its a little each time not all at once. put aside 1/2 hr to 45 minutes each day or just 4 times a week.

dropdead1 said:

Ok so now you have given me some food for thought - I can sometimes go for a few days and have difficulty tearing myself away from my pc. My husband is out a lot due to his snooker commitments so I am alone a lot and tend to overdo it without any excercise or proper eating. I get so involved that I forget to eat!

I have actually lost a few dress sizes in the past few months due to my obsession. Granted, its not only poker but I have started writing articles (not poker related) and also gone on a self appointed mission to hunt down password thieves. Sometimes my body is exhausted but my mind wont switch off!!!
I get so involved that I dont even usually know what day it is!

Perhaps its time to try a routine hey?

Click to expand...

"Sometimes my body is exhausted but my mind wont switch off!!!"

Thats what Breathing meditaion is all about. It is the process of having no thought !!! So you concentrate on your natural breathing and everytime you start to think of something else you go right back to keeping track of your breathing. That way you can get to a state of no thought. Many people all thier lives have not switched off so to speake their brains thats why your brain gets tired and developes anxiety and stress . I believe its impossible to actually have no thought but you can at least minumize it to just being aware of your breathing Then imagine after all your life your brain finally shuts down for a few seconds (reboots) and walla . Back to 100 percent!!!

PS I love 9 and 8 ball Apa 5.0 player

YouTube - How to meditate

wow nexus this is amazing, I bypassed the video earlier cos it costs a fortune here to watch anything on you tube...

but I watched this and it is amazing, is there any link that you can give me to download it so that I dont have to keep watching it online and bankrupting myself - I am a freak for repetition!!!

wow it really seems like what I need cos most times when I lay down to sleep, I have something on my mind and within 2 minutes of laying down I have thought of another angle and am up at the pc again!

With things like this I need to keep playing it over and over until my mind accepts it as a truth, I think and then perhaps I can tryong moving forward from there?

dropdead1 said:

wow nexus this is amazing, I bypassed the video earlier cos it costs a fortune here to watch anything on you tube...

but I watched this and it is amazing, is there any link that you can give me to download it so that I dont have to keep watching it online and bankrupting myself - I am a freak for repetition!!!

wow it really seems like what I need cos most times when I lay down to sleep, I have something on my mind and within 2 minutes of laying down I have thought of another angle and am up at the pc again!

With things like this I need to keep playing it over and over until my mind accepts it as a truth, I think and then perhaps I can tryong moving forward from there?

Click to expand...

Im not familiar with how to go about getting you the video or why you can't watc it for free.. would it work if I just email you the url?

So what's the news bro? I'm interested in what you've decided to do.

dropdead1 said:

wow nexus this is amazing, I bypassed the video earlier cos it costs a fortune here to watch anything on you tube...

but I watched this and it is amazing, is there any link that you can give me to download it so that I dont have to keep watching it online and bankrupting myself - I am a freak for repetition!!!

wow it really seems like what I need cos most times when I lay down to sleep, I have something on my mind and within 2 minutes of laying down I have thought of another angle and am up at the pc again!

With things like this I need to keep playing it over and over until my mind accepts it as a truth, I think and then perhaps I can tryong moving forward from there?

Click to expand...

I hope this can work ..

<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/yt-inmeP8gZtrQ/how_to_really_meditate.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="<A href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-inmeP8gZtrQ/how_to_really_meditate/">How">http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-inmeP8gZtrQ/how_to_really_meditate/">How to Really Meditate</a> - <a href="<A href="http://www.metacafe.com/">The">http://www.metacafe.com/">The funniest videos clips are here</a></font>

CardConnoisseur said:

So what's the news bro? I'm interested in what you've decided to do.

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be carefull the moderators here are very consistant with viewing what is legit post or not ..