Poker and Exercise
I’ve been battling with diabetes for about two years now. I was diagnosed at 26 years old with type II diabetes which was kind of shocking since I’m not overweight. Over time I’ve tried to cut sugar out of my diet, but apparently that isn’t enough. My doctor tells me that I need to exercise and cut back on my drinking; two things that I’m not inclined to do.
Alas, the threat of an early death makes one do funny things. I thought long and hard about my loathing of exercise and tried to figure out a way to work in an hour of cardio every day. Then it hit me. I play at least an hour of poker every day, so why not combine the two? Poker would distract me from the unbelievable tedium of moving my legs rapidly without going anywhere and the exercise would distract me from the boredom of playing tight Sit ‘N Goes while giving me a way to work out my rage at some of the bad beats I take. It’s a win-win-win!
So here’s my set-up.
I admit it’s a little ghetto-fabulous, but it got the job done. I ended up exercising for an hour and ten minutes while playing four Sit ‘N Goes and watching Comedy Central (I know, hard to believe someone who plays poker and watches Comedy Central needs to exercise, but work with me here.). At the end of the hour and ten minute stretch, I’d busted out of two SNGs, placed second in one, and first in one. Not bad.
Of course it wasn’t all fun. I spent much of my time leaning over the elliptical, huffing and puffing to reach the computer; but then again, I usually spent my exercise time leaning over the elliptical while huffing and puffing anyway. I also made a few errors. I’d call when I meant to raise or I wouldn’t raise the amount that I meant to. It’s hard to get everything right when your fingers are bouncing up and down while you’re trying to type or scroll the bet bar. I imagine it’s a lot like trying to play online poker while having sex (like you never thought about it. Don’t judge.).
Looks like this will be my MO for awhile. Hopefully my blood sugar will go down and my bankroll will go up. Poker and exercise – who knew?
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