Keeping fit for gamblers.

My favourite blog post title so far.  Welcome to the punt.com gym, I am your trainer...  not really.

A post inspired by a topic on the Betfair forum.  The question was, how important is keeping fit for the full time/part time gambler/trader ?

I'm not sure you can quantify how important it is, only confirm that it is important.  We've all heard of the saying - a healthy body is a healthy mind, or words to this effect.  Well, it's true, unfortunately.

The stereotypical image of a gambler is an overweight, mid 40s, unshaven, hermit man.  Probably very pale, maybe translucent, not having seen daylight for several weeks (or months).. crouched over his keyboard, numbly punching in £12.50 bets on some dog or other in the 14:52 at Walthamstow.  I have confidence that this person exists.  Then I ask, is he successful ?  Probably not, by most definitions.

If you call success making a profit, then it's possible he is.  Most people however wouldn't call him a success, and I honestly doubt he makes anything meaningful.

To be good in this game takes focus, energy and stamina.  All of which you can only maintain or improve by keeping a level of fitness.  This is especially true if you are trading.  You have to be able to hold your concentration for extended periods.  A slower heart rate during fast paced trading is an advantage, and of course there's the stress of the profession which can take a toll on your heart.

Strangely enough, you lose fitness when you are sat on your arse all day.  Muscle drains away and turns to fat, your outlook on life gets lazy - how often can you be bothered to do anything.  Discipline goes out the window as you order your third pizza takeaway of the week..  depression sets in soon after and the mind-body relationship becomes oh so clear.  It's grim.

Thankfully it's pretty easy to sort out and doesn't have to involve joining a gym, though this can be a good idea.  You have to do what's best for yourself and what you find convenient and easy to maintain.  30+ minutes of walking quickly, 3/4 times a week, will have an impact if you currently do nothing at all.  Get yourself an iPod and march round the block.  Even better is finding a sport you enjoy and playing it, rather than watching it like you normally do.

Avoid eating rubbish.  The mind-body thing doesn't just apply to fitness, it's what you eat as well.  It's a bugger isn't it.  There's loads of healthy grub that tastes good though, hunt it down.

Lastly, a list of possible benefits relating fitness to trading and gambling:

• More energy to trade and research.  Trading properly takes energy to achieve.  Trading properly for long periods of time is draining, after a while you will begin to make bad decisions and it's time to call it a day.
• Less mental laziness.  Related to the point above, if you are fit you can think clearly for longer and act upon decisions.  That analysis of stats from last year's footie season gets done rather than put off.  Standard deviation becomes a doddle (maybe).
• A more positive outlook.  You become better at dealing with losses, making them back through further hard work is no longer a cause for getting down on yourself. 
• It builds discipline and determination.  If you are disciplined to go out for a walk or run, and you successfully do it, then it passes through into other parts of your life - trading and gambling.  Positive action, re-enforced and carried out has a big impact on how you think.
• More stamina to trade.  Not just physical, but mental too.
• Sitting down for long periods can affect your posture and back muscles.  This is less likely to occur.
• Health issues that occur due to lack of activity are prevented (clearly this should be near the top).
• You change people's perceptions of what a gambler should look like.
• More self esteem and happiness wasn't ever a bad thing.
• The brain functions poorly if it's not fed properly or hydrated (with water!).
• A healthy mind and body is a healthy spirit.  You will have better balance to your life, the way you perceive things will change, your ability to see the bigger picture will not only benefit your life but also your trading.

It's pretty simple stuff really.  If you truly want to be a professional, you need to consider all parts of the game and that includes fitness and health.  I'm not saying this is the only way to do things, only that it can't do you any harm, in gambling terms it's a huge free bet at a juicy price !  "get on" / "get involved" :)   

Having done this for 3 1/2 years,  I can tell you it makes a big difference.  When I began full time I was fairly fit, but that was due to my working lifestyle maintaining that level.  Sitting down for a living changed that and it wasn't long before I started to notice the effects, even as a 24 year old.  The worst of it is my back, which is sore and stiff most days.. I gained some weight, but that's pretty much gone now and my back hasn't worsened for some time and does improve with exercise.  The best thing about getting to the gym though I have to say is my mentality.  I always feel ready to go and more energetic once I've finished my exercise and that I believe is how you know you're doing it right.

   

Comments

[Arnold]

Hi Mr. Punt,

You just got yourself an extra fan. Such Words of Wisdom for a 24-year old, which is also my age. I'll be reading your blog regularly from now on.

Regards,
Arnold
The Netherlands

[Matt]

Hey Arnold :)

Thanks for the nice feedback, and happy to hear I have another reader! My subscriptions are beginning to take off.

I should explain I was 24 when I began to do this seriously, I'm now 28, almost 29 and the importance of staying fit is becoming more important over time. I've also learnt a lot during the last few years and it's time to share some of it.

Also great to see I have a fan in the Netherlands, I have a few visitors from there... does "Punt" have a Dutch meaning ?

Matt

[Robz]

Nice blog Matt - dont give too many secrets away!!

Had to smile at your heart rate comment - I'm on beta blockers for life thanks to a cardiac episode a few years ago so I have a little advantage!! (helps at the poker table too ...)

[traderpete]

Good stuff again Matt.Keeps us all coming back mate.
What channel do you get all this tennis on.I think I'm gonna gave to find some more sports to add to my Gee-Gees

[Matt]

Cheers Robz and pete.

I've checked your blog Robz, entertaining stuff, I'll be returning to yours I'm sure :) I envy your use of betablockers at times hehe Handy !

Pete, tennis can be found in the UK on Eurosport (WTA tour, French Open and Aussie Open), Skysports (US Open and Master Series events) and the BBC and BBCi (Wimbledon, Queens, interactive coverage of French and Aussies if I remember rightly).

Tread carefully into the tennis trading world, it's not straight forward and is certainly a very different beast to the gee-gees. I have a post on newbie tennis trading penciled in for the blog so look out for it - it'll be a short one to alert people to some of the not so obvious dangers.

[the_mgt]

I used to find swimming very beneficial but alas these days I don't take much excercise.
I am interested in the use of food supplements that enhance explosive mental energy.
Good luck with the blog,Matt and will post more once I get the hang of it.

mgt.

[Arnold]

Hi Matt,

"Punt" means "point" in Dutch. I can wait to read your tennis stories and reports of the Aussie Open.

Arnold

[Matt]

Ah the legendary mgt arrives :) Glad you're here having a read and commenting. The more the merrier.

Supplements are an interesting one. I have ot say I swear by my multi vitamins, the ones that have pretty much everything in them, all the trace minerals etc I'm not sure I've improved concentration or anything like that, but I no longer get those white bits on my nails ! Perhaps I should test some of the supplements out there, ginseng etc and report back. Quite a good time to do it too with the night shifts I'm doing.

Interesting "point" Arnold. Thanks for that, I do get a fair amount of Dutch visitors, that must be why. Hopefully I'm not turning all my Dutch visitors into gamblers !

[Sand Racer]

One of the better pieces and most obscure gambling articles i've read. I must admit, since i've got behind this computer more and more lately, I have gotten a bit of a paunch.