Dude, Why Is He Having a Heart Attack?
by Brian Heptinstall

Never before have you watched Brian Urlacher come around the corner of the opposing team's offensive line, only to take out a feeble, rickety 80-year-old man. It might sound funny, but we do this every day in our profession. There you are, a young sprout in your 20s or 30s, holding a set of Aces against the man across the table, who might have been a construction worker for Noah and the Ark. You put out a small bet and the elder decides he's trapped you enough and moves all-in, which you call. To his amazement, his pocket threes are no good, and for some reason, you feel bad?! And then it happens.....

Poker is truly a sport where anyone can play. Yes, most people won't come over the table at you in pads and helmets, but it can be brutal. So, we must all decide what's best to help us mentally and physically. For most of us, this probably means reading a few books while eating our favorite sugar-coated doughnut, but I must let you in on a little secret ... this is not the best solution! Reading books for training is great, of course, since there are books on everything from strategy to money management. Just choose the appropriate subject you feel you most need and study.

But let's spend some time on the one thing that has not been discussed in many books for poker players, diet and physical training for long periods of sitting at the table. Yes, we need to train for it, and the training starts out several days before we even make it to the first satellite. First, we need to set up a healthy diet for ourselves with foods that aren't too hard to obtain in a casino environment. The diet will be followed before, during, and after the games. These are usually a good mixture of the fuel for your body:

1. Carbohydrates, which are the most important fuel source, found in fruits, vegetables, pastas, and breads.
2. Proteins, which come in meats, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, nuts, dairy products and other foods.
3. Fats, which should be taken lightly but is still recommended in small doses. I repeat... SMALL DOSES!

Most casinos and hotels have enough of a selection for you to be able to accommodate a loose diet (notice I say loose, not too loose). More and more restaurants are providing lighter menus that also will help satisfy your poker hunger.

Another important thing to remember about a diet is to drink plenty of water, and drink it in small frequent amounts. Most casinos provide this prescription in the form of 8 oz. bottled waters, which are free! Stay away from coffee. It is a stimulant, which most of us know will pick us up, only to take us right back down.

We all remember playing on the playground in elementary school and how we settled down after coming in from a hard hour of running after lunch. This leads me to exercise, which is an important factor in the endurance at the felted octagon. I like to walk around my peaceful neighborhood when I can to keep the blood moving. So several days before the tournament or major cash game, I like to take a walk around the town I'm in and see the sights. It also helps my heart to be able to handle the ups and downs of the game. The night before I go to battle, I will do whatever it takes to dispense some energy for the next day as this helps to build it up for the grueling days ahead. Usually this will be a short run around the property. Or, if the property has a gym I will hit the bikes or even swim laps. This will help clear my mind.

Good mental health will always follow if you use some of these basic strategies. Remember that cardiovascular exercise will get the blood flowing. If you have the proper nutrients in your blood stream from a well-balanced diet rich in carbs, protein, and water, then everything will fall into place. Proper planning before, during, and after the tournament will help you to keep the edge you need to be able to beat up young and old alike!

And by the way, I did see an elderly man take a dive at my table over the same scenario as in the first paragraph. He later died that night from a blocked artery that could've been avoided if he would have just exercised and ate right! (I may go to hell for saying that)

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About the Author:
Brian Heptinstall began playing poker like most everyone else by learning in a Sunday night game in college. Since then, it's been quite a whirlwind for him as a player, and a person. Brian is a graduate of culinary school and once worked for Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Resort in Palm Beach, Florida. He resides in Hoover and is an avid Crimson Tide Fan.