Fitness for Pool Players?

[Jimmy M.]

Jennifer, I know that you and your husband own a gym in NY. Perhaps one of your threads on here could deal with giving fitness advice to us broke down, decrepit pool players. Personally, I was working on the overloaded stomach physique, you know, in an effort to help me stay down on the ball and not jump up. My regimen? No excercise, just sit my lazy ass in front of the computer all day (at work), then come home, eat dinner - don't forget dessert - then relax for a while and go out and hit balls. However, it wasn't doing the trick for me. While my stomach was getting increasingly heavy and round, it didn't really stop me from jumping up. In fact, I just noticed that I got fatigued faster if I played a long session, or if I had to play numerous back-to-back matches in a tournament. So now I'm on to other methods of "Pool Training". If I had known the outcome from the beginning, I would have gone straight to the gym to start with!

 

[JennBarretta]

That's a very good idea! I'll start with the basic things to cut out of your diet. Cutting the following things out can make a huge difference.

Things to avoid:

Fried food
Mayonnaise (use ketchup, mustard or lowfat mayo instead)
Creamy sauces & dressings (unless they are lowfat)
Regular soda (one can has as many calories as a balanced meal)
Juice (most of them are high fructose corn syrup. one glass of real OJ per day is fine)
Butter (yes, I know it tastes good)
Bacon (turkey bacon is a better option, and it actually tastes good)
Most bagged snack foods (potato chips, doritos etc.) eat fruit or baked Lay's potato chips instead.
Cake, candy, brownies, chocolate etc. (These things are fine in moderation...meaning 2 small servings per week...a slice of cake, not a whole cake)

Believe it or not once you stop eating these foods you stop wanting them. Except for butter. mmmmm.

Jenn

 

[XzyluM]

Yikes! I can never see myself avoiding those foods. Juice is the only one I really avoid right now.

 

[Williebetmore]

Here's some more handy dietary advice (given to a friend of mine after bypass surgery) - "If it tastes good, spit it out."

 

[JennBarretta]

What can you eat?

Funny advice Willie! I remember when I first was told to cut these things out of my diet...I didn't think it was possible. The funny thing is now when I try to eat these foods they make me sick! Somewhere along the line people starting eating for pleasure instead of for fuel. Our bodies are like high performance cars...if you give them good fuel they purr like kittens, if you give them the crappy stuff they break down.

What can you eat?

Protein & carbohydrates in every meal:

Protein:
All kinds of fish
Lean red meats
Poultry (take the skin off)
Egg whites or egg beaters

Carbs:
Rice (brown is better than white)
Baked Potato or baked yam
Whole grain breads
Pasta (capellini and angel hair are the best)

Good fats: (your body needs some fat, eat these sparingly)
Avocado
Nuts (including peanut butter)
Olive oil

Good luck & remember...food is fuel, not entertainment!

Jenn

 

[twiztid_cue]

Jenn,

Thanks for the help. I am starting to hit the gym tomorrow again for the first time in over a year and a half. I guess that is what happens then your girlfriend doesn't let you do what you want and wants to spend every day with you. But I am going to try and give up fried foods. Chicken cutlets are my fav. Is there any other tips you can give us men that might help us lose our belleys? Thats my worst spot on me to get toned.

 

[KingCarom]

I think it is really important for pool players to get exercise. I always feel better, more confident about myself when I have been running and working out. I feel sharper mentally and think it leads to an overall improvment to my game. Give it a try, if you havent worked out for some time, go run for 40 minutes then go out and play that night, you might be pleasantly surprised at how good you feel and how that helps your game.

BTW Jenn, Great to have you on the board! Don't get run off by any of the freaks here that love to cast insults or make rude comments.

 

[JennBarretta]

Hi Twiztid & King Carom!

Twiztid...guys (and girls) can lose their bellies by following the diet above, and getting in a little exercise a few times a week. You don't have to go to the gym, but play basketball or ride a bike! When people say their metabolisms slow down as they get older, I don't think it's their metabolism...I think it's their lifestyle. Think of all of the active things you did as a younger person, and get out there & start doing them again!

King Carom, I completely agree with you. Exercise not only makes you look better, it clears your mind. I always bring my workout clothes to tournaments so I can do light workouts in the morning before my matches. It destresses me and wakes me up so I am alert, calm and ready to play. As far as negative people scaring me away...I haven't had any experience like that, but I would never let that stop me! I'm tougher than I look.

Jenn