Losing Weight (discipline)

I was in a 'biggest loser' weight loss challenge at work. Fourteen of us put $50 each into the pot at the first of the year. Rules were simple, biggest loser by percentage of weight lost, we all weighed in on the same scale. The contest lasted three months, and yesterday I weighed in with a 40-pound loss, started at 231 pounds. I ended up in third place. The winner lost 46 pounds, started at 204. Second place beat me by less than 1% difference.

I hit my goal, losing 40 pounds is a win in itself. The $700 would have been nice though. Now to continue the discipline I learned, at a different level. I need to eat more calories and maintain weight while adding healthy muscle and continuing to drop off bad fat.

I think this applies to poker discipline. Why? Because I can win in spurts playing aggressively, but also will lose in spurts just as big. Just like one can cut calories and lose pounds in spurts, but also have a big meal and put a lot back on. Playing big and not having enough discipline to control big loses is not smart poker. I want to learn to be consistent, win lots of the small to medium pots, take my big ones then I can, but keep my loses small.

So, my way of eating will change. I will consume more calories, but under the same controlled balance that let me lose weight. My weight loss will slow down, but be more manageable and I will workout much more so be healthier. I hope to parallel this in my poker discipline. Stay within my comfort zone; limit my risks while maximizing my gains. Play consistently, while keeping up a healthy image.