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Bob Dancer writes a video poker column for beginners to experts. He also writes a column with Jeffrey Compton, "Player's Edge", featuring information on promotions at various Las Vegas casinos. Player's Edge is published each Friday in the Neon section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Click here to send Bob Dancer an e-mail.

For a 3,000-word preview of Bob's juicy new novel, "Sex, Lies, and Video Poker", visit www.bobdancer.com.

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June 27, 2006

A Change of Plan

In February 2006 I turned 59. I used to think that 59 was pretty ancient, but now it doesn't seem old at all. I took stock of my life, including the fact that I've averaged about 70 hours a week at video poker over the preceding 12 years (if you include playing, practicing, doing research for articles, writing articles, scouting for new opportunities, etc.) It's been a full time profession, and I've willingly spent more time doing it than I ever did at a "real job." According to most measures, I've been very successful at this profession.

In addition to knowledge, wealth, accolades, etc. that I've picked up from video poker, I picked up an additional 50 pounds over what I weighed when I moved to Vegas in 1993 to be a blackjack player --- and I wasn't skinny when I got here. Playing video poker and writing about it are very sedentary activities, and the amount of free food they throw at you in casinos makes it easy to gain weight. As a "solution" to this, I decided that by my 60th birthday (February 2007), I would lose 60 pounds and run a 10K (6.2 miles) in one hour or less.

This would be a major accomplishment. At the time I made the commitment, I probably could run a quarter mile in three minutes --- if I were allow to collapse afterwards because I would be totally out of breath. Desserts weren't a major temptation for me, and I neither smoke nor drink, but five cups of coffee a day and a similar number of Diet Cokes had to go. The diet plan I chose to follow said "no caffeine, and no artificial sweeteners" (among many other restrictions), so I put up with the headaches for several days and am now caffeine-free.

There are numerous diet plans out there and what they all have in common is that they rarely work. It's no big trick to lose 20-30 pounds on any of the diets. Usually all the weight comes back, with interest! Further, various diets gave conflicting advice. How do you know which "guru" to believe? I decided to go with the "Fat Flush" approach (by Ann Louise Gittleman) and I've been happy with that decision, but I suspect any plan that emphasizes lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can work.

Today, four months later, I am down 35 pounds and can run three quarters of a mile without dying. The gym we frequent is 4.5 miles away, and I ride my bike both ways on my thrice-weekly visits. Including forty-five minutes of walk/running on my non-gym days, I get in about six hours a week of "cardio" and three hours a week of weight training. When I started, my trainer told me he wanted me to do 3 hours a week of cardio, and I told him that was out of the question. I'd not exercised for three years and that much aerobic conditioning all at once could be a problem. Yet, not so long afterwards, I'm doing double that.

So far it's working. I understand the "first" 35 pounds will be a LOT easier to remove than the "last" 25, but I'm on the right track. My brother and I have picked out an 8K run (5 miles) the week of my birthday next year, and we're both going for it. He'll still be a youngster of 49 years old when he runs, but he has his own weight and exercise issues to deal with. It'll be a significant challenge for both of us, and we have a side bet on the results that'll keep each other honest.

So why do I bring this up in a video poker column? Because the majority of my video poker friends are overweight --- with many being obese, and a few being morbidly obese. Beating the casino is fun and profitable, but what's the use of becoming wealthy if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it? I care about these people and I believe the statistics that say that obese people have a far shorter life expectancy than do normal-weight people. If I can support my friends into making healthier choices, then my life works better as well because they'll be around longer.

My decision was that spending "only" 60 hours a week at video poker is going to have to be enough. I am now taking care of myself for ten hours a week that I used to devote to video poker. I used to say that I didn't have enough time to exercise. Nonsense! I set my own hours and it's a matter of setting priorities. It will likely mean $25K a year less in income because I'm not working as many hours, not to mention a few thousand dollars going to a personal trainer, but that's a small price to pay. I'd like to be able to run, hike, swim, make love, etc. when I'm 80 years old, and the only way to be able to do that is to take care of myself between now and then.

Next week I'll be back to my more typical video poker column, and I'll save my preaching for that subject. But today's column was about something that many video poker players need to take to heart.