Six Months ago I was down and out. I blew my online bankroll, was working a ****ty job in the back of a pawnshop, and continued to make unsuccessful 5/10 runs. To top things off I was completely out of shape, smoking bowl after bowl, and remained dirty and unkept.

I needed a total transformation. Don't ask me why but I decided to join Tae Kwon Do. At first it was strictly to get back into shape. At 5'10 and 235 I was borderline Obese.. It wasn't long before I realized that the benefits were far reaching beyond physical appearance. I started to care about myself again. My energy level increased. MY Mental Focus at the tables started to increase. Overtime I started to realize that I could mentally stop myself from going on tilt.

Along with my mental game I changed my preperation for online grinding. First and foremost I made sure that before sitting down at my computer that my station was clean.. that my apartment was clean.. that I had taken a fresh shower. I also drilled bankroll management into my head. Instead of trying to turn 500 into 10k and dumping it along the way time after time... I put the breaks on. I've included a chart of the poker bankroll stairway to high stakes.

Finally I think that quiting the dank was a big issue. overall my game has evolved to a deeper level. As it stands I'm back down to 190 pounds, my mental game is intact, and I have built a steady bankroll of over 20k.

[IMG]http://api.ning.com/files/aGxZCfrLEnvxo1OS5L8Hrhz2BdjnpLL*aPz6lHF8qHPj88nWfK HRFlBieYS4L0XjbO0o91tOUxZsvcpImxQLSPVyRSFsRCvN/stairwayhighstakespokerbankroll.gif[/IMG]

That stairway to high stakes is terrible BRM. Don't move up to NL10 until 300? Don't move up to NL50 until 1,500? NITS!

Yeah but did you ever get Aces?

I always feel that the days I hit the gym, I am mentally much more energertic and alert. Its a massive difference, although I am more interested in the dank part. Have you quit it ?? Does smoking make any difference to the way you play. GL OP.

I don't mean to put down dank in anyway.. I just feel like there is no way I could mentally grind 5/10 NL on a daily basis efficiently if I was still high all the time. It was fine for 1/2 2/5 and grinding long online tournys. The mental focus and energy boost is needed when it comes to long grinds and thousands of dollars.

When I am sober, I am very Impatient. So i feel like the weed helps me calm the **** down and not play crap hands, or do 'overly creative' things just cause I get bored too easily.

FYP