Don't get me wrong, I still miss the ability to jump on 4 tables of rush whenever I'm bored or fire up a full Sunday schedule in hopes of binking a score. I think we all know poker's a game that you can't put less than a 100% effort into if you have a goal of making serious money or at least winning on a consistent basis; the game is constantly changing and you get out what you put in. Personally the improvements in my life:

- Sweet girlfriend
- Best body ever (gym everyday)
- Not skipping meals/eating like crap
- Sleeping better/better schedule
- Best semester GPA ever
- More time with friends/family (they seem to enjoy being around me more)
- Overall happier, not getting upset about swongs

Maybe it's just an isolated case for me since I was never someone who depended on poker to support my lifestyle, and I'm sure those of you that pursued it professionally are not happy about the changes, but anyone else have stories/etc of how their life has changed for the better? Since I finally turned 21 the trips to AC, Vegas, and Mohegan/Foxwoods also seem more like vacations or exciting trips rather than just a boring B&M poker grind.

Sounds to me you weren't balancing your life with poker in a correct manner pre BF.

this.


/tred

[ ] incapable of responding

"boring B&M poker grind" Son one day you will wake up and realize thats why its called work.Gambling with the exspectation your going to drop a g in vegas playing black jack is fun.
Grinding...WORKING is not..Thats why its called f^$%^%ng work.
Christ were do you guys come from

this

Having more sex now, since I am going to bed at a normal hour

Beat:

[X] I'm marred

I've found that i'm much more productive now that i have little to no spending money:

- Got good again at quake 3 (quakelive)
- Got better at starcraft 2
- beat portal 2
- started grinding more TV shows (Game of Thrones is awesome btw)

LOOOOL

LOL

In a way I actually think this temporary hault is good for the game, and gets people back to the roots of the game, starting home games, back to the casinos, etc. Socializing never hurt anyone.

LOL that you consider playing video games a "productive" pursuit.

QF AWESOME

- quit job at the end of may
- significant % networth on fulltilt
- got first kidney stone and 2k ER bill
- pulled over for no seatbelt after leaving poker room and arrested for possessing bananas
- fines and probation and no bananas for a year


I was strictly a PLO player though so I can take it. I'll just keep grinding waiting for some run good!

OP - Wow. A lot of that sure does read like you were WAY too involved in poker while neglecting other aspects of your life. Treating your family better and they evidently are less annoyed by you now? Wow.

Consider the part about the swongs not bothering you so much. And then compare that to the bit where you didn't even use poker to support yourself. That just sticks out to me. Poker wasn't even really that big a deal for your life yet you were totally letting it make your life way more sucky.

In short: Playing online poker on the internet for recreation or full-time for income (or somewhere in-between) doesn't preclude someone from being cool with their family, getting a girlfriend, eating decently, and getting in shape.

Glad your life is better now and you are coming to some realizations. But the problem was most certainly you...and not poker (if you get what I mean there).

[x] Got a job and now I'm making a lot more than I was playing poker.

+1!

I actually like work, it's less demanding and more rewarding (so far, two weeks in.....) But I kindof want poker back too. Come on Zynga!@!

first, dont hate people for not being "balanced". im sure plenty of people dont get out as much as they would if they didnt play poker, especially for tournament players, and especially on sundays. Sounds like this guy has been running hot IRL. not everyone gets a sweet GF every two weeks... He didnt say the problem was poker.

IDK, being bored may inspire me to go to grad school since my job without poker is pretty uninspiring. So I guess it may be a good thing for me in some ways...

Have you seen the people at the casino? Looks like socializing hurt a lot of those people.

lol sick life brah

awesome post love grinding TV shows.

Pre bf I was living at a beach house surfing smoking and sexing my girl bringing in more money than I knew what to do with. Now im in Texas selling alarms door to door. Hollllleeerrr

Can someone explain the bananas reference? I don't get it.

WEED.... I assume he has take random drug test for 1 year per his probation

Weed is referred to as bananas? Learning something new everyday! Thanks.

Everybody who says their life is better post BF was (choose one or more)

A) Completely out of balance with poker
B) Making less than $500 month
C) Gainfully employed or a student
D) Not keeping any sort of roll on full tilt