Attemption to divine the next move in this yo yo of a market calls for a lot of hours seated in front of a computer. This can wreak havoc on your back and your core. These are the cornerstones of you skeletal system and support almost every other part of your body. I've mentioned this before and it bears repeating.
Good posture is a sign of good health. A strong lower back and abdomen are very helpful during a marathon session on your feet on the trading floor during the day or in front of the computer later that night. Another thing to consider is that one tends to carry oneself with more confidence which inspires confidence in others. Don't want the troops seeing you slouched over, right? And lastly, your weekend ball games and fun with the kids will call upon you to shoulder the kind of load a lackluster core just can't handle.
Today I'm going to lay out a solid core sculpting workout that will not only strengthen your body's center of support, but also carve an attractive midsection. .
1) Oblique Cable Crunch
A. Grasp a rope handle attached to a high cable pulley and kneel about 2 feet from the weight stack.
Turn your body about 45 degrees to the left so that you're at an angle to the cable apparatus.
Position your hands down on top of your head and keep your arms locked in this position throughout the exercise. Your knees should be bent at close to a 90-degree angle, and your hips should create an angle just beyond 90 degrees between your torso and thighs.
B. Inhale and hold your breath as you pull down against the resistance, flexing and twisting your spine by contracting your abdominals and obliques. Attempt to bring your right elbow to your left knee.
Hold this position for a second as you forcefully exhale and contract your abs and obliques.
Slowly return to the start position, resisting the weight with your abs and obliques.
Pause for a moment,then inhale and repeat for repetitions.
2) Crunch
A. Lie on the floor with your knees bent and hands behind your head.
B. Curl up, bringing you torso toward your knees, concentrating on crunching your abs muscles as you come up. Try to get your shoulder blades off the floor. Don't pull on your head or press your chin into your chest.
3) Hanging Knee Raise
A. Grasp a high bar so that your body hangs freely without your feet touching the floor. Hang with your arms fully extended and a slight arch in your lower back.
B. Bend your legs and raise your knees towards your chest. For this exercise to be effective, your knees should come up above your hips. Return to the start position.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
SERENITY NOW!
It goes without saying that our jobs are pretty stressful. Maybe not as much so as saaaaayyyy Jimmy Cayne over at Bear Stearns (any bidders out there? BSC closed at $116 today), but given these markets, it's a nutty way to live. www.breakingviews.com
However, this is what we bargained for when we chose this career. Some of the traders and investment bankers I've met have no concept of stress relief. They think relaxation and toning life down a few octaves is for wimps. Really, why make all that dough if you're dead by 40? If you have to work 80 hours per week in this environment, here are some tips that will help you enjoy it a little more, perform a little better, and live a little longer.
Today we'll focus on your diet. Yes, your diet can affect stress and vice versa. Failure to eat right can cause your body to experience blood sugar imbalances, higher cortisol output, and blood pressure changes. When you're going a hundred miles an hour all day you forget some important things, like;
Drinking water. You need 8 glasses a day, period. It helps in fat loss and regulates blood pressure.
Eating foods prepared by others. I.E. Fast food or prepackaged meals. Food we make ourselves means we put more thought into it and its ingredients.
Coffee overload. A little is OK and can be good in helping fat loss. But all day coffee drinking raises blood pressure and kills appetite which in the long run is a bad thing.
Skipping meals. Running out the door without breakfast is a serious sin. Your body is a machine. It needs high quality fuel. Period.
From now on: Eat Breakfast. No coffee after 2 pm. Drink ice cold water or diet soda (caffeine free). Pack lots of healthy snacks; almonds, Triscuits, apples, bananas, etc. No more donuts, bagels, and candy bars (unless it is packed with nuts and you plan on hitting the gym after work). Try Green tea. Cook your lunch the night before.
Tomorrow, some other tips on chilling out plus a mellow workout.
However, this is what we bargained for when we chose this career. Some of the traders and investment bankers I've met have no concept of stress relief. They think relaxation and toning life down a few octaves is for wimps. Really, why make all that dough if you're dead by 40? If you have to work 80 hours per week in this environment, here are some tips that will help you enjoy it a little more, perform a little better, and live a little longer.
Today we'll focus on your diet. Yes, your diet can affect stress and vice versa. Failure to eat right can cause your body to experience blood sugar imbalances, higher cortisol output, and blood pressure changes. When you're going a hundred miles an hour all day you forget some important things, like;
Drinking water. You need 8 glasses a day, period. It helps in fat loss and regulates blood pressure.
Eating foods prepared by others. I.E. Fast food or prepackaged meals. Food we make ourselves means we put more thought into it and its ingredients.
Coffee overload. A little is OK and can be good in helping fat loss. But all day coffee drinking raises blood pressure and kills appetite which in the long run is a bad thing.
Skipping meals. Running out the door without breakfast is a serious sin. Your body is a machine. It needs high quality fuel. Period.
From now on: Eat Breakfast. No coffee after 2 pm. Drink ice cold water or diet soda (caffeine free). Pack lots of healthy snacks; almonds, Triscuits, apples, bananas, etc. No more donuts, bagels, and candy bars (unless it is packed with nuts and you plan on hitting the gym after work). Try Green tea. Cook your lunch the night before.
Tomorrow, some other tips on chilling out plus a mellow workout.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Back In the Saddle
Well, after a long hiatus I have returned. Geez, I go away for a couple of months and the whole market almost implodes! There have been blog posts a-plenty regarding the whole sub prime mess. I've had a great time watching the blame being tossed hither and yon as the panic ensued.
My take?
Monster hedge funds started trading as if a guy who had a 585 credit score and little or no documented income was as good a bet as the US Treasury.
1. Essentially, banks were lending on frenzy and faith.
2. People who don't have the means were over reaching for the American Dream
3. Hedgies magnified it all with mountains of leverage.
Bad combo.
What did I learn? To navigate this or any market mess creates a vigilant attitude and a cool head. When waters get choppy as they have been and should be for the foreseeable future, FEAR and GREED come way to the front of people's minds and that is no way to trade.
This week we'll dive right into one of the most brutal workouts, with some minor adjustments, that will take your mind off the fluctuations of the market, the information overload, the "noise", and reactionary feelings that will only trap you into bad trades, poor business decisions, and possibly a trip to the ol' psych ward or coronary unit.
Clean and Press
3 Sets x 10 Reps
Dead Lifts
3 x 10
Push Ups
75 total
Pull Ups
25 total
Floor Wipers
3 x 10
Jump Rope
6 minutes total
You have only 15 seconds rest between exercises and 30 seconds between sets. You will not need a cardio session after this workout. If you are able to do a fair amount of cardio after you're done then YOU DIDN'T WORK HARD ENOUGHT!!!
My take?
Monster hedge funds started trading as if a guy who had a 585 credit score and little or no documented income was as good a bet as the US Treasury.
1. Essentially, banks were lending on frenzy and faith.
2. People who don't have the means were over reaching for the American Dream
3. Hedgies magnified it all with mountains of leverage.
Bad combo.
What did I learn? To navigate this or any market mess creates a vigilant attitude and a cool head. When waters get choppy as they have been and should be for the foreseeable future, FEAR and GREED come way to the front of people's minds and that is no way to trade.
This week we'll dive right into one of the most brutal workouts, with some minor adjustments, that will take your mind off the fluctuations of the market, the information overload, the "noise", and reactionary feelings that will only trap you into bad trades, poor business decisions, and possibly a trip to the ol' psych ward or coronary unit.
Clean and Press
3 Sets x 10 Reps
Dead Lifts
3 x 10
Push Ups
75 total
Pull Ups
25 total
Floor Wipers
3 x 10
Jump Rope
6 minutes total
You have only 15 seconds rest between exercises and 30 seconds between sets. You will not need a cardio session after this workout. If you are able to do a fair amount of cardio after you're done then YOU DIDN'T WORK HARD ENOUGHT!!!
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