ITH Poker Forum

[Piscivorous]

Peak Performance Poker Has Hit the Shelves

Peak Performance Poker, by Travis Steffen, MA, CSCS



Available for $22.95 at Internettexasholdem.com!

I received my copy last week. Matthew Hilger, owner or Dimat Enterprises, publisher of Peak Performance Poker asked me to offer my feedback on Travis Steffen’s manuscript back in May. As a person who has been working to decrease my weight and has been reading books, magazines and working out in the gym since 2007, I felt good about reviewing the book. I must admit I was a little concerned about what I was going to read. But after reading the manuscript, I knew he was tapping into something exceptional.

I remember hearing an interview a few years ago with Doyle Brunson. To paraphrase what I remember of the conversation, the interviewer asked Mr. Brunson whether he thought he’d win another major poker tournament considering the incredible explosion of popularity in poker and the domination of poker by younger men and women. Mr. Brunson’s comments are basically which got me out of my computer chair and into the gym. He said, once again, as I remember, that he wasn’t worried about being able to continue to play at a high enough level to win a tournament, but that the effects of a grind of playing a week-long tournament on his aging body was the real concern. This is a key idea surrounding Peak Performance Poker.

The days of smoke filled rooms, whiskey, cheeseburgers and late nights are gone. I think the new-school poker players – the ones who are dominating the games today – are players who look very different. They’re younger, leaner, and more focused on improving their physical and mental health – and they’re crushing the games.
- Daniel Negreanu

This is a powerful statement. Certainly players of all shapes and sizes are going to win – and continue to win – a lot of tournament and cash game money, but those players who will consistently win the cash are getting, or staying, in shape. Eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep and getting into the habit of preparing themselves for game day can and does make all the difference in winning or placing yourself on the final table consistently.

Certainly, a lot of Travis Steffen’s book could be applied to pursuits and employment outside the realm of poker, but with interviews with poker professionals Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, David “The Maven” Chicotsky, David “Raptor” Benefield, Alec “Traheho” Torelli and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospelier, the bent of the book is definitely on poker.

You’ll learn proper eating and exercise techniques as well as rest and recovery tips to condition your body and mind for whichever tournaments or cash games you’ll play while preparing yourself for playing at as high a level as possible. One of the most important concepts is how all of this ties together so as to ensure that you have plenty of energy and stamina to get as deep as you can in a tournament, without losing focus or concentration. Obviously the same concepts apply to online and local cash games as well. What should you eat? What kind of exercising should you be participating in? How much sleep do you need?

Peak Performance Poker will teach and inform you on how to prepare yourself and put you into a position to do your best at and away from the poker tables.
You won’t find hand examples, final table play strategies or pay structures in Peak Performance Poker. What you will find is how to prepare your mind and body for your next tournament or cash game.

Peak Performance Poker is available through Dimat Enterprises at Internettexasholdem.com for $22.95. Order your copy today!

[nsidestrate]

I just started reading this. I have high hopes for it.

[jeffnc]

I remember years ago reading about how Spassky and then Kasparov played tennis and worked out to keep in shape for chess. At the time I didn't get it, but I do now. It's something I've always taken for granted, since I've always been in pretty good shape. In other words, I didn't know from experience what the out of shape guys were experiencing compared to me - I just assumed there was no difference in terms of alertness and concentration.

[mchilger]

You can be in shape and still not being reaching peak performance if you aren't doing other things correctly. For example, I found out from Travis that doing a relatively light workout is great for game day, but a strenuous one can sack some energy out of you later in the day. In general, eating good is fine, but there are specific foods that are better than others. Travis talks a lot about the GI index of many foods and shows where some "healthy" foods are not that great for maintaining energy and alertness. Another thing I learned in the book that surprised me is that a small amount of caffeine is good for improving cognitive abilities - just don't load up on sugar to avoid the highs and lows - so hot green tea is great.

For me, the main goal is getting into the best shape I can as that will obviously have the most impact, but there a lot of topics in the book that would benefit people who already are in "shape" as well.

Matthew

[Doc T River]

As I said in the book section, I am glad I chose this moment to come back to the website. It might have been some time before I found out about the book if I did not.

Definitely a book I will be picking up.

[Zenjo]

I've just ordered this. I have a hard time keeping focused for any session once it goes over 4 hours or so. Hopefully I can find some ways to improve my mental stamina.

[Taardvark]

I didn't see it posted anywhere but Bart Hanson posted a two parter with Travis on his "Deuces Cracked" podcast a couple of weeks ago. Just getting caught up on some listening and came across it. Pretty interesting stuff.