Several weeks ago I wrote a column about me becoming more comfortable in my own skin, doing what works for me. I was talking about fishing. What I said then is what I’ll say now: Some things are personal, you have to do what works for you.
The same thing is true about taking care of yourself. Exercise and nutrition are not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. There’s no telling how many nutrition and exercise plans are around. A little bit of research will get you enough reading material to go into spring. But, we’re all different. We have different physical needs and nutritional needs.
Trait likes to work out at the gym. That’s what she likes, and it’s what works for her. She regularly invites me to go along. I rarely accept her invitation. The gym is not where it’s at for me. I like to play hockey.
I played a lot — 11 years — back when I was growing up in California. When I moved and started fishing professionally I got out of it. Lately, however, I’ve started playing again. It’s a physically demanding sport although it’s not like a structured workout. It’s more like a whole body thing, and that’s what I need.
Hockey builds incredible leg, ankle, foot and lower-back strength. That’s what I need to fish three days of practice and four days of competition — sometimes two weeks in a row. Leaning against a pedestal seat while you twist and turn all day might not look that tough on film, but looks can be deceiving. As a fact, they are deceiving, very deceiving.
The other thing about hockey is that it’s fast. It requires you to make split-second decisions. It’s not so much about where the puck is right now as it is about where the puck will be when you get to it. That’s pretty much what bass fishing is all about.
When you’re on the water fishing a Bassmaster Elite Series event you have to think about what the fish are doing. At the same time, though, you have to think about what they will be doing in an hour or in a day. And, you have to make those decisions fast.
The same thing is true about nutrition, although I have to admit that I don’t know a lot about it from a scientific or medical point of view. What I do know and see leads me to believe that some people can eat some things and they seem to gain weight overnight. Others, though, seem to be able to eat anything and get away with it.
Obviously, some foods are good for you and some are bad for you. What you need to do is get some good advice and go with what your body needs.
Note that I said what your body needs. What mine or anyone else’s needs is totally unimportant. It might be worth your time and effort to check into things. Talk to someone who knows about these things and get good information about what you need to keep your body healthy.
That said, beware of the internet. I know what’s on it is usually free, but sometimes what you get will be worthless or, in some cases, dangerous. The same thing is true about exercise. There are lots of crazies out there spouting crazy theories. Don’t fall for them.
The thing I’m trying to say here is that you need to do something to stay physically fit, and that something needs to be what you will do over time. It needs to fit your personality and lifestyle. You need to apply common sense to your eating habits.
It’s no secret that the anglers who do those two things catch more bass.