Burning Calories While Trading?
"Robert Sapolsky, who studies stress in primates at Stanford University, says a chess player can burn up to 6,000 calories a day while playing in a tournament...based on breathing rates (which triple during competition), blood pressure (which elevates) and muscle contractions before, during and after major tournaments."
(I can't link the article, but Google "The grandmaster diet: How to lose weight while barely moving")
Apparently, the extreme mental pressure and mental stimulation burns huge amounts of calories, as seen in elite chess players. Do you think anybody in the hedge fund or trading industry (probably not within IB, as the work is more mind-numbing than anything) comes close to this level? I'm no scientist or anything close, but I'd love to hear the thoughts of the finance veterans and the amount of pressure you have been under.
Ha, I actually read an ESPN article detailing this. Absolutely insane. The new focus for these grand master / high-level chess players is “serious” training off the chess board. Full cardio/gym/diet focus to sustain the calorie burn and prepare the body for the week+ long chess matches at that level. These guys can lose 15-20 lbs over the course of these events. It blew my mind in-between the laughs.
The answer is: Yes. Same exact logic, but to a lesser degree. Also dependent on role and day of the week. For example, the mid-week days when new issue deals are pricing put everyone on edge. Stress, nerves, excitement, mental focus work, and stimulation all have very real impacts on our calorie burn and metabolism.
Every persons body responds differently, but I am one of those edgy/busy days = 0 appetite and 4 sit-down bathroom breaks = weight loss. I have to force myself to eat more than 2 meals on most days already. Add in a little Monday scaries and mid-week anxiety and I can’t stomach anything. Regarding calorie burn totals - Not sure. I have never tracked it, but it would be a fun experiment.
The best way to lose weight is to use your brain as much as possible. Brain consumes a lot of calories man
I assure you this is not the ‘best’ way to lose weight.
This is a myth. The brain actually don't burn many more extra calories when think harder, certainly not enough for it to be effective weight loss methods.
Absolutely. Not 6k calories a day, but it’s definitely an important part of the day’s total burn.
Anyone else gain the corona 20?
I think we all lost 20 pounds on our floor last month trading the energy markets. I literally could even not keep a coffee down and switched to espressos. It is a different kind of stress that just closes your stomach and throat down whereas friends that work in management consulting marketing IB law seem to gain weight in times of stress. Prob cos as you said it’s boring with no adrenaline to it. Also I notice my hair grows white too in time of stress. it is not a myth.
You sure that being a genius is supposed to help you lose weight?
Interesting concept - when I traded full time my stress was definitely elevated, maybe it burned calories, but doubtful
Well the stress hormone cortisol gets released frequently causing that “fight or flight” response, which biologically leads to an increase of stomach acid production = dramatic decrease in appetite. And on a really bad trading day......you’re definitely not constantly thinking about what’s for lunch.
However, I have seen things go the opposite direction with traders responding to stress by excessively eating. Sitting for 12+ hrs a day + stress eating = weight gain and that’s definitely not an uncommon sight.
So it really just depends on how you physically respond and adapt to the heavy stress/anxiety. The first year on the job will truly test your physical and mental health.
Ridiculous
Can't wait to get back to a proper gym!
Lol have you been on a trading floor?
Hint: its not a cross fit studio
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