There is an abundance of information out there about technical trading, fundamental news hit markets every day, we try to accumulate and organize trading ideas based on what we see on the charts and what we hear on news feeds. We get tons of information thrown at us at every second so our minds select with amazing speeds, we fluctuate between fear and greed, good and bad, sentiment shifts, candles spike and retreat, trends develop, reversals, its just a fast moving business and you need to react even faster so you are not left holding the bone while all the meat is gone.
So what does it take to handle all of this? Who are you as a trader behind the little screen filled with information? Are you prepared, are you rested, are you mentally ready to take hit after hit, win after win? How fast does your heart beats? How much coffee are you really drinking? How many hours do find yourself sitting down searching information, chatting in rooms, running chart scenarios?
Is there really a way to be at 100% peak performance? An athlete trains for days in a row for competitions, coaches out there supervise them to make sure they get the proper rest, the right nutrition, a balanced emotional state so when the times come they are able to deliver and rise above previous record or be the best they can be in that particular challenge.
I never really paid to much attention to what i ate, if i had enough exercise, what my weight was..i just wanted to trade, learn about the markets and be involved. To my surprise, one year later I am 20 pounds heavier then what i should be, my body fat increased to unacceptable levels, i am sleeping 5 hours a day, coffee usage i cant even mention, but who cares? I am a trader so it's ok, i gotta be present, i gotta preserve my energy for the markets, for the battle. Not to say that while i was getting heavier my account was getting slimmer. All of that had to change because i did not like what i saw in the mirror.
So instead of reading about the markets, i started reading about becoming healthy. I placed fewer trades, i started watching what I put on the plate, 40-45 min of exercise every day, more sleep. If anybody ever tried to change they can tell you its not easy to be disciplined, its not easy to count the calories you take in vs the calories you burn, to stay focus on those push ups or cardio, its just a lot of work and mental strength. But i discovered something amazing: there is a huge connection between my trading abilities and my lifestyle. Your mind becomes clearer, your body feels younger, you are more rested, you have more energy, not to mention that you become more disciplined in your trading as well just because you need to follow a disciplined approach in your diet and exercise. And just like everything, it does take time, and you need patience just like you need in forex (another year went by..). But the results are amazing, you become stronger emotionally and physically.
So lets have a healthy forex! I know i don't wanna go back! I cant go back. Be aware of what you fuel your body with, and your account will be grateful.
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