Have you ever noticed that snooker seems a particularly sedentary sport yet the best players don’t have weight problems. In todays climate that must seem a little contradictory.
This is the first article in a three part series of posts looking at the potential health benefits of snooker. Surprised Snooker has health benefits? I am too 🙂 read on to find out more.
Much like the French paradox it is a simple fact that the World Champions of Snooker were all people of normal size and weight. I’m not trying to bash bigger people just trying to look deeper in to the question of how to lose weight and why people become obese.
This is a post that fits just as well on my CellYourSole blog as Competitive Urge. The point here is what sports themselves can teach us about life and ourselves.
Champions become champions because they are themselves and work with what they’ve got.
Snooker seems an inherently less physically stressful sport than most others except maybe Darts. So why is it that the top players in snooker haven’t succumbed to the wider trend in current society of putting on weight?
I used to follow snooker around the world championships time so I can list all the main champions past and some present. There are and were big guys on tour but I couldn’t think of a single one who won at the highest level.
I Quickly listed the world championship winners I could think of and came up with:
- Stephen Hendry
- Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Ray Reardon
- Alex Higgins
- Terry Griffiths
- Steve Davis
- Ken Doherty
- Graham Dot
- John Parrot
- John Higgins
- Mark Williams
- Neil Robertson
The list goes on yet all of these guys were a normal weight when they won and, I assume, a normal BMI.
The weird thing is that their lifestyle would in theory help them pile on the pounds. Snooker halls are places you walk and don’t run. Lots of snooker is about sitting down. The hardest work you do is reaching to hit an awkward shot or walking to the table. Nothing particularly taxing you would think and you have food and drink on tap.
Most people are convinced they have to bust a gut to lose weight. They genuinely believe that no pain means no gain and also no weight loss. Snooker kind of shows that isn’t the case.
That’s why I find it so fascinating and I think it is a hidden gem. This is a sport that your average person can actually do because it doesn’t ask too much of you. It’s just pool on a bigger table and everyone can play pool. You don’t have to be any good but you can play. Whether you’re a grandma or a young kid you can play.
Tomorrow comes part two