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Diet & The Voice

J

JustPastBuffalo

Though I don't post much on this board, I read it frequently and find the posts informative and the contributors extremely helpful.

This might be seem like one of those "tree huggin', lunar orbit" questions, but has anyone observed that diet and exercise (or lack of such) have an impact on your voice? I'm a midday guy who also does a daily production shift.

Over the last two years, I've been on an exercise regimen recommended by my brother who is a licensed and degreed physical therapist. (I've included links only to authenticate my seriousness, not for cheesy publicity, although we all know jocks thrive on CP.)

Over the last year, I've noticed that "getting up off my assets" has helped my vocal endurance. Now, to be sure, I have what can best be described as an average voice and a slight build, but running a few miles a day and eating properly seem to have helped my endurance, especially on Fridays and during football season when the production load is at its peak.

Like a lot of guys (and women) in the business, I've often ignored the logic of eating the right food and taking care of my voice. Bar spots, concert and drag racing track spots have taken their toll. I've only recently broken my addiction to Diet Pepsi. Never been a smoker and my drinking days are long in the rearview mirror. I'm no saint by any means, but I'd like to see 60, if you know what I'm saying. I've also switched to decaffinated tea and like a shaking crack addict, switched from coffee to warm water (which creates havoc with intestinal bacteria, but that's another story) although I regularly fall off the wagon.

Here's the crazy thing. I've noticed that a serving of soy lecithin and cooked oatmeal (not processed or instant) in the morning have had a soothing effect on my throat. Crazy? Maybe.

I like to know if any of the pros, regular posters and contributors have any similar helpful experiences. Cold water, tea, coffee, Wild Turkey, vitamins, Big Macs, pizza with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms and a sprinkle of peppers?

Seriously, your observations are appreciated.

Respectfully,

Jim<P ID="signature">______________
"Buffalo You're My Home"</P>
 
> Though I don't post much on this board, I read it frequently
> and find the posts informative and the contributors
> extremely helpful.
>
> This might be seem like one of those "tree huggin', lunar
> orbit" questions, but has anyone observed that diet and
> exercise (or lack of such) have an impact on your voice? I'm
> a midday guy who also does a daily production shift.
>
> Over the last two years, I've been on an exercise regimen
> recommended by my brother who is a licensed and degreed
> physical therapist. (I've included links only to
> authenticate my seriousness, not for cheesy publicity,
> although we all know jocks thrive on CP.)
>
> Over the last year, I've noticed that "getting up off my
> assets" has helped my vocal endurance. Now, to be sure, I
> have what can best be described as an average voice and a
> slight build, but running a few miles a day and eating
> properly seem to have helped my endurance, especially on
> Fridays and during football season when the production load
> is at its peak.
>
> Like a lot of guys (and women) in the business, I've often
> ignored the logic of eating the right food and taking care
> of my voice. Bar spots, concert and drag racing track spots
> have taken their toll. I've only recently broken my
> addiction to Diet Pepsi. Never been a smoker and my drinking
> days are long in the rearview mirror. I'm no saint by any
> means, but I'd like to see 60, if you know what I'm saying.
> I've also switched to decaffinated tea and like a shaking
> crack addict, switched from coffee to warm water (which
> creates havoc with intestinal bacteria, but that's another
> story) although I regularly fall off the wagon.
>
> Here's the crazy thing. I've noticed that a serving of soy
> lecithin and cooked oatmeal (not processed or instant) in
> the morning have had a soothing effect on my throat. Crazy?
> Maybe.
>
> I like to know if any of the pros, regular posters and
> contributors have any similar helpful experiences. Cold
> water, tea, coffee, Wild Turkey, vitamins, Big Macs, pizza
> with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms and a sprinkle of peppers?
>
>
> Seriously, your observations are appreciated.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Jim
>

Jim, I admire your sticking to the diet and exercise thing. I'm not motivated enough yet to get started. By the way, do you know Jim Nowicki? I worked with him in Arkansas a lifetime ago.
 
> Jim, I admire your sticking to the diet and exercise thing.
> I'm not motivated enough yet to get started. By the way, do
> you know Jim Nowicki? I worked with him in Arkansas a
> lifetime ago.
>

Would that have been KLRA?

Jim is doing morning drive traffic (on the ground) for WKBW-TV-Ch 7 and a few radio stations. I think he's also working the assignment desk at 7 and some freelance production. All in all, he seems to be doing well.
 
> > Jim, I admire your sticking to the diet and exercise
> thing.
> > I'm not motivated enough yet to get started. By the way,
> do
> > you know Jim Nowicki? I worked with him in Arkansas a
> > lifetime ago.
> >
>
> Would that have been KLRA?
>
> Jim is doing morning drive traffic (on the ground) for
> WKBW-TV-Ch 7 and a few radio stations. I think he's also
> working the assignment desk at 7 and some freelance
> production. All in all, he seems to be doing well.
>

That was at KCLA in Pine Bluff. Thanks for the info.
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

Jim:You realize you're like a priest in a whore house with this question, right?Fitness, radio people? What did Sesame Street used to sing "...one of these things is not like the others..."The breathing thing you mentioned is an obvious one....if your lungs enjoy great capacity from exercise your breathing capacity for announcing (among other things) would likely improve as well.I'm going to avoid entering or prolonging a discussion about foods or beverages that are good for the voice/throat only because I've been involved with a few of them on other boards and pretty soon some idiot starts playing doctor, offering up herbal this and that and some other idiot chimes in saying the other idiot isn't qualified to speak on such matters...soon bullets fly and the cops are called and it just gets messy.My problem is phlegm...an ugly word and an ugly condition brought on by allergies and meals...doesn't really matter what (though dairy is bound to make me cough up a hair ball or two so I avoid it like the plague if I've got recording to do.) The problem my wife yells at me about is how I clear my throat to clear the phlegm, advising (probably rightly, though as a good husband I'll never tell her that) that it’s bad for my throat and chords. Should I see a throat doc? Probably....if only to protect my child's inheritance....(hee hee, I almost said that with a straight face).Should I work out more? Yup. You gonna eat that twinkie?Can I have it?
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

audioconnell Voice Talent said:
Jim:You realize you're like a priest in a whore house with this question, right?Fitness, radio people? What did Sesame Street used to sing "...one of these things is not like the others..."The breathing thing you mentioned is an obvious one....if your lungs enjoy great capacity from exercise your breathing capacity for announcing (among other things) would likely improve as well.I'm going to avoid entering or prolonging a discussion about foods or beverages that are good for the voice/throat only because I've been involved with a few of them on other boards and pretty soon some idiot starts playing doctor, offering up herbal this and that and some other idiot chimes in saying the other idiot isn't qualified to speak on such matters...soon bullets fly and the cops are called and it just gets messy.My problem is phlegm...an ugly word and an ugly condition brought on by allergies and meals...doesn't really matter what (though dairy is bound to make me cough up a hair ball or two so I avoid it like the plague if I've got recording to do.) The problem my wife yells at me about is how I clear my throat to clear the phlegm, advising (probably rightly, though as a good husband I'll never tell her that) that it’s bad for my throat and chords. Should I see a throat doc? Probably....if only to protect my child's inheritance....(hee hee, I almost said that with a straight face).Should I work out more? Yup. You gonna eat that twinkie?Can I have it?
Click to expand...
Don't know if you're familiar with Marice Tobias, the voice coach, but she points out that clearing your throat--something everyone does, radio people have just made it into an art-form--is essentially slamming your vocal chords together. Not a good idea, because you're doing damage to them. Try water and lots of it. Coffee, while it may feel good, dries everything up as a result of the caffeine. Hydration. Give it a shot.
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

You are so right about clearing your throat. I have bad sinuses/allergies and sometimes clear my throat too many times. NOT GOOD. I've noticed it makes my voice thinner/higher.Hot coffee seems to THICKEN my voice but i hate coffee. Maybe i'll go with warm water. Thanks for the tips!
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

I decided to start getting in shape about a year and a half ago. I've lost 56 pounds, and since I started lifting weights, I'm in better shape now at 44 than I was at 24.As far as vocally, I've noticed increased stamina, and as mentioned above, greater lung capacity.Havent given up the smokes yet, but someday..... ;D
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

A good friend of mine who works for a station in Los Angeles doing their station imaging and commercials as well as doing a great deal of freelance voiceover work always sips bottled water at room temperature. He never drinks anything cold while working and will, on occasions, even sip warm water with some lemon.As for diet, he eats anything (including pizza with cheese) but only in small portions. He also tries to stay relaxed.Anyway that works for him and his voice always sounds great.db
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

Being in good physical shape will definitely help optimize your sound! I have allergies too, and I take...uh, I guess I shouldn't say the specific brand, but I use an over the counter allergy remedy daily. I also bought an Ionic Breeze a couple of years ago, and that helps me greatly at home. There are a lot of foods/drinks which I've found increase my phlegm, so I avoid them while I'm on the air. I like to snack on baby carrots while I work because they're moist but don't get the phlegm going. Hard pretzels, despite being dry, have a "scraping away" effect on my throat and clear my sound too. 1I'm on the lots of water bandwagon as well. Something I like to have immediately before an audition is a slice of lemon to suck on. I don't do it before going on the air though because it makes the teeth "gritty" and that amount of acid couldn't possibly be good on a daily basis. Otherwise it is a nice way to prep the throat.
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

I guess the most obvious thing I know of is drinking something warm - it relaxes the chords, oftentimes giving you a fuller, deeper sound. (not unnaturally deep, mind you; just the basic r"elaxed chords=deeper, tightened chords=higher" principle).

i, too, drink room temperature water more often than ice cold water when recording.

This is a great topic for discussion. I'll have to try the pretzel trick!
 
Re: Diet & The Voice

I have stopped ALL diet sodas. (Aspertaime is rat poison, and it turns into a methanol when heated..like shipped in a delivery truck in the summer?) This stuff will kill me literally..not to mention the neuropathic effects like depression, and insomnia..mood swings, unexpected anger..etc etc. If you suffer from any of this, and you drink even ONE diet soda a day..try stopping for 5 days, (drink carbonated water like Perrier)and see if you don't feel like a completely new person! AMAZING!

In the studio I still like hot black coffee..and/or green tea (hot)

I have made it a point to lose some weight, and eat smaller early and late meals..increases energy, and vocal strength.

I do articulation exercises..and vocal choard stretches before a session, and, while it makes me look like a freak..really works!
 
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