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I miss Vegas (and gambling) but....

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by bboy554, May 16, 2020.

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  1. bboy554

    bboy554 Low-Roller

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    First thing's first - I love Vegas and love gambling, including at Locals. But probably too much over the past year or so. Nobody likes a pandemic, but with the forced cool down I have:
    - Quit smoking (2 months and counting) without much trouble at all and without the "well, I'll stop after my next trip to the casino..."
    - Started walking more and eating healthier.
    - Lost 15 pounds, and counting
    - Added money to my bank account despite taking at 25% "temporary" COVID paycut. (maybe going to locals 2x a month was too much?!? ;) )
    - Stopped taking about an hour a day to watch videos of people playing slot machines on youtube and used that for working out/reading.


    Is anyone else with me? I feel like I have let my addictions get the best of me - gambling, smoking, eating etc - and this forced time out has really been just what the doctor ordered for me. But here's the thing --I want to stick with this life style but not completely give up on Vegas. How the hell does one go to Vegas without going full-on degenerate glutton chimney? In 15 years, I haven't figured it out just yet. . .
     
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  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Easy answer. Make plans in advance to do things outside the casino, preferably even off the strip or out of town. I used to be an 8 hours a day at the tables kind of Vegas visitor. Now, i spend a fraction of that time at the tables. I always have stuff planned outside the casino, whether its a pool day, attractions around town (e.g., pinball HOF), or hiking/sightseeing somewhere no more than a couple hours away from Vegas.
     
    The plans have changed
    Post-Shopping Recovery Period
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  3. mescalita

    mescalita old and in the way...

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    congrats on quitting cigarettes. Hope you’re successful! It took me a lot of tries to give up my 3 pack-a-day habit. It’s been thirty years, and I still need to remind myself sometimes that I’ll never have that addiction again as long as I don’t take the first puff.

    UKFanatic gave a perfect answer to your Vegas visit question....
     
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  4. kip

    kip Tourist

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    I am sure that there are a lot of people experiencing your same dilemma. And I hope you continue to do whats best for you.
     
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  5. RedRiverRose

    RedRiverRose VIP Whale

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    You are doing good. I wish I had your will power.
     
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  6. npom

    npom VIP Whale

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    I have to admit the first couple times we went to Vegas after we quit smoking were a little rough and not without cravings. When we were in the abc store in Planet Hollywood one day we saw they had electronic ciggs with no nicotine. We each bought one and that did the trick. They were the same size as a cigarette so you get all the mechanics with no nicotine and no addiction.
     
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  7. joespoolhall

    joespoolhall VIP Whale

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    Sounds like this time out had been very good for you. Kudos.
     
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  8. Audible Nectar

    Audible Nectar High-Roller

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    One of the things that makes Vegas what it is (or at least has been) is that it's a veritable smorgasbord for whatever it is that "stimulates" you. An if one of those "stimulants" is something that you know full well is detrimental to you, then going to Vegas presents the opportunity to replace that old vice with a new, special entertainment. Use the money you save not smoking, too. And in Vegas, that can be all kinds of things:

    Food
    Shows
    Sports
    whatever else they think of....

    ....my last trip to Vegas I was a recent "quitting smoker", and made it through just fine. I did use a healthy stream of cannabis throughout that trip, but didn't give in to nicotine at all, and have been 100% nicotine free ever since.

    And I was a HARDCORE nicotine addict.

    I too have lost 35 lbs from peak five years ago to a pretty reasonable 190 (so managed to quit smoking AND lose 35 lbs at the same time) and haven't drank 12 beers in six months. So I've been keeping things "lean and mean" since that last trip, so now that the added stress of the pandemic situation is here, I have already internalized these new habits and they just come naturally now.

    But yes, absolutely, it is possible to break such a habit, but I had to really want to do it and made it a point not to give in - or waste too much headspace letting me think about it. And after nine days in Vegas, if I could do it through that stretch, I could do it other times too.
     
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  9. bull0120

    bull0120 VIP Whale

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    I can't offer any advice on specifically how not to smoke cigs in Vegas. I used to be a smoker, but, I still can't figure out how to not smoke a pack a day out there. What I can say is that if you do burn em while you are out there, it's not the end of the world if you are committed to an exercise routine in your normal life. Sounds like you are based on the pounds you've dropped which is awesome. I know for me at least, my lungs (and body) quickly remind me that I can't abuse it like that on a regular basis the moment I have to workout. That's enough for me to behave until the next time around lol.
     
  10. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    It's the only time I do smoke! I typically bring about 5 packs for a 3-night trip.
    On my last day, I give away any remaining unopened packs to table-game players who smoke.
     
    Annual Spring Trip!
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  11. BC_ girl

    BC_ girl Low-Roller

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    I am so jealous. I have gained and not lost during this. Time to get back on the wagon... argh.
     
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  12. pressitagain

    pressitagain VIP Whale

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    That’s a huge laundry list of achievements.

    We should all be asking you about how to empower ourselves. Not the other way around ....LOL

    Congratulations!!!
     
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