Back from Vegas.....and all is pretty much well

I am going to give a short Vegas review here in a second, but returned LATE last night, woke up and did a weigh-in and...........270.
I gained one pound while in Vegas. I cannot even begin to explain the level of satisfaction I feel at that result. First, Vegas is as an EXTREME situation as I have even been. Spring break, when I was in college, is the only thing with which I can compare it. Time has no meaning. There are no "standards" of when you eat, drink, gamble, or do anything else. It is simply one BIG party, and you take breaks in between.
There was never a point on this trip where I thought "I can't do that cause I am watching calories." I let it all hang out, which was my plan. My thought - I don't know when I am heading back to Vegas so I am going to enjoy myself. I did.
So, to get back home and see the damage was just one pound.......I am very happy.
I read a lot of things before I went thats scared the hell out of me. I read people who said they came home and had gained 8 pounds, 10 pounds, or even more. I didn't want to blow my hard work just for a fun trip. So, considering how I treated Vegas, to get back just up one pound, sorta mind-blowing to me.
Now, the goal is 20+ pounds in seven weeks (around the first week of May). That would put me at 250 and in good shape for summer. If I could knock off another 20 after that, coming in at around 230 by the time July is rolling around, I will be a very happy camper.
Now, a quick review of Vegas.
AWESOME!!!
Not a yearly trip by any account. I am very happy I did this now because I have no idea what my life is going to look like in the next few years. One of my friends is having a baby with his wife. The other is thinking about it. What if I meet someone and begin to settle down? I will DEFINITELY go back, but you're never sure what life will look like. So, to go now, at this stage of my life, with no strings attached, no real fear of losing too much money, no extreme commitment issues, was terrific.
First, the weather. I was disappointed because, while it was much warmer than home, it wasn't GREAT weather. Thursday was cool and somewhat cloudy. Friday was terrific (sunny, 80 degrees) and Saturday was cloudy, cool, and windy. I would have loved 85 and sunny each day and would have loved to have spent some time by the pool. From everyone I spoke to, the Vegas pool scene is not to be missed so, the next time I go back, I want to go closer to the summer. I know it gets to be about 110 degrees at that time of year, but the pool scene sounds way too good to ignore.
Second, the hotel. We stayed at the Flamingo. This is the oldest place on the strip, originally started by mobster Bugsy Seagal. Obviously, it has been updated (not sure if it has moved from its original location or not) but you can tell it is old. There really isn't anything special about the place. Some of the other hotels are obviously MUCH nicer, with plush, plush arrangements.
However, here would me my suggestion. If you have a lot of money, splurge. Go all out. Vegas is obviously about excess. If you are going with a lot of friends, think about a suite, as that could be fun. However, since the room is literally there for a bed and a shower in the morning, I would recommend staying at a cheaper place. Vegas is about hitting all the places for dinner, gambling, shows, and the experience. You spend VERY little time in your room. Don't worry about an outdated room or a cheaper hotel. Just have a place to crash, freshen up, and move on.
Yet, DO stay on the strip. There are a million places off strip, but being on strip is the way to go. I wouldn't want anything to do with having to get a cab to get to and from your hotel off strip. You can find cheap rooms all over the place. These places just want you there. They make their money at the tables and slots, not rooms.
Third, you can walk the strip. Yes, it's a hike to some places, but everything is on the same street. I would suggest splitting nights up between one side, then another. BTW, the Flamingo, in my opinion, is in a perfect spot. It is right in between old a new Vegas. Staying there really allows you to walk where you need.
Also, a quick explanation of old and new Vegas. Old Vegas, like Harrahs, Imperial Palace, even the Mirage, some of the much smaller places (O'Shea's, which was great on St. Patty's Day, Bills Gambling Saloon) are your great, small, somewhat divy casino/bars. These places look like what you would expect of old gambling houses. No frills, no pomp and circumstance. Come in, gamble, drink. It's a lot of fun. New Vegas is glitz, big, glamour.....exactly what you think about when you think of what it has become. That's where MGM is, New York, New York, Paris, and more. These places are impressive. They aren't like casinos you have been to. Just walking to them is a trip. There are character actors on the street all over the place, looking for tips, acting out moments. It is a wild, wild scene.
Don't pigeon hole yourself to one side or another. One of my buddies ONLY wanted to gamble at two or three places. Had I followed his lead the whole time, we would have missed out on A LOT. See as much as you can. Visit a few places. You can find the same kind of tables, same kind of crowds everywhere because everyone is hopping around.
Fourth, don't just gamble. They have some great bars (Dick's Last Resort, where the waiters insult the guests, was my favorite) and even see a show. What the hell. This is suppose to be a full experience. You can buy a 30-pack and get hammered in your house for $16, right? Go to Vegas and try and fit as much as possible in.
Finally, I was amazed that you really do lose track of time. You find yourself at a craps table at 8 in the morning drinking a Seven and Seven and think NOTHING of it. You look at your watch and see it is 3 a.m. when you would have sworn it was midnight. The days just fly by. I spent three nights, four days in Vegas. It honestly feels like one LONGGGGGG day. I am amazed I am home right now. I feel like I went for a night. Everything seems to speed up. It is a different life down there.
The best thing I can say about Vegas is this. I am happy to be home but, honestly, sad I am gone. I feel like I could have, and should have done MUCH more, even though, when I think back, I did a lot. Sometimes, you come home and feel like the vacation was just okay. Sometimes, you even come home and think "was that worth the money and the time?" Not this time. I was happy with Vegas and will return. If I am ever fortunate enough to get married, I would seriously consider my bachelor party being in Vegas.
If you haven't gone, go. There is no place like it. It is a unique experience.