I’ve never been so sad to leave a place.
But I’m not leaving for good, Sheryl Crow!
In an uncharacteristically impulsive move, when I flew back to from Tahoe with Vegas after we got married I decided not to take my next flight to Atlanta. This was completely unplanned – my bags were re-checked to Atlanta, we’d been sitting in a airport bar waiting for my flight.
My bags went to Atlanta. I stayed in Vegas. With Vegas.
How could I leave this?!
It was so much fun – we worked from home, cooked (she’s following my meal plan – that’s love), joined a gym… and got the plague.
We spent a lot of time in bed… with cough syrup, tissues, and movies. We both caught some bug and ended up with sinus infections. As a bonus, Vegas got an ear ache and I got pink eye. In both eyes. I made competition diet-approved chicken “noodle” soup using spaghetti squash.
We did venture out a little bit. Before it got unbearable, we did what all normal people do after getting married. We joined a gym together.
This place is like the Super Target of gyms. There are literally aisles of equipment. They’re even labeled. They have 17.5 and 22.5 lb weights, machines I didn’t know existed, and a cardio stadium so unreal it almost made me want to do cardio.
I’m 10 weeks out from my next competition. After taking a year off to grow, I have some fat to cut and couldn’t lose a week. Being the amazing wife that she is, Vegas decided to diet with me. She’s competed in the past, so she knows what she’s getting in to. Truth be told, we blew it out over the holidays and looked forward to eating clean.
We made a ton of food, and I got to show her how I get creative to avoid losing my mind with limited food options. I brought back an old favorite – this gluten-free/grain-free pancake was the first #strangebutgood post! Sweet Potato Pan-lettes, topped with cocoa powder sauce and granola. Side of fresh cut roses from Vegas.
We also checked out a newly developed part of Vegas called the downtown project. It’s my favorite part of Vegas so far! There were cute little shops, local restaurants, art, and a giant playground.
It felt like California! Open, sunny, and filled with outdoor seating.
I’m not sure why she’s agreed to it, but along with the competition diet comes no booze. The little restaurants were so cute with their patios areas and fun decor… we really wanted to stop for a drink and take it in! So we did.
Vegas got a virgin Bloody Mary and I got a berry mocktail at Park on Fremont. I have never liked Bloodys… but tried her bloody and it was amazing. They make their tomato mix in-house and you can tell a big difference. We’ll be going back when this sobriety thing is over.
Unfortunately, I did have to go home. The day I left something odd happened – it rained in Vegas. I sort of liked that the weather matched my mood.
Eventually we will figure out how to live in the same city… but for now I’m home on the other side of the country, counting down the days until I fly back west. 10.
***
I can’t thank you guys enough for all your marvelous support and comments on last Wednesday’s post. Vegas and I had a blast reading them. I need to do a post filed with all the great marriage advice you offered!
When was the last time you did something impulsive?
Have you and your partner ever done a diet overhaul together?
Oh wow Vegas sounds amazing for wanting to diet with you- that sure is love! You should get her to write a post on her thoughts of being on the same meal plan and the changes she’s noticing :)! The last thing I did on impulse was book a ticket to Dubai for new years- so out of character yet so worth it!
Good idea – I should! I’ll try get her to let me interview her.
I hear Dubai is awesome. It’s on my bucket list.
Oh my God, goodbyes suck so bad. But hey, 10 days? That’s doable. You can send me some crazy stupid jokes per iMessage if you freak out. Or maybe we can finally find a date to Skype?
THIS made me laugh out so loud: it almost made me want to do cardio. LOL! Next time I see you we practise more Double Unders. 🙂
That place remindes me so much of ‘Mrs. Gerolds Garden’ in Zurich. It’s superhype, artsy and urban with all the containers. I love it!
YES! A date is necessary. I will text you.
The day I get a double under, hell will really have frozen!
Las vegas does have an undeniable charm! Goodbye for now but looks like you will be back 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
oh LOVE is following your meal plan.
ID FOLLOW!!!
do you need a sisterwife? house cleaner??? 🙂
LOL! Come on – someone’s advice when I asked last week was to hire a cleaning service. I’ll even feed you!
That is freakin awesome and a good reminder to be impulsive and just see what happens. Hopefully not a dreadful cold but it was still worth it 🙂
Hang in there! It will all come together as it should. As I type this, it’s still raining here.
Has she tried your peanut butter & jeggs yet? Now, that’s true love!
Not yet! She’s coming here in a couple of weeks… it’s ON!
First off, LOL at Carla’s comment above! Haha! And secondly, it seems like you LOVE being in LOVE! That is so awesome. And I think it’s great that it brought on that spontaneous decision to not get on your flight home. Surprises are the spice of life! 🙂
You go girl! I love that you just followed your heart and stayed but with your wifey. 🙂 And I’m glad you’re feeling better! Dan and I did a long distance engagement for 2 years (him in Vermont & me in Savannah) and it was tough but we got through it – the fun part was getting to travel and have two homes! But it’s nice to be living together now – you’ll figure it out and it will rock!
Two years would be so tough! The travel is fun though – we’re meeting in random cities too. Next week is San Diego and that doesn’t suck. 🙂
I’m the total opposite of impulsive. The most impulsive thing I did was sign up for a marathon. I think it’s awesome she’s doing the diet with you. Supportive!!
That’s a pretty big one though!!!
Definitely true love, Laura. Sorry about your cross-country relationship. I was so happy Rob moved with me to Houston, otherwise it would have been terrible. 🙁
That would have been rough! You guys got the added bonus of getting to see the country together too!
Considering the Hubby and I spend more days apart than together now, I can relate to your current predicament. It sucks, although face time and sex toys help. I’m here if you need me. Not for those last two of course since we’re both happily married, but you get the idea.
You’re so conservative.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder- seriously though, it will make the time you do spend together so much more special until you figure out living in the same city. I gave up my job in Baltimore and moved to Philly to be with my husband- even though it was a small move it was still the best decision I’ve ever made (and we werent even married yet, haha). Good luck with comp prep!
First, congratulations on your marriage and wedding, so exciting!
Nick and I eat healthy most of the time anyway, we try to eat lots of veggie loaded meals and follow the 80/20 rule. I do the grocery shopping and the cooking, and because I don’t want our child(ren) to think that our house is a restaurant, they eat what I make (they do help with meal planning though). So if I try to eat a little bit healthier then we are all doing it together, haha.
Thank you Kelly!
You sounds like my mom – no special orders. Dinner is what’s on the table! I hated it at the time, but I’m so grateful now.
I knew I liked her. that is AWESOME she is dieting with you – it makes it so much more fun to have that close support, commiseration and all that. Jason and I completed a 30 day juice … ‘feast’ together a few years ago – SO much easier when we are both doing it, and we made it our own (we still ate raw nuts – that’s what had me back to full workouts in less than a week).
I should like it if you move to Vegas, because we visit there often. 😀
She really is nuts – marrying me and then the diet. LOL!
You’ll be among the first to know! 😉
I just agreed to run Boston last week. Impulsive? check.
Awesome? Check.
I don’t think I do anything impulsive. I’m Boring with a capital B. 🙂
I love that you’re so happy! It springs out from your words. The excitement and love.
Thank you Debbie! 🙂
HUGS & hope you figure it out!!!
I think the Vegas sky had it right. It sucks to leave your soul mate for ANY period of time…but there will be plenty of sunshine in the horizon. Distance just makes the heart grow fonder, and it makes the reunions that much sweeter.
I do impulsive things all the time…although my personality is more about planning ahead. Luckily most of my impulsive stunts have turned up positive. I am mostly impulsive when trying to surprise my fiancee…and I have to say it has worked to my advantage 🙂
We are currently also dieting together which is great. This also involves no alcohol and very lean meals which is making us both feel very healthy. We are trying to up the exercise too, she’s more into cardio, I am into weights, so she runs and I lift, but at the end of the day we both feel accomplished.
Sharing routines is great, it’s fun to do with the person you love and it is supportive.
Cheers!
No alcohol except for the wedding champagne, right? 😉
That’s love! Dieting/specialty diets are so much easier when you have a support system. My friend and I did the Whole30 together and I couldn’t imagine doing it without her.
Fare thee well Vegas, but not goodbye.
I’m glad a person who I consider to have excellent taste also doesn’t care for Bloody Mary’s. The only Bloody (I wasn’t going to just use the initials, ha) that I have ever liked was made by one particular bartender at the fancy Mexican restaurant I worked at here in Chicago for a while. I like sangrita, though, which is surprising. And tomatoes, salsa, all of that, but I also hate gazpacho. Shrug.
Your Vegas is amazing. She may be regretting the diet decision 😉
Thank you for not using the initials. LOL!
I hate ketchup.
My husband eats what he’s served or he’ll starve so a “diet overhaul” is how he lives his life 🙂 haha (except those random lunches he decides to go all out with at the office).
We actually started a workout program together for the first time right before New Years. We’re in week 3 and I’m just so happy every single day that he’s doing it with me. When he described his motivation to do it, I cried. He was so sweet.
I need to hear more about this motivation…
My bf and I are the epitome of impulsive – not exactly my choice, he is VERY last minute…he can’t plan anything more than 1 day in advance. Plus we are both pretty adventurous and always down for a road trip…or 20 mile bike ride!
On that same note, I’ve learned it’s so so so important to have the support of your partner when you’re trying to follow a certain diet/exercise regime/healthy lifestyle. Even better if they’ll submit to the diet with you 😉 Kudos to Vegas for taking one for the team!!
OMG – If we went for a 20 mile bike ride I think we’d both be walking. LOL! Vegas is a rockstar though. 🙂
Hope you girls are able to live together very soon.
Oh,no – I didn’t realize y’all lived in 2 different places:(
I hope that y’all can work it out at some point to live together!
Thanks! We’re working on it!
Oh, trust me, I understand the pain with long distance. My fiance and I have been long distance (3 hours still feels awfully long…) since last June. This Summer though…SO excited to finally be moving to be together! In over 4 years of a relationship together we will finally be living in the same city and living under the same roof! It can’t come soon enough. One of my favorite quotes: “When you know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, the rest of your life cannot start soon enough”
That’s one of my favorites too! Great movie. 🙂
So glad to hear you guys will get to be together this summer! I’m crossing my fingers for the same.
That’s got to be tough being married but having to live so far apart!
Nine more days. (0:
Maybe you could just get a job as a showgirl? JAZZ HANDS and Feathers!
*wink*
Hahahaha! I actually joke about that all the time.
My wife and I are on a diet together. We’re just over a week in, so the limitations still feel like sacrifices. She’s not seeing the weight loss that I have, and she does most of the work and cooking, so it’s frustrating.
Good for you guys! Women often see a less dramatic loss at first, but it will come! If you can stick to it for 3 weeks you’ll not even see it as a sacrifice – it’s a habit. Good luck!!!
Congrats! You guys look so happy in that photo. That would be tough for me loving so far away from my significant other, but if it’s worth it you make it work. Great post
i want to know the plan… who’s moving where? ANd 10 weeks? can’t wait to see all the progress! you’ve got great support
I vote we all just move to CO!
I’m sick right now too. I’m NEVER sick. My face is clogged and my chest feels like someone is squeezing me from front to back. I cough but nothing comes out. I wish I had a fever and flu. Then they’d give me Tamiflu and I’d be cured. I’m sorry you two got the ick and infections (and double pink eye). If you can handle being sick together, you can do anything together! I’m not the impulsive type. Or rather, my impulsive actions aren’t worth noting. Like, everyone would be like: okay, you did that (the impulsive thing), so then what?!?!
Oh man… I hope you’re feeling better by now! I’m in the same boat… this thing just won’t go away! Ugh.
Wahoo I love VEGAS, I hope I get to move there next #crossingfingers! I think that is so sweet that you two are in this together, I am starting to get into competing and will compete on the 25th of this month and I know you know how difficult it is to stay on track when everyone around you is drinking/eating all of your favorite foods but you just gotta stick with it! My poor husband has enjoyed a bit too much boiled chicken for his taste because I am making him eat it with me but he also has business in town so he is out and about too! I wish I had all of these lovely spices you speak of, here I only have the basics 🙁 xo C
Really?! You must let me know if you do!!! And good luck to you! That is so exciting – you’re going to be great. You look fabulous!
I can’t imagine living across the country from my husband, so I feel really bad for you guys! That’s got to be rough. 🙁
I want to see that side of Vegas, I haven’t really been much of the strip during my visits. It’s always entertaining, but I want to see where “normal” people go!
Well… you have a place to stay! 🙂