2014 Challenge

Hi challengers

Checking in day 106

Difficult week , wife really ill but I haven't think about gambling still going strong

To all keep the fight we are winners

Julio

CHIN UP MO you are my rock...

I am pleased to check in on day 17 still going very strong.

Lee 40 Bournemouth England

Inserting GamBlock K9 buying a new computer with all these added there is zero history on the new computer of gambling sites. This was a real good choice and decision and still is working excellently for me. There is no urge to look at gambling sites because it's blocked instantly so the temptation is not there.

Mr B can i just take this moment to say thank you as always for your great posts and this Challenge, you have really helped me and i still thank you for accepting me back after my long slip 8 week ago. This time im here to rack up the days whoop whoop. Good times..

CasinoRoyaLoser

Checking in on day 13.

Male 20 , south yorks.

Can't really say the most significant step at the moment as I've had little access to my money as I rang my bank and had them cancel my card before I done anymore damage and put myself in a bigger hole. But once my new one arrives I will be handing it over to someone before I can memorise the details.

Difficult week with the WC won't lie and say I wasn't stood outside a bookies, 20 in hand before I had a word with myself, carried on with walking my dog and went home. So currently still clean, managed to spend very little so should only be skint for a couple of months before my debts are paid as I want to get rid of them ASAP!

Hope everyone is well!

Charlie

Hi everyone - happy weekend!!

Just over 24 hours until check in deadline comes and goes and there's still 17 soldiers who we'd like to see coming through the door to base camp safe and well!! We've got a couple of wounded colleagues this week - Pinky and Mo, this isn't the end for you, but very much the beginning - don't walk away....you've both shown the commitment and the courage to post and tell us about the blip......that should tell you in the same way as it tells us, that recovery for good is just around the corner.....maybe just one more barrier required to ensure prevention......I doubt cure will be found for any of us.....prevention is the best it gets!

Thanks for the kind words Casino - as I've said, we'd never turn our backs on someone who really wants to beat this and shows the commitment to win. It's brilliant to see you on the road and so enthusiastic about it - you're long enough in the tooth to know that you need to keep your guard up! One small thing for you to think about - at a time when we don't feel good about ourselves and possibly hear negative things directed at us from friends or family, the last thing we should be doing is calling ourselves something with negative connotations - CasinoRoyalLoser?? That's what you were mate, but not any more - think about a new, much more positive username!!

Charlie - not good you stood outside - but bloomin' fantastic you walked away - if you were self excluded then there wouldn't have been a choice!! Well done - but no more putting temptation in your own way!!

For everyone that's still to check in, please do so providing the answers to the questions in last Sunday's update - some really information coming through! If you've checked in but not provided answers (see the front page!) then think about reposting and adding your information - no pressure - but would be great at least to get your "stopping" tip please!

Over to you soldiers - busy busy busy tomorrow (our summer was from Wednesday through until tomorrow!!!) - I'll update the front page when I can tomorrow, but probably no more posts until Sunday morning!!

Have a great weekend everyone - stay committed and stay strong!!

Mr Brightside

Hi Mr B. Checking in day 28.

Q1, m/35/Scotland and England (work takes me around!)

Q2, difficult one as I don't feel I've succeeded anything yet. As the Internet is my downfall I guess installing k9 has stopped many more potential slips along the way.

Hi all - Day 106 check in for me. Good luck!

I am 34, Male and from Scotland.

“What is the most significant thing or things you have done that have supported you in your recovery journey to stop gambling?”

The most significant thing I have done is accepting the fact if I gamble I will lose more than just money.... Every day I make the choice that my wife and family are far more important than a punt.

Just yesterday I was put in a vulnerable situation where I had played golf in the morning and a crowd of pals had arrived and asked if I wanted to go back out, me being me never knock back a game but as soon as a sweep was metioned I made my excuses and missed out. Its situations like this that make you realise what a complete d**k I have been in the past!!! dont get me wrong I really dont think a 5 sweep would trigger a binge for me I have came to far, but its the principal and promises I have made to myself and others I need to see through.

To all who have hit milestones and overcome personal challenges this week well done and I hope you continue to get stronger each day.

Del 🙂

Checking in 313 GF days.

Good morning everyone,

Checking in on 191 gamble free days. Disappointed but not surprised that England have not qualified for the next round of the World Cup, but maybe next time.....

In answer to your questions Mr B:

Q1. - I am a 43 year old Male living in the SW of England.

Q2. - “What is the most significant thing or things you have done that have supported you in your recovery journey to stop gambling?”

Having gambled for around 26 years my life, last Dec my gambling habit became unmanageable. I hit a brick wall and had nowhere to go. Gambling had totally screwed me up and I was at rock bottom. I had blown the family's Christmas money on a dead cert, odds on horse that could never loose....It did and I was doomed.

I went home and confessed everything to my wife and family. The finances where in a bad way because of gambling and I felt physically sick. I had been given many many chances prior to that so I thought I was heading out of the door. Fortunately, I was given the final chance to sort my S@it out.

I joined my local GA and attended weekly meetings which was extremely beneficial. I came across this web site in late Dec and read people's diaries and stories (I still do) and that helped me progress, day by day, week by week.

This challenge set up by Mr B has given me the dedication and determination not to let my addiction get the better of me. It has been hard, some days more than others but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully I will never gamble again. One day at a time!

Have a great weekend folks and for me, it's looks like its time to start pretending Andy Murray isn't Scottish again........ 🙂

Mike

Hi guys...

Just a (little) note to say that today I found myself with strong fruit m/c urges...

The wife is at work as usual so I decided that I needed to try and start to get rid of the holiday belly !!

I decided to walk into town (about 45 mins), En route I was thinking that I would be passing my old arcade haunt :- should I- shouldn't I -just a tenner??

My biggest problem was I actually really enjoyed playing the slots, since being a kid at the seaside, the biggest thing was it cost me money (a lot) !!!!

I have to say that now I'm here having a cuppa in a well known coffee shop. I'm looking at myself thinking my God I've come a long way !!!

There's ABSOLUTELY NO WAY - NOT A CHANCE - NEVER ! that I could've walked past the arcade with the thoughts and lure of the slots a couple of mths ago - I'm just picturing myself popping 20 after 20 into the m/c getting hotter,sadder,angrier and obviously POORER - I'm astounded how far I have come with just this site as my support ( the wife doesn't know about my last 5yrs+ gambling, she doesn't know about my finances or this site!!

My life is SO different - I can almost compare it to the film "Sliding doors"... 2 different lives 2 different outcomes and we ALL know which one is the better one!!

It's so different now - my strength comes from within me and from this place

I am very grateful to be here with the support, advice and of course the weekly boost from looking at those gambling free days going up 🙂

So people if a serial fruit machine addict can get this far THERES HOPE FOR ALL !!

To those who have tripped up, get up, dust down and march on - cos everyday IS important.

Take good care of yourselves, be proud and be STRONG

It is a wonderful personal achievement to wake up everyday feeling that yesterday I WAS CLEAN !!!

Cheers -

Glass dad

Afternoon folks - wasn't going to post today but had a quick chance and remembered some very very important milestones happen today!!!

So...........triangle (who joins the Century Club!!), ringerbell (also joining the Century Club!), AdamPrice (150 days!!), hitthefan (20 weeks clean!!) and last but certainly not least shorty8 (3 months clean!!).............a massive day for you guys!! Between you, you have collectively stopped for 1.6 years!! Awesome going guys - pwoud.....and many many congratulations!!

Still a lot of check ins required!!

Have a good one,

Mr B

Hi All, checking in Day 28 clean.

I am male, 44 from NE England.

The best thing I have done to help me in my recovery journey, is to put the blocker on my laptop, this has been excellent, and just knowing I cant get on any sites has worked fantastic for me. Also keeping away from betting shops not entered one for 28 days.

Thanks D.

With reference to my last post-

Back home smiling inside all the way

Glass dad 1 - slot machine 0

Win the battles - keep fighting the war !!

Another week almost over us and another week gamble free 🙂

Doesn't seem that long ago I came on here looking for help after relapsing now I've reached 100 days 😀 know I got keep my guard up as been here before but this time I've the help and support of my family and also all of yous on here 🙂

Keep up the good fight everyone

Checking in last minute still GF 🙂

Not had a day off work since last Thursday, so I am very very busy.

To answer Mr B's questons I am 27 from the east mids and the most important thing in helping me to stop gambling has been handing over complete control of my finances including my debit card and any other access to money forms.

Just finished watching Germany vs Ghana, wow wha a game!

Really enjoyed reading the past few days messages on here. So proud to be part of this group and together we are all doing so well. There have been some really interesting messages and its good to find out more about my fellow soldiers.

Well done to everybody for another week free of gambling, keep it up!

Don't know if Hardtimes reads this anymore but if you do Linda you are missed. If the worst has happened and you have slipped up don't let it stop you posting. We are all still here for you, you have done so well this year! You can and will beat it, I have confidence in you.