2014 Challenge

6months today gamble free checkin .

Just waved family off after 2wk hols with me.

End off first week in new post massive learning curve way out of comfort zone.

Thanks to mama b for terrific post you should be having a very proud mummy moment with your inspirational son . A big thanks to you Mr B for your motivation and wise words on my journey.

Was in Hamilton couldn't figure out all the plastic horses in shops and around shopping precinct commonwealth games had a malteser moment my boys informed me dark on outside but blonde inside. Staying strong marching on hitthefanx

Afternoon all, checking in on day 80. Still feel like I'm struggling a bit but also feel I am heading in the right direction and I take comfort from that.

To Mr and Mamma B, thank you both for taking time to call me out in your posts. Mamma B, you didn't touch a nerve as much as remind me why I am on this journey. I appreciate the insight and support offered by your posts.

I have found that even when not gambling, I can exhibit compulsive, disruptive, damaging behaviours. I think it is common amongst gamblers to want a quick fix and I naively thought that abstaining from gambling would make those behaviours vanish. My behavioural lapse a few weeks back really got me down because I didn't know how to stop it happening again. There is no blocking software or self-exclusion for the way I think and compulsive behaviour seems to be part of my psychological make up. Looking back though, at least I didn't gamble. I can also say that despite my work situation not improving, I have handled it better the last couple of weeks. One step at a time, I guess.

Have a good weekend all.

Hi, everyone checking in on day 34 for me as of now and i couldnt be more pleased as we're almost out of the s*****r..pardon my french but i dont care i'm happy that i dont have these panic attacks now that i havnt screwed up due to a 20 pound relapse that would end up turning into 500 eek. but the important thing is we are all slowly getting there and as the days count up they will increase more and more so thats something to be proud of 🙂

Day 133 honestly don't know where I found the time to gamble life is crazy at the minute

Hey guys I'm Kirk and have been gambling for just over 2 years now. I've probably lost around 15,000 in total and lost 200 today on sports betting.

So I want to stop gambling starting tomorrow and really hope you guys can give me the support I need to power through 🙂

I've tried giving up before but always have that one day where I think 'oh 10 won't hurt' and before I know it all my wages have gone.

So let's do this guys I will check in again tomorrow

First time i missed check in , soz troops I love u all from my deepest....... I'm still going strong be safe be beautiful be *** mental xxx

Apologises for missing the check in this week. I had work issues and had to go abroad at short notice. Back safely last night but completely forgot to send in an update.

On the plus side another week negotiated. Fingers crossed work is good this week, not sure the other half will understand another week of leaving her in the lurch while i head off globe trotting!!

Good morning everyone!

The first Sunday of August is upon us meaning that we’re into the last 5 months of the year - I still can’t believe that it’s moving this quickly! With the schools in Scotland having already enjoyed the majority of their summer holidays (in monsoon conditions yesterday! One of the funniest things I heard last week was the announcer at Hampden Park in Glasgow last night telling the crowd that the next race would be the 400 metres breast stroke!), it’s the turn of the rest of the Union to begin their summer break - like Strange has done this week and a couple of others before, please let me know if you are heading off and I’ll check in on your before.

In the update this week there’s the usual features of headlines, milestones, tallies, new and returning members and also this week, the monthly update for July - it’s pretty impressive this month……the best ever! I’m also going to set the ambition for August and call out some risks that guards need to be up for!

With the start of August we’ve entered the month that will see our first ever member achieving a full year free from gambling - a cause for real celebration and another reason to believe that feeding off the successes of others is a great vehicle for the rest of us to aspire to - more of that to come too!

Headlines for this Week………..

Our total membership has grown in the week from 35 to 37. Of the 35 who started the week, 32 checked in giving us a total of 91% retention - no need for mini rants this week! The balance of 5 has been made up of previously missing soldiers rejoining us on the journey - welcome back folks! We’ve got a huge average of 113 days per person as we head into this week and the current army of 37 have collectively managed 11.5 years free from gambling. The Challenge has delivered over 0.4m GBP in saved money since we began in January as well as more than 22 years of abstinence. We’re doing well!

New and Returning Members………..

We’ve had 5 missing soldiers come back to the ranks this week……..a very warm welcome back to base for Kickitnow, richy, Daz71 and onlineplayer. FlyingFox1 has also returned after a while away - sorry to hear that things have been rough FF, but you did well here first time around……..please stick with us this time and allow us to support you through.

There’s the possibility that we’ll be joined by 3 new members in the coming week……all of whom have expressed an interest in marching along Recovery Road with us, but haven’t yet got round to re-posting and confirming they’re up for the commitment to the team. freeali1, katyelphaba and Bet1994 - it would be great to have you in the team and I’ve left a message for each of you on the front page of the 2014 Challenge thread (the very first post of this thread) with the asks of each of you.

TheRobman88 - it’s great to see you back on the forum mate and thanks for posting on Challenge thread again! There’s no need to be totally Clean in ’14 to be a part of this group - why don’t you get back into the habit of checking in weekly and setting your ambition for the rest of this year? Absolutely your call, but would be great to see you back with the group and marching clean with us to the end of December.

July Monthly Update………

Despite our overall army slightly reducing in numbers during the month, it’s actually been our best ever month for soldiers coming through it clean. In fact, a staggering 92% of the current team came through July without gambling and I really believe that we have the strongest core we’ve ever had! Our growth in July sees us increasing our total number of free calendar months (as an active group) by 19% - seriously good going! We begin August with 18 Century Club members active on the Challenge and collectively we have 113 calendar months tucked safely under our belts - the first time we’ve ever had over 100 months of abstinence between us!

Really well done to rstxxxtogo, Pinky333, Mileend, Wolf57, onlineplayer, Elfie17, Matty21, GamAddict and SuzyLemon all of whom have notched up a totally clean full month of July and started the road to a quarter of a calendar year!

Wolfgang, Shorty8 and Julio have delivered a full quarter year of Calendar months gamble free now - next stop for you guys is the half year! There’s another 6 in the group that being clean and checking in for August will see hit the quarter year of full calendar months if they can get through August!

There are 6 of the group who are still aiming to complete the year completely free from gambling - bornagain, Happy Days, Del79, Mr Brightside, Scambling and richy are still on course for a gamble free calendar year!

Every single member of the current group are in a place to make August another completely gamble free month!!

Milestones Celebrated in the Last Week……….

Del79 clocked up his 350th day this week and is only 9 days away now from the full year!

Hitthefan became the 7th member of the group to move past half a year of being gamble free!

Baggins and Julio stormed past 150 days of no gambling!

ringerbell and triangle both broke through the 20 weeks clean mark!

D70 and fitzy have both clocked up 10 weeks of recovery and are going strong! Next stop is 13 weeks (quarter of a year) and then the Century Club!

Onlineplayer and SuzyLemon have now moved past the half century and into safer territory - you’re doing really well folks - keep it up…….big big milestones fast approaching!

Milestones in the Coming Week………

Monday 4th August - lostafortune reaches 150 days tomorrow - woop woop! Is it not time to change that name LAF and become SAF?

Tuesday 5th August - help2604 reaches quarter of a year without gambling! mjc1974 hits 10 weeks of abstinence and is joined in celebration by Pinky333 who moves onto the 50 day mark! Great going girls!

Thursday 7th August - Mr Reliable delboygolf notches up his 20th week of being gamble free! Awesome going Steve!

Friday 8th August - Strange celebrates exactly a quarter of a year without gambling and does it in style while away on holiday - have a great break! John64 begins the rush of big milestones in hitting 10 weeks gamble free! Well done folks!

Saturday 9th August - Shorty8 hits 20 weeks on the recovery journey! Superb soldier!

Sunday 10th August - triangle reaches 150 days on the journey while both rstxxxtogo and Matty 21 notch up the half century - a day worth celebrating for you all!

Tuesday 12th August - it may not be in the coming week………but everyone, and I mean everyone, is expected to make a post on the Glorious 12th August……….as Del79 celebrates a full year without gambling!!! The following Friday (15th August) is Del’s 1 year party in Glasgow for anyone who fancies popping along for a drink and to toast Del on his amazing milestone!

Roll of Honour………..

Here’s the count and roll of honour for our army……..but as Mama B pointed out to me last week - it’s not actually an army……but more an elite section of the SAS……..we’re a specialist group, high risk of being hurt, dangers are all around and every day there is a chance that we could fall!! The guys and gals who make it to the other side are the elite of the elite……..we can be that group!

Name Clean Days

bornagain 229

Happy Days 234

lostafortune 149

Mr Brightside 238

Del79 356

rst187togo 43

Hitthefan 183

luckygirl 108

Baggins 154

triangle 143

Scambling 239

NoCrisis 81

ringerbell 143

delboygolf 136

Drew2002 126

Gladsdad 120

Pinky333 48

Strange 86

Wolfgang 124

help2604 89

Shorty8 134

julio 151

Daz71 77

John64 65

D70 71

Mileend 36

Fitzy 70

Wolf57 59

richy 244 266

onlineplayer 52

StoneRoses 5

Elfie17 41

Matty21 43

GamAddict 35

SuzyLemon 52

markieb10 20

mjc1974 68

FlyingFox1 5

Drum roll………total days free of gambling since the Challenge began……….

8259 Days = 0.41295 million GBP in our pockets………………..0 GBP in the bookies!!!

The Ambition for August…….

I’m a great believer in putting yourself in the future and having a look around to be able to paint a picture of what you want that future to look like……..so here’s me standing at the end of August and having a look at how our group will be come the end of the month:-

- The 37 members who have started this month off will finish the month and there will have been no slips - we are strong together!

- We will have one member who has over a year of recovery behind them……and a wonderful future in front of them!

- Our group will have at least 45 members in it - some of our missing soldiers will have returned and will be ready to stay with us through to the end of the year!

- There will have been more than 2000 posts made on the Challenge Thread!

- We will have collectively “saved” more than 0.5m GBP through our ongoing abstinence!

- I will have physically met 2 more of the group - not sure how that will happen….maybe at Del’s party…….but I believe it will!

- We will have repeated our “volume” survey (last week of August)……..and every category from life through family, gambling and financial worries will have shown improvement!

There are Risks Ahead of Us……..

I don’t often call out risks……but I see August as a risk month for the group…..why? Here are some of the things to make sure we strengthen our resolve, our barriers, keep our guards up and stay tight with this group…….

- There’s the Charity Shield, European Super Cup, the Premiership season begins…….all risks for football followers……

- It’s the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final…….big risk for rugby fans!

- The PGA Golf takes place at Valhalla…….golf fans beware!

- The US Open starts at Flushing Meadow……..tennis fans guard up!

- The internet will not be taken down……..all of us beware!

- Bookies will be open trying to tempt us in……..stay strong troops!

- Starting the season with 4 players……..Southampton fans beware! Lol!

Add on to these the cricket, F1 and many other big events........temptation will be all around!

Last but very not least……..

For the last few years I’ve been doing the Barclays Fantasy Football League and absolutely love it……I was thinking about setting up a 2014 Challenge League for people on here to take part in. There are adverts for gaming companies on the site from time to time, which is a risk, however it’s such a fun alternative to football coupons etc……it’s free and a great social activity. If anyone would like to participate in the 2014 Challenge League then drop a post on the thread when you are checking in and we’ll take it from there!

That’s the update for this week and check in is now open………help2604 - I’ve just seen your check in - I’ll move you from the missing soldiers back into the main group, but sorry mate, I’ve not added your numbers to the totals…….will do next week and brilliant to know your dedication to recovery and the group is as strong as ever! Thankyou and hopefully the better half will understand the travel requirements!

Have a brilliant week everyone, enjoy holidays if you are on them………but more so, enjoy life in the knowledge that you are day by day freeing yourself from the shackles, lies and burdens that gambling brings!

Mr Brightside

Checking in on day 136.

Hi Mr B. Checking in on day 43. Feeling great and on holiday next Saturday for 2 glorious weeks in America. (Can I ask you check me in for the following 2 weeks if I don't get chance).

I would also really like to join the football league. Already have a team set up so once you set up a league post the code and I'll join, although can you call the league something that will not link us to recovering gamblers as my other league is with work. Cheers. Have a great week guys.

Definitely rst - it will be something suitably ambiguous.......it's my work I play with too! Have a great holiday and don't worry about check-ins - they'll happen for you!

delboygolf - you really are the Mr Reliable!

Mr B!

Afternoon everyone (again!)

I've created a league on the Barclays Fantasy Football site for anyone wanting to take part. If you do, then follow these steps:-

- log on to http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ and follow the registration process if you're not already a member.

- you'll need to follow the rules to pick your team etc. and create a team name - pretty easy to do!

- once you've done that, go the "Leagues", select "Join a League", select the "Private League" option.....it'll then ask you for a code.

- enter the code 532884-213296 and you'll be there!

The league is called "2014/15 Premiership Challenge" - nothing that can compromise any one of us.

The one thing is that our real names will appear against our teams - I'm OK with that - nothing to hide anymore!

It really is a fantastic game to play for any budding football managers out there! Enjoy!

Mr B!

Checking in Day 52

3 sessions of CBT

1 session of hypnotherapy

Zero gambling

Learning how to deal with issues instead of spending hours playing online bingo/slots

Glad to be one of the soldiers!!

Hey everyone, got a small confession..today i wanted to gamble..ie online slots, was thinking of opening a new account as i had self excluded from alot of my sites but obviously there are always more opening. i figured id put only 20 in thinking maybe i can double or even triple it as we could sure use the money but thats jsust it i realise sure maybe i would win you never know..but would i actually withdraw it? or reverse it? so instead of spending that 20 which could have turned to a hundred that i couldnt afford i decided to instead buy me and my kids a takeaway for the same price.. i think thats a better deal to me so im quite proud but still regret even thinking about gambling again which makes me sick

Hi all, checking in on day 239 🙂

A more positive and upbeat update this week Mr B, I like it 😀

Our numbers may have slightly decreased recently, but its clear to see we have a strong core of people here, the strongest since this challenge began I believe. The people who are still here are determined to change their own live's for the better, including me.

I have joined your Fantasy league, having played for the last 6 years. Should be fun 🙂

Look's like Southampton are letting ANOTHER 2 players go then... 90M of transfer income and not a penny spent... LOL

Have a nice day all,

Scambling