Ps. I fly out on holiday tomorrow can you check me in for the next three weeks Mr B? Sunshine here I come!!!
Thank you MamaB!
Triangle, I didn't mean rough as in gambling, sure it's tough but I meant rough as in pregnancy, I always have a hard time at first and struggling to keep food or water down, I've not put a single pound on yet.
All my energy is taking being ill, feeling ill or sleeping. Not being at work (driving every day) has helped
It's just been a tougher than usual week with a certain festival going on which happens not too far from me and is hard to ignore when all your friends are going!
Hope you are all managing to resist temptation, which lurks everywhere, and keep focusing on that road to recovery.
Laura x
Check in day 190. Good luck!
Good evening everyone,
I hope that you all have had a great weekend so far.
Checking in and still gamble free with no urges what so ever to place a bet.
My music as it stands today:
Life 7
Family 8
Gambling 4
Financial 7
Enjoy your evening.
Mike
Just checking in after another gambling free week, the urge to gamble has disappeared at the moment which is fantastic. Completely obsessed with my online gaming at the moment much healthier......well sort of. Good luck to everyone for the coming week, Daz.
Checking in day 62. Probably the best week ive had yet, despite being ill have been feeling a lot more positive.
Hope and strength to all.
Mark
Morning all soldiers, an early check in for the week for me, as just been catching up on the posts for past 2/3 weeks and to help Mr B's stats realised I hadn't listed my life numbers - so here they are:
Life 7 - A mix of good days and bad days but generally very good and still chilled from holidays and not being at work!!
Family 7 - Difficult to assess as we go up and down as in normal life, my gambling urges also affect my relationships as I struggle with giving in, and doing something to drown them out [like read a book] when the OH just wants to do something else which conflicts with my dealing with the urges. I'm not sure she fully appreciates or understands how difficult it is some days and this causes friction which we get through usually, but some days very hard!
Gambling 6 - Had a few urges from frustration on life and with family but managed to 'drown' them out, although this is when I noticed that this has an effect on the OH as I withdraw from the family and life to cope with the urges, but although thoughts & urges were there they were not acted upon!
Financial 1 - Luckily I have no money or direct access to it, so no fiscal worries [OH syas we are ok at moment although spent too much on Hols :)] as everything fiscal is with my OH.
Again, a realisation this week that this provides many of my frustrations, like having to always ask for money and explain exactly why I need it which is very difficult at my age especially after years of financial independence ~ but as its self imposed and my own fault, I have to just accept it as a consequence of being a CG! But this did cause issues personally this week, as wanted to buy something for the OH and couldn't without telling her it was a suprise! I think that will ease as I get more trust, but led to frustrations, but more importantly it led to urges [as a means of geting the money I wanted via gambling ~ although history shows that would not be the casse!].
Anyways, today is Day 101 of being GF by abstaining one day at a time by personal choice, and with the support of my OH and fellow marchers.
This was a major milestone target number for me and sitting here feeling pretty pleased with reaching this today, but not being complacent at all!
Have a great Sunday and week everyone, whilst I'll try and deal with the Southend defeat of Portsmouth at work with dignity! {I support Pompey, but work in S'end!!].
And finally, thanks Mr b for still being there, even in the background, and hope your life eases back to some normality this week! Sounds like you need a nice holiday now!
Support as always to all marchers, BE safe, be happy, Cliff
Checking in on day 45! Real challenge coming up this week as my parents are away on holiday and I'm left on my own. I don't see this being an issue but I have the right people around me to speak to someone if I did get the urge.
Checking in on day 178.
Checking in. 4 days gamble free and long will it continue
Mba
Good morning everyone!
What a few weeks! I’m glad to say that yesterday probably marked a return to semi-normality as I dropped the in laws off at the airport and wished them well on their holiday. The m-i-law was operated on last Wednesday morning and after a potential infection scare on Friday, she was deemed fit to fly. Phew! My nephew is back home and his mum is doing well. Work has reached new heights of mental, but with 3 days to go before I get some time off there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll officially post my volume numbers - I’m a 6, 9, 2, 1…….thoughts of gambling still there but I think I’ve reached the point now that the music will always be at that level. Family levels are high, life is slightly lower than last time (I’ll give myself a break on that if you pardon the pun!) and financial worries have dropped to a 1………I’ve still got significant debt from gambling and I’ve still got big financial commitments……..but I’m not worried about it - I don’t put my head on the pillow any more and beat myself up about what I’ve spent, where I’m going to get money from to gamble and how the heck I’m going to pay it all back. Things are getting back on track, positivity reigns and my contributions to the challenge will slowly return as this week progresses and I find the pressures of time reduce!
There’s a number of people I would thank for the notes of support in the last few weeks but let me generalise and thank the full group……….you are an amazing bunch of people. I am going to single two people out though and not because I didn’t appreciate all the other messages, but because these two have had a huge impact. Mum - you’ve taken so much pressure off me in the last few weeks via the support you’ve given to the group - you know me too well and have stepped up and filled my “loyalty” space. Thankyou! Triangle - you put a post on saying that you missed the update and the roll of honour………..that note was really important to me and hugely motivational - thanks!
Before I go onto the update proper, I’m going to write a few lines on what is shaping up to be the biggest week in the history and future of my home country, certainly in my lifetime and in the lives of most people I know. I can’t wait for Thursday - not because I’m excited about the outcome, but because I simply can’t wait for it to be over. Regardless of which way the Independence vote goes, I fear that it will take a long time for Scotland to recover - the tension, the divide, the growing animosity and the splits in family and friendship over the vote are far from healthy. Whatever the outcome, life will go on and I’ve squared things in my mind that there is nothing I can do to influence that after putting my cross in a box.
OK, so onto the update for this week and over the next few paragraphs I’ll give the headlines, welcome new members, celebrate a lot of milestones, remind on the volume update and give the numbers via the roll of honour……………..and it is so bizarre the way that numbers work…………I promise I’ve not manipulated them in any way……………………..but you MUST read on and get to the totals…………….today is an absolutely MASSIVE day for the challenge!!
Headlines for the last fortnight………
A week past Monday we continued our abstinence journey with 36 soldiers and today we have 38 checked in and ready to face the coming week together. We’ve lost 3 soldiers on the way giving us a retention of 92%, but have picked up 5 soldiers on the way (2 new and 3 missing). Each of us carries an average of 132 days free from gambling into the new week. Our current group have been collectively stopped for 13.8 years and we now have 23 members of the Century Club - 60% of our group have been stopped for more than a 100 days……….is this not absolutely sensational? The momentum is still strong, the support is superb and the challenge is still working…………your efforts and commitment to the group, your own journey and your families have delivered something outstandingly special…………since the challenge began and as of today, the 114 people who have made the commitment have stopped collectively for a total of EXACTLY………
10,000 days!!!
Based on the approximate average of 50 per person per day lost gambling, we have collectively saved an astonishing………
GBP 500,000!!!
Half a million pounds in our pockets and not the bookies!!! WOW!!!
New and potential members………..
Apologies to those of you who have requested to join the challenge and have experienced delays in response or confirmation that you are part of the group……..I hope I’ve not “missed” you or you’ve become disillusioned with the value of being part of this team - stick in there - it will help you!
I’d like to officially welcome Thankful (Julie) and markymark14 - you guys are in uniform and on the road with the team. Thanks for making the commitment to the group and to your recovery. Every time a thought of gambling enters your head, remember that you have made the commitment not to and there’s a load more people you’d be letting down other than yourself and your family! Welcome - we’re delighted to be shoulder to shoulder with you on the road!
There’s 3 other soldiers who have popped on to say hello and request to join us. I’ve not added any of mba, Cp or gary84 to the official numbers yet, but would be delighted to do so! All I’d ask is that you read the front page of the challenge and drop a post on with confirmation that you’re truly up for the challenge and can make the commitment to the team! Over to you guys!
Holidaymakers………..!!
Quick note to ringerbell, Del and No Crisis - have a fantastic break and don’t worry about your check ins - I’ll make them for you over the next couple of weeks.
Talking about holidays……..ccw - you make a great point about part of your support structure going away on holiday and being left with reduced barriers. This group can be used, your GA network should help…….but if you need to talk to someone then you know where I am. Drop me an email with your number and I’ll be on the phone in jig time.
Milestones Celebrated in the Last Fortnight
richy244 - has made it through 300 days and is now only just over 8 weeks away from being our second team member ever to reach a full year without gambling! Awesome soldier!
Scambling and Mr Brightside - have both gone past 40 weeks clean - it’s like a pregnancy Scambling - we’ve gone through some serious pain and are now seeing the benefits (although there’s a lot of hard miles still to go!!)
ToBeOrNot - talking about preganancies(!) great to see you posting again Laura and congrats once again on the news. A huge well done on breaking through 200 days gamble free!
Triangle and Ringerbell - have both been clean from gambling for more than 6 months now! Half a year with no losses and no pit in the stomach about what you did yesterday - it may be tough guys, but be very very proud of your achievements!
luckygirl - reaches 150 days today! Superb going lucky……and you must be feeling great about your achievements!!
John64, D70, mjc1974 and Wolf57 - are our newest members of the Century Club!! Such a magnificent milestone to move into that 3 figure space guys! Still my favourite milestone so far - keep going and turn the 1 into a 2 and then a 3……and back to 1 again……1 year that is!!
SuzyLemon - celebrated a quarter of a year gamble free and is going to be a Century Club member this coming week!! Brilliant Suzy - congratulations!!
Elfie17 - broke into double digits of weeks and is on the big run now of milestones……quarter a year soon Elfie and then the Century Club - you’re doing it girl!! Awesome going!
Markieb10 - 50 days is now beaten markie and the milestones will keep coming now! Stay strong soldier - you are going to do this!
Milestones coming up this week……..
The following people will all celebrate milestones in the coming week:-
Del79 (400 days!!), Happy Days (40 weeks), Lady Baggins and Julio (both 200 days), delboygolf and Shorty8 (6 months), Pinky333 (3 months), Mo and ccw85 (50 days).
Some incredible milestones in there folks and lots to celebrate!! It really doesn’t matter if it’s 400 days, 50 days or 1 day……we’re only one bet away from starting again……and I still love the statement for compulsive gamblers……..”the person who has stopped the longest is the person who got up first this morning” - really apt. One day at a time soldiers, but celebrate the new wins like crazy - we all deserve to!
The Volume Survey………
On Monday night last week I posted detail around reviewing our “Volumes” which has prompted some great posts from a number of you. There’s a richness about the explanation when someone has given their numbers. 19 people have responded so far and the survey will run for another 2 weeks - I’ll provide the results on Sunday 28th September, but they are really interesting so far - some real shifts in there. I’d urge everyone who hasn’t responded so far to read my post from Monday 8th September and provide the answers to the questions……but only if you feel comfortable doing so. Thanks to everyone who have participated so far!
The Roll of Honour
Here’s the names and days clean for the soldiers who are marching into this week:-
Name Days Clean
bornagain 7
Happy Days 276
lostafortune 191
Mr Brightside 280
Del79 398
rst187togo 20
Hitthefan 225
luckygirl 150
Baggins 196
ToBeOrNot 205
triangle 185
Scambling 281
NoCrisis 17
ringerbell 185
delboygolf 178
Gladsdad 162
Pinky333 90
Wolfgang 166
Mo 49
help2604 131
Shorty8 176
julio 193
Daz71 119
John64 107
D70 113
Mileend 35
Wolf57 101
richy 244 308
Elfie17 83
Matty21 14
GamAddict 40
SuzyLemon 94
markieb10 62
mjc1974 110
ccw95 45
CannaeWin 28
markymark14 3
Thankful 11
I’ve given the totals already……..but here they are again!! I can’t help myself!!
Drum roll………total days free of gambling since the Challenge began……….
10000 Days = 0.5 million GBP in our pockets………………..0 GBP in the bookies!!!
Ya Beauty!!!! Wooop woooooooop!!!
That’s the update for this week then folks, it’s good to be back!
Some tough times being had by soldiers in the last few weeks………life can be cr** at times. We are Better Together. We can make this. We have strength. We have resolve. We have commitment. We have a purpose. We are winning.
Have a wonderful week everyone.
Mr Brightside
Morning all
Away for weekend
Still gamble free not sure if checked in or not sorry if late family 8 life 8 gambling 5 financial 5
Soldering on hitthefanx
Wow Mr B - incredible statistics (yours, not mine) - you must be so proud of those amazing figures - 10,000 and 500,000. I think the whole battalion would agree that it's your leadership that has spurred us on to this major victory, not forgetting your own personal milestone which so often gets overlooked - well done. Lovely to have you back, great that things are looking better all round, and I hope that Mama B can put her feet up a bit now!
Checking in on my day 196 and looking forward to my double-century on 18 Sept - don't think I'll make the 10 o'clock News somehow what with that little local difficulty north of the Border.....hope you can quickly get back to normality after the result.
Best wishes to all.
Mr B,
just a quick one to give you my numbers. Gambling is a 3, which is a massive change from a couple of months ago. As a direct consequence life is an 8, since abstaining I have thrown myself into work and sorting my house out and its really rewarding. Family has also been turned up to a 9, I'm spending so much more quality time with my son. Financial is still an 8, though that has reduced and hopefully will continue to do so.
also, what you're doing here is a remarkable thing and I'd like to thank you it's helping me so much to be a part of it 🙂
Glads dad checking in safe n sound
Great to see mr B back.. up to his usual mind bending super stats. I hope alls good with the family my comrade.
Congrats to those achieving new milestones
I hope that all goes well for all this week be good..be strong.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
