2014 Challenge

Morning All

Mr B fella is it possible that I can request to offer the folk on the recovery diaries 2014 gamble free thread to join your thread,sadly the editor of that thread has not updated now for three months and I feel it is unhealthy to keep dragging it back to page one as it may have a detrimental effect on other members of it who are no longer gamble free.

For me from a selfish point of view last year I failed to complete the thread through my own relapse and look forward greatly to exercising that particular demon.

With the help of your thread I know this would be possible.

warmest regards

Duncs stepping forward never back

No bet since 31/10/2014

Woops - forgot to check in last week but still gamble free. Only day 10 , lots of emotional stuff with my GF that I fully deserve but will stay strong.

hi all. checking in on day 125! tomorrow will be 18 weeks.

this week I dreamt of having a big win and the buzz that I used to get. told myself it was the meds that I was on as I'd been on morphine.

didn't act on any urges.

mo you have made the first step which is always hardest. the counsellor that I saw before said that the reason they use the flashing lights and bright colours are that they "brainwash" you, these techniques were used during wars!!!

I know that some people prefer to keep it to themselves but when I did that I relapsed. since talking to my family and friends about this I have an amazing support system. this site also helps as you can "talk" to someone who doesn't know you but knows what you are going through.

best wishes for the future everyone. stay strong we can do it!!

Good afternoon everyone!

The best laid plans……….I said I would contribute more on the challenge last week and I failed…..my volunteering at the Ryder Cup turned into an 80 hour commitment with very little golf in there. It was a great experience though and brilliant to say I was there and part of it. For those of you who have never been to Scotland but watched the golf, I can confirm that the weather is like this all the time!! Well, maybe not!! Apologies to the group for being late with the update and not writing anything last week…….I assure you all I’ll be back on track this week in my contributions, but the update will come later next Sunday as I am running the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow that day!

In the update this week I’ll provide the usual numbers and milestone shout outs, share the roll of honour, but also give an update on the volume numbers that we’ve been sharing and surveying for the last few weeks.

Before I give the headlines for the week, following duncanmac’s post this morning there’s a potentially exciting new group of soldiers who could come to join us in the near future. There’s been an alternative 2014 Challenge running over on the recovery diaries that has required complete abstinence from the beginning of 2014. From duncs post it seems it’s stalled a bit in the last few months and I think some of that group want to see the year out completely gamble free as part of a group! Duncs, we’d be thrilled to have you in the 2014 Challenge, but remind the guys that the rules are slightly different - specifically around check in and also that we’ve got a wide range of people at various points in their recovery journey. Would be great to see the 2 challenges come together. (And also remind them that they’d be subjected to my ramblings on a weekly basis!!). I’ve had a look at the group (mentioned below) and when someone comes onto this Challenge I’ll put them straight in without some of the normal asks we make of new members! Great to have you all fella!

Onto the Headlines for this Week………..

With 31 soldiers marching into last week, 7 have not checked in, but 5 have returned and we have 1 confirmed new member, giving us a retention rate of 77% and 30 soldiers marching as a group as at today. The total consecutive days that the group have been collectively free from gambling for has now reached over 4100 which equates to nearly 11 and a quarter years. We will all carry an average of 137 days each into this week and 63% of the current team are members of the Century Club, with another joining the exclusive group this week! We are now three quarters of the way through 2014, with only 14 more check ins and updates that will take us through until the beginning of the New Year. Including today there are 94 days left this year……..add that to your current days free total and that’s what you’ll be carrying in to 2015! Make that your personal ambition!

New and Potentially New Members…………..

We formally welcome AndyJ to the group this week - great to have you fella…….and with the days you have already been gamble free for, if you keep on track and checking in then you’ll be a Century Club member by the end of the year!

From what I can see on the 2014 Face Forward thread which I referenced earlier, there are a number of potentially new members who may move across that we’d love to see here -

duncanmac

Irene

Del79 is also running with the other 2014 thread (and succeeding!) so it’ll kill 2 birds with one stone for him.

Milestones Celebrated this week and next……………

A smaller number than usual of milestones celebrated in the last week or so, but before I go onto them, I’ve got a huge apology to make to SuzyLemon who’s 100 day Century Club membership was missed last week - sorry Suzy. I’ve read your recovery diary and I’m loving it - keep it up girl and make sure you keep seeking ways to turn up your volume on life and drowning out the gambling noise. You are 100% going to make it to a new normality that doesn’t feature gambling - your zest for life and want to make it is really inspiring!

Here are the celebrants from last week:-

Lady Baggins of Englandshire has broken through 30 weeks! Awesome your majesty!

Lostafortune reached 200 days on the journey - the double Century! Amazing going LAF!

Pinky333 and SuzyLemon have both joined the Century Club - brilliant milestone soldiers!

Elfie celebrated the last milestone before joining the Century Club later in the coming week by marching through the quarter of a year barrier. I know it’s been tough going Elfie, but you’ll get through it and life will be so much better without the demon on your shoulder tempting you into something that simply causes misery in the long run. Proud of you girl!

Markieb10 marched through 70 days and into double weeks of being gamble free - superb effort markie - keep it up mate!

Lots of milestones coming up this week! Here they are:-

Scambling and Mr Brightside (300 days), Lostafortune and julio (30 weeks), triangle and ringerbell (200 days), Glasdad (6 months), Elfie (Century Club) and mileend (50 days and half a century!).

Well done to everyone on their milestones and be good to yourself when they come!

An Update on Our Volumes……..September 2014 vs June 2014

Many thanks to everyone who has provided volume details over the last few weeks - the headlines are as follows:-

* As a group, our overall +ve scores (average of life and family) have increased from 6.2 to 7.5 meaning that our family lives and lives in general are getting better the longer we abstain for!

* Our overall -ve scores (gambling and financial worry) have dropped from 4.4 to 3.8. Life and volume, in the main, are drowning out the volume of gambling and resultant financial impacts it brings……however, the volume is still there in the -ve things.

* Financial worry still remains the higher of the 2 negative scores, reinforcing the theory that it could well be financial worry that drives and element of gambling and seeking the “quick fix” to sorting finances out…….the slippery slope we’ve probably all thought about at some point.

* Those who responded and have been stopped for more than 100 days have significantly more strength in their +ve numbers - 8.1 is the average +ve score for this group vs 6.1 for the group of responders less than 100 days (4.25 for those in the first month of recovery - more proof that it’s so difficult in those early days and crucial you stick in!). Century Club membership is really important for sustained recovery…….although not a guarantee and the guard needs to be up at all times even well beyond that.

* Those who have had a blip since the June survey have dropped in average score (+ve vs -ve) by nearly a full point - doesn’t take a rocket scientist to assume that giving in to the temptation will have nothing but a negative effect on your general wellbeing in the long run - don’t give in good people!

* Those who have not given into temptation and have marched on have increased their average net score by a full point (4.1 to 5.1) again proving the theory that it’s the long game that counts and no matter how cr** we feel on certain days, the longer term will see things getting better, financial worries will reduce and life will drown out the gambling music that will probably always exist.

The Roll of Honour for this Week

Here’s the squad for this week and their clean numbers……

Name Clean Days

bornagain 21

Happy Days 290

lostafortune 205

Mr Brightside 294

Del79 412

rst94togo 13

Hitthefan 239

Baggins 210

triangle 199

Scambling 295

NoCrisis 31

ringerbell 199

delboygolf 192

Gladsdad 176

Pinky333 104

Mo 10

julio 207

Chirst21 8

John64 121

D70 127

Mileend 49

Fitzy 126

Wolf57 115

Elfie17 97

SuzyLemon 108

markieb10 76

mjc1974 124

CannaeWin 42

mba 18

AndyJ 12

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

10413 Days = 0.52065 million GBP in our pockets………………..0 GBP in the bookies!!!

That’s the update for this week everyone……..anyone who has checked in on Sunday, I’ve already logged you as being in for this week so no need to repeat. For everyone else we’re at risk of falling below the 30 member number - let’s not make that happen - would be such a blow to the group! There’s safety in numbers……..and we have such a strong core now for people to come and lean on.

Have a brilliant week everyone…….it’s good to be back and focussed on my “job”.

Mr Brightside

PS Dot - just seen your check in and will add you to the numbers and group next week - good to see you!!

thanks Mr B for your hard work and dedication

199 days and checking in for this week

well done to all soldiers but a particular high five to ringerbell who will hopefully up to 200 days tomorrow with me

thanks soldiers and march 2 3 4

tri

Great work as always Mr B. I'm here for the 94 days I am so positive of that. Cant wait to have that life and family music turned up loud as we approach the new year together and ever increase the strength of this group. Come on everyone we are almost there, guards up for a better life.

Hello everyone, so sorry i havnt checked in the last couple of weeks was well busy with kids, marshalling and completely forgot all about my challenge but stil thats no excuse but im here and im not going anywhere still trying to go strong but small confession..its been 16 days gamble free for me due to a small relapse over two weeks ago but it will probably continue to grow without relapses because thankfully hubby changed the debit card so that helps me alittle. good luck everyone we can all do this..

Hi all

Welcome new members and thanks Mr B for a very detailed update!!

Could Mr B please check me in next week as were off to sunny Cyprus tomorrow for a chill out after a pretty dreadful month

Take care all colleagues

Glads dad

checking in again on day 200

200 days

well done fellow soldiers

tri

Fantastic Triangle 🙂 well done! I'm sure Ringerbell will be celebrating today too 🙂

Hope you have a great holiday Gladsdad. Recharge your batteries - enjoy your R & R and come back refreshed & renewed 🙂

Love Mama B xx

Well done Ringerbell on 200 days.

That's brilliant.

Suzy

Hi, i'd like to join this if possible. I've been battling a gambling addiction for years now and i've had enough. I want today's gambling to be my last and think this thread will help me.

Buck

Hi.

Just taken my first step to beating this. I've had enough- last 3 days I've spent, won and lost my last. Having had great plans to quit many many times over the last 2 years - and having lost over 10k I am ready to be gamble free.

I look forward to checking in and to all those over 30 days.... I envy you and to those at 100, 200 days.... you're doing awesome and I hope to be there very soon.

magicman82

Hi guys

I'm checking in for the week. The past week has been the worst week of my recovery with the news of my grand illness getting worse and unfortunately she passed away on Saturday and I said my last goodbye to her today 🙁

Know I'm going to have to keep my guard up the next while as betting used to be my safety net when things got hard

Ringerbell, so very sorry to hear your sad news. This is the time you need to stay focused on your recovery. The 'safety net' that might try to tempt you would break under you! I'm sure your Gran would want you to have a full and good life, which you are doing so well to achieve. Keep your resolve strong. You are in my prayers. Love Mama B xx