2014 Challenge

Stoneroses - I'm so sorry you find yourself so low but I'm so pleased you have come back & are prepared to fight for a better life. Self exclude from everything, hand over your finances to someone who you trust, do all the things you have mentioned & keep checking in on this challenge. There is such a huge support here and we all want to see you moving into a new and better future free from gambling. Waken up tomorrow saying 'today I will not gamble' . This can be your time! I'm sure Mr B posted at the same time as you or he would have commented had he seen your post. Don't dwell on the past, debts can be paid with time, make every day make a difference. Love Mama B xx

Hi all

Been very busy started new job yesterday alls going ok ( I think !!)

Checking in on day 3

Hope we have a good week together in battle.

Glads dad

Day 137 just checking in, cant believe I am nearly at 20 weeks thank god for this forum and mr b's hard work will never forget it

afternoon everyone. I'm checking in on day 140. can't believe how quick the past 20 weeks have gone, but also know that I don't think I could have done it on my own. having the support of family friends and you guys has definitely helped.

stoneroses and gladsdad don't beat yourself up about it. you recognised the problem and have started again. at least you stopped gambling instead of continuing the spiral and have started a new clean slate.

I do know from reading the statuses from others that I am extremely lucky with the support system that I have. if any of you need me to talk to, to rant at etc just contact me and I will do what I can to help.

with regards to saving for Christmas etc I have given my husband the control over my savings. I go to work (although currently off sick). pay my wages in, once the bills have gone out any extra money I transfer into a savings account that my husband has control over. since I have stopped gambling and started doing extra shifts at work, using this method and a compensation cheque that I finally received from an accident over 2 years ago I am now out of debt.

the savings that my hubby is looking after will now be saving up for birthdays, Christmas, family days out spending money on the family holiday.

in 17 days I will be turning 40. I am so looking forward to a gamble and debt free life. so my new life doesn't start at 40. it started when I decided to join this group and become gamble free, so life for me started at 39 years 6 months 3 weeks and 5 days!!!!

apologises for the ramble.

best wishes for the future everyone and remember to stay strong, together we can do it.

Hello all, it feels a bit like cheating joining a 2014 challenge in the middle of October but I will try anything.

My story briefly is I have been gambling for 10 years but have really been out of control with it for about 5. So bad that I actually stole money to keep covering my losses. I haven't gambled since I handed myself in, and went to prison.

Since my release the temptation is there, but the knowledge of where it might lead to stops me doing anything

I set myself a personal target to be gambling free for the rest of the calendar year so I'm jumping on this bandwagon. Power in numbers!

I can't take part since I placed some bets during the first 3 months of 2014, although its not a huge amount I did lose.

Morning Gamcarers

Checking in 50 weeks gamble free today,two weeks until I take my one years continued abstinence back from addiction who I foolishly gifted it back to after 21 months of being gamble free.

You won't be getting it back so easily this time my old friend.

That has been without doubt made possible by using this amazing forum to gift my resolve to make the right choice.

I am glad you re edited the list Mr b

Without doubt I understand that recovery is not a competition,we all face the same choice each day.

We share equally in winning if the choice is the right one.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

Checking in on day 122 😀

Hey guys apologise for missing check in last week. Had a hectic week as our charity event took place last Friday. Happy to say it was a great success with between 10-12 thousand euro raised.

I then headed to watch Ireland play in Germany. Great experience made possible by me not gambling any more

So I'm current in a bad way but thankfully it's nothing to do with betting just down to the copious amount of German beer drank the last few days

Count me in! Great idea, lets win this battle.

- Jelle

Hi NoLuck, Stacey84 and Jelle welcome to the 2014 Challenge. If you would like to join the challenge then please read the first page and if you feel ready to commit to your own recovery and supporting the rest of the challenge members then please post again before midnight on Saturday stating how many days you are gamble free and a bit about yourself. Mr B will then add you to the numbers when he does the update. It would be good to have you marching with us and I'm sure you would benefit greatly from the advice and support given. Keep to your resolve and enjoy a gamble free life 🙂 Stacey84if you haven't gambled since April then you will be bringing with you all your gamble free days 🙂 work out how many and mention them if you decide to commit to this challenge. I am hoping that each and every one of you has a gamble free and blessed day today 🙂 Love Mama B xx

Checking in on my Day 239 - sorry for being late - have been busy preparing my broomstick for its MOT before 31 October.

Thanks to Mr B and Mama B for all your hard work, and commiserations to all battle-weary comrades and new recruits - this really is the most uplifting thing you could sign up to - be of good cheer!

Joanna

Afternoon everyone - it's Friday! Woop woop!

A typically mental week for me, but a couple of days of downtime now and opportunity to spend with the family - it's needed!

Welcome (again! Thanks Mama B!) to the 4 new potential soldiers in Matty1658, NoLuck, Stacey84 and Jelle. As Mama B has said, we always ask new participants in the thread to be really clear that they want to make the commitment to their own recovery and especially the group. Have a read at the very first post on the Challenge thread (if you've not already done so!) and re-post before midnight tomorrow night confirming you're in! If you do this then I'll add you to the group along with Sunday's update. Would be great to have you with us and don't forget to let me know how many days clean you are at the time you post.

duncanmac - may congratulations on your 50 week milestone fella........I can't believe that you're already almost at the year - delighted to be sharing that with you and to exorcise the ghost of this time last year.

ringerbell - brilliant to have you back fella and what a couple of weeks it sounds like you've had. Is it not amazing to begin to contemplate some of things you've actually done now that monies are being used positively? Would have been a great night in Germany - I'm hoping that you'll have as equally a brilliant time if you come over to Scotland for the Ireland game - although I'm hoping you won't be too disappointed with the result - ha ha!! If you are coming over then let me know - I'll buy you a beer!! Congratulations on the event as well mate - what a sensational result - really sorry that the Baileys piece fell through - is the Charity registered yet?

StoneRoses - great to have you with us again Sir - I know we've been mailing each other back and forward - let's continue to do that as well as using the forum as a vehicle for supporting you through.

I'm just about to update the front page - we're looking pretty good this week and all the usual troops have checked in so far. Need the Saturday rush to get the platoon back in shape for the new week ahead!

Have a great weekend everyone, be gamble free and fun filled!

Mr Brightside

Well it's been a tough week just started a new job and final year of uni is in full swing and the work is piling up!

Further to my post on monday having spoken with MR B and spoken to the gamcare team on the phone each day since I am pleased to say I have remained gamble free since early monday evening.

It feels like this is the hardest thing i've done or will do as this time I feel like I have made a commitment to stopping gambling and it feels as though it's going to be a huge challenge dealing with the emotions that come with it.

I was tired of losing, hiding away, secrecy, the anxiety, the debts piling up and burying my head in the sand.

It's been really tough dealing with my emotions since I stopped does anybody else find that or found that in the early days? The realisation of debts to pay, and i've been up and down like a yo yo in terms of mood. I feel a little overwhelmed at this moment in time. Can anyone relate to that?

But... at the same time I feel positive, I want to beat this. I'm in a better position than I was on Monday and I live in hope that I can keep this up.

Have a good weekend.