2014 Challenge

Good afternoon everyone,

Checking in on 141 days gamble free and not had any urges or cravings to place a bet. Started a new job on Mon so I have been in constant information overload mode for 5 days so I am looking forward to this weekends break spent with my wife and children.

Well done to everyone for your continued progression in having a gamble free life and for the ones who have had a minor blip then give yourself a pat on the back for admitting your error and starting again.

We all know how hard it is and we have to be prepared for any eventualities that may come along.

Have a great weekend folks.

Mike

Its been a while since I gambled, I do miss it, but I am holdin out against any form of gambling. Its tough though. Have busied myself at work of late this seems to help immensely, so not as much posting as I would like. Hope everyone here has a happy (gamble free) bank-holiday week-end. Cheers all

hia im colin and i too have problem with gambling online but trying to stop. mine is due to having to give up my job after over 20years with the same company,i was off with stress and depretion and just started to spend money like water and i have borrowed over 20 grand. i have today apllyed for an IVA and hope i can stop this madness.

Checking in on day 143

Well done trangle and ringerbell and anyone else celebrating milestones.

Have a great bank holiday weekend, I will be working x

Well Happy Friday everyone!!

Another weekend is upon us with the usual temptation that Saturdays, free time, lots if sport etc. brings....but we will not go there!!

Message to Robby Box and Granite - I know that both of you guys have had blips this week - there's no shame in it, only learning. Think of the triangle - location, time and money - remove one of them and you simply can't gamble - what conditions brought all three of them together at the same time? It's down to you to make sure that you have the right conditions to succeed. Please post again this week to let us know how things are and you still be in the group for Sunday (Granite - no need to wait until next week - dust yourself down and start again soldier).

bill123 - welcome to the group sir, sorry to hear about everything that's being going on in your world - stopping gambling sounds like a must - hope we can help. I've left a message on the first post in the thread on page one with a couple of asks of you.

Congratulations to all the soldiers celebrating milestones this week - 3 of the team hit the 20 week point earlier in the week and there's 4 of the team celebrating today!! AdamP congrats on your 100 days mate, ToBeOrNot well done on 10 weeks (awesome!), and triangle and ringerbell - half a century clocked up today - really proud of my team mates!!

So there's only just over 27 hours of this week and there's still 12 soldiers to check in. I'm hoping this will be a bumper week for the group with half a dozen new team members plus 2 of the group who missed check in last week coming back and still going strong. I'm really excited about this weeks update - the "spotlight" section I think is going to add huge value to it and will replace the "awards". Adam and Del's answers to the questions are superb and will undoubtedly provide brilliant insights into 2 great guys who are beating this affliction as well as some superb learnings for all of us.

In response to Scambling and ringerbell.......no, I never thought that the challenge would have grown in the way it has (if you look at the last post on the very first page of the thread you'll see where I was at the time!!!!)........but now it has, what's stopping us growing more? I am getting more and more hopeful that we can turn this challenge into something huge that supports 50, 75, 100, 200......who knows how many people at some point in their recovery and that they find themselves free from this hell. How sensational would that be? I want to pass it on to someone else for 2015 and be part of that too!! Who knows, maybe Gamcare will give us our own full section!! re the holiday.......yeh, I could be doing with a break......not from the forum, but from work and the general humdrum of life........and in fact I'm doing exactly that - 2 weeks on Wednesday I'm going to be heading off to the sun for a couple of weeks and have been lining up some support for the time I'm away - more details to follow on that over the next fortnight!

Ok, I'll update the front page at some point tomorrow lunchtime and hope that everyone gets checked in! Have a great weekend everyone, stay strong and stay clean!!

Mr Brightside checking in on day 145!!

PS BBS - if it's any consolation, I am too girl 🙁

hi guys 56 days completed...keeping busy...tough every now and then...good luck

Day 57 check in for me!

Morning everyone!!

Early start for you LAF!! Thanks for checking in and you too FF!!

Front page is updated, 10 soldiers to come and I'm confident we'll see a number of them joining us today!

Have a great Saturday everyone,

Mr Brightside

hi checking in, no gambling all week but slipped last weekend, so today is day 6 for me. Have 1st appt at london problem gambling clinic on weds , want to get this addiction sorted out once & for all. Goal is complete abstinence, there is no other way for me. Not much cash at the moment, which is protection in itself!

That's brilliant Davey - well done - really hoped to see you this week with good news! Really good you've got your appointment on Wednesday too - will be thinking about you.

NoCrisis - A message for you too soldier - just doing the numbers for this week and have noticed that you were missed from the milestones to be celebrated this week.......and today is the milestone day! 50 days and counting soldier!! Congratulations on the half century!! Superb.

Back to the numbers!

Mr Brightside

Checking in

Day 4 for me.

I have struggled so badly the last couple of weeks and finally I realised that the way forward was for me is that I could not do this with pure determination. So I went to the two bingo halls on wednesday and self excluded from both. One for a year the other would only let me do it for 6 months.

It feels like a big weight has been lifted from my shoulders!

I know now that I cannot go and sneak off and play those machines.

Looking forward to life now and doing new things.

LG

Well done, LG - true grit! That should make things easier for you - "sing as we go, we're marching on our way..."

Joanna :0)

Just updating the front page.........only waiting on the Magnificent 7!!

Under 5 hours to go team......

LG - delighted to hear that you've strengthened the barriers - it's one of the key things for me!

Mr B

Just a quick check in. Not been on here much lately and struggling for various reasons. The days add up, but things get no better and I have been close to slipping up this past week. I keep thinking I will snap out of this, but its a struggle.

Maybe I am in some sort of remorseful stage, I have made so many mistakes and life isn't how it should be. I am full of regret about the past and the damage I have done to myself and others. Stopping gambling, paying off debts and saving cash was quite a big achievement for me, but the truth is it doesn't fix all my other issues past and present!

Wish could be more positive, hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their weekend.

Hi Mr Brightside

Thanks for welcome back. Apologies, I misread when checking in takes place...I thought it was Sunday......please count me in for this week.....Checking in day 14 gamble free.

What a wonderful feeling knowing I've not thrown any money away on online slots for 2 weeks. Still have strong urges at times but determined to stay with this challenge and not give in again. Positive thoughts...one step at a time. Be strong everyone....we can do this with support from each other.

Linda - thanks for words of support.

Mo