2015 Challenge

checking in for the week

thanks for the weekly update and perhaps remind any soldiers the online chat is daily 8pm - 9pm with the 2015 challenge weekly meeting on a wednesday

http://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/gamcare-chatrooms-how-join-us

Early check in this week day 73 for myself today.

Great update phil thanks for taking the time to do all this very much appreciated.

Great post scambling had a read of that in the diary section this morning really good read and something for us to aim for, hope that's me in a years time.

Shame about the missing soldiers hope they find the courage to return.

Have a great week fellow soldiers.

Hey Lara of course you can join, I'm at work right now but will check you in and add you to the front page as soon as I finish tonight.

Will also add you later Billy, you've found the right place!

Thanks for your support bornagain also reading about the last time you gambled and how you have overcome this has given me motivation to stay free of this i've got too much to lose to go down that route. it's a one way ticket to destruction and i'm not buying it.

Well done to Emily and stoneroses. I'm sure it takes guts to come on here and admit a slip up. I respect you for being honest and hoping you are both doing well over the past two days. Thanks for the fantastic update again Phil - I didn't know about your November payday - you really quit gambling after a massive loss. That must've been an awful couple of days for you and massive well done on your journey so far. I wouldn't worry if you don't get chance to update till after work Sunday or even a Monday morning. I'm sure everyone appreciates you running this and compiling data and stats as well as the inspiring posts each week. Really grateful and you're right there's so much positivity running through this group. It's great to feel part of a big challenge and what a fab achievement to see how much we've saved collectively by not gambling based on average losses.

Im pleased that I've today managed a month gamble free. My first ever month not gambling for years. I've amazed myself to be honest. But I will not ever let complacency creep in. Still coming to the forum and reading up on updates on the challenge. Perhaps not so frequently now but it's still a huge motivator to stay gamble free.

Clare x

Abroad in a country without bookies and where online gambling is barred, so this will be an easy week.. 27 days GF.. Good luck to all

Right troops a warm welcome to our two newest soldiers lara123 and Billm883. I have added you both to the front page and I have checked you in lara123. Billm883 in order to check you in I need you to give me a count of days since your last bet. I hope to find out more about your stories over the coming days and weeks, if you need any advice or support just ask on here and I'm sure many of your fellow soldiers would love to help.

Thanks for all the kind words about the update, I'm merely keeping a record for all of us, its all of us together that make the magic happen. Together we can make this year something quite special and march on towards a better life. There are some absolutely brilliant posts on here today, stay clean troops!!!

Thanks, Phil. Not a great achievement, but I've only gone a single day without placing a bet (since 25/1/15). Not too difficult for me and doesnt feel like I've achieved much, but I'll do my best to keep it up. 🙂

Day 30 gamble free- checking in.

Scrambling enjoyed the post - can connect with many of those feelings and facts.

We get ourselves in such a bad mess that even when we stop completely...it takes a long while to find our way back out of the woods...

but it is a journey that needs taking and will be well worth it.

day 3 ....off to work hoping when i get back i wont get tempted ...i wont i wont i wont

100 days for mba today, congratulations on your fine achievement!!!

lara123 you won't be tempted, stay strong its worth it. Billm883 that first day is a big step, we all wake up on a new day and have to make the right choices. Make it the first day of many!

Great update again Phil, thanks.

Just thought i would share the fact that i had the most vivid gambling dream yesterday, it was crazy. Ive had a few gambling dreams before, some happy some not. But last night's was so real. I was at a Casino with some friends and sidled up to a Blackjack table. Im not sure if i won or lost, but some of them wanted to leave and i think we did in the end without too much arguing. The thing was i felt guilt in the dream. Then i was at home, and whilst still feeling guilty i made the conscious in-dream decision not to tell the forum. I then started to play online. The sense of shame was enormous, and i was miserable. Then there was a weird bit with my dad that is pretty irrelevant and i woke up. Anyway, the reason for sharing other than how weird it was (especially as i havent thought of Blackjack since my last major slip in mid December) was that when i woke up at 4am and realised it was a dream i actually punched the air in delight! Its really strange, but immediately reminded me why i dont ever want to do that again - even in a dream it made me utterly miserable! If it was my brain trying to get gambling back into my brain, it failed - the sense of joy and relief in realising it wasnt real was awesome!!

(P.S. i felt disgusted in-dream about deciding to pretend it hadnt happened!!)

Right troops I'm checking in on day 58. Payday for me is tomorrow and I am so glad to say that I am feeling strong and I won't be tempted tomorrow. I have made so much progress over the past year, there have been up and downs but now I'm on the right path!

Its been quiet on here today, if anyone is feeling the payday blues don't suffer in silence. We don't need that bet, we can beat the urges if they come. Make sure you post if you are feeling weak and let a fellow soldier give you some advice or support. We march on together and we can make this our year!

I have had similar dreams gingermotty, its quite scary to wake up thinking we have gambled isn't it. Its part of the recovery process I guess. That devil on our shoulder wants to make us put that bet on! Stay strong mate!

day 4 not really feeling that much better but not as bad will keep busy today thankyou all for your kind words .I have a feeling each day will be a battle but a battle worth fighting

Checking in guys on Day 30. Still gamble free. Hope everyone is doing ok and just remember urges go away just as fast as they come and they are only urges we do not need to act on them. It is always our choice and we all know what choice we should make for us to continue on our journey.