2015 Challenge

Checking In - Day 235

To answer your question Phil....

(1) I remind myself that winnings are only gambling tokens that can never be cashed in. I win by not gambling.

(2). I forgive myself for the past and say "for everything I did wrong, I did many things right"

(3). I accept that zero gambling is for life. It is a new way of life without the self hatred and gambling hangovers. A much better way of life. I am grateful to have started my Recovery and appreciate all the help I have received on here.

Take care all,

Suzy

Welcome to our two new soldiers tt1980 and kchurch. Have a good read through the forum as its full of useful information and make the most of this challenge. No matter what we have done in the past we can still make 2015 our year, make that daily choice not to gamble and just see how much better life will become.

Thanks for all the answers to my question from this weeks update, we have some really fresh soldiers in their early days who will find it really useful to see whats worked for some of our more established troops. I hope the dreams pass Marietta, I had a mad one myself the other night, but fortunately it didn't bring any urges!

Checking in on day 45, hope everyone is resisting the urges.

At the moment all I can think about to myself to keep me focused is -don't let gambling back into my life, just think of all the hate and grief it's caused.

back again to day 3 !!! slipped on day 6 going to concentrate really hard now have self excluded frompreety much everything now on the computer cant put gamblock on as this is daughers computer ......will do it this time

Good morning everybody,

Checking in day 47 of GF. Still thinking positive, big day for me tomorrow, my B-Day....Yayyyyy....going way for 4 days with my wife (surprise destination ), so I will reach 50 days of GF, by the end of the week without any stress. Been working hard last week, and also realised how much I hate now people that gamble; one of my chefs start telling me about his 900£ winning on roulette, told him I am not interested. I realised now also that I was more or less the same....always pround of a winning, but always going mad, and angry over loosing money.So people try to stay away from urges, from things that makes you gambling , and from "successful stories" cuz we all know how they'll finish!!! Good luck!!!!

Happy Birthday mac09, a guy I work with wins all the time and regularly tells me about another 1200 footy coupon hes won on. Hes never once told me about a loss, so now when he tells me these stories I just laugh to myself and think I used to be a mug like you!

Gambling leaves us with a huge void in our lives that takes time to fix, we have poured all our time and finances into gambling and destroyed everything around us. I read something this morning that inspired me so I thought I would put the link up here for anyone else to read, its not gambling related but it could help those of us feeling sorry for ourselves and our empty lives. This girl was bored of sitting in, eating junk food, playing x box, so she did something about it, here is her inspiring blog link http://completingmybucketlist.co.uk

Before I went close the page I had to drop a note after last night/this morning reading the whole thread Phil the updates are inspirational giving me lots to think about to all the soiders well done and thank you for sharing I have picked up a lot that I think may help me in this battle and once again thank you for letting me join this challenge only day 2 for me and I finally realise this is never going to be easy but I am filled with determination and looking forward too this week's update
baby steps
tracey x

Well done Lara 123,on getting straight back up

Suzanne x

Checking in 142 days free of gambling, relaxed after a great skiing holiday that I wouldn't have been able to afford if I was continuing to gamble.

Keep strong guys, it will get better over time.

Checking in on day 32. Feeling much calmer now after a a few nervous close calls at the end of last week. Well done fellow soldiers both seasoned gf pros, and newbies alike. Day@atime has been gf for years, but he said to me that he is no further away from his next bet than me which makes a lot of sense. We all have to be on our guard forever and a day but with the support of our fellow soldiers (and others that are on here by not part of the challenge) we can do it. We are doing it!

I haven't looked at the bucketlist blog yet Phil, but plan to later, thanks 🙂

the 2015 challenge chatroom is now open

please come in

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

Hey Soldiers

Just been catching up on the forum. Today I'm gamble free for 41 days now. I've been contemplating going to the bingo a lot recently but I've decided now it's a definite no - no. The support from a couple of people on my thread was very welcome and much needed advice I've thankfully taken.

My top tips to stop and stay stopped are:

1) Download blocking software (I use K9 on my phone and tablet and it's free) you need a trusted friend to set the password. Eliminating gambling sites from my online world has removed the possibility of a slip up. I also closed all my online gambling accounts and self excluded.

2) Setting up detailed budgets; working out all my incomings and outgoings including gambling debt repayments. This has allowed me to track every penny and work out how much I can spend on day to day things. It's also allowed me to set up savings 'pots' for various things. I'm currently saving for Christmas /holiday abroad / paying back money I borrowed to gamble. In doing this I've realised I cannot afford to waste a single penny on gambling. I've re learnt the value of money and the noticeable impact upon our quality of life has been very motivational in staying stopped thus far.

3) Use of goals and treats. My three month goal at the end of March brings with it a 2 day spa break. In July I am going abroad with my family and if I gamble this holiday will not be paid for and the spending money will not be saved. I must not cancel the holiday therefore I have had to cancel the gambling. By the end of the year I will be giving my kids all the money back that I owe them after I used their money to gamble. I know that if I gamble this will not happen. This must happen, therefore I must not gamble.

Clare x

Hope the chat went well tonight troops, it's been quiet the past couple of days. I hope everyone is going strong and nobody is too troubled by any urges!

Hello everyone!

My name is Matt and i am going to really give this 2015 challenge a bloddy good go!

I'm 32 and have been gambling seriously since summer 2009 up untill 24 hours ago from this very post.
With over 50k squandered its time to take control and put a stop to this madness or i fear my wife and kids will no longer be part of my life for much longer.....

Football is a big passion for me, ever since i was a kid, i guess it was only a matter of time until i started to bet on it and thats what happened...

5 and half years later, here i finally am. day 1 completed.

Thanks for your time

Matt

Hello I am checking in for this week. It's now 8 days since I've last gambling. Am I proud of this? Not in the slightest. I believe the only reason this is because I have no money as I've lost everything. I don't get paid to the 26th this month and even then I have no money as paying off our holiday. By the way, I have no debt as I don't think I ever will out my self in that situation. Well I know 100% I won't.

I think having no money has helped me a lot as I've had no urges. I've requested new bank cards and they have come today. My girlfriend is looking after my money until I get everything back on track. Is having someone else have your money a good idea? Any experiences with this?

I know for sure I need to stop gambling and I believe I will go the rest of this year without a bet. This website is brilliant for support so thanks to everyone.

I know I have only not gambled for 8 days and still poor considering I've lost every penny I have. I believe with my girlfriends help I will stop as if I gamble again now she will know as she'll be checking me out even more now I Told her the truth last week.

I will only believe I am getting somewhere when I have all my money back and know I cam bet but them decide against it. When I do this I know I'm starting to be successfull against my problem.

Thanks for reading everyone and I look forward to this brilliant challange and reading other people's stories too. I know there is a lot worser people in different situations than me but ad I'm only 19 I have my whole life ahead of me and can get away from this awful addiction. Thanks .