Checking in on day 66. Bit miserable because I can't run due to a pulled muscle but still GF.
Was hoping to check in and be added to the challenge for the first time. However, my new found confidence left me cocky and the money I had in my purse this morn went into a bookies gaming machine. I'm disappointed in myself but concentrating on the positive. I didn't chase what I had lost. I didn't go back and end up with nothing to see me til payday. I can still get by. (just!). I'm feeling grateful that I lost. If I won where wud I be now? Still gambling that is a certainty. I plan To dust myself down and start again tomorrow. I will meet this.challenge if.it kills m. Well done to all of.you that have abstained x
Just checking in after a gamble free Saturday spent with my little lad, things are going well
Checking in on time for once.
Another week gamble free. 34 days gamble free today. 5 weeks tomorrow. Very happy!
freshman 247.
you need to take measures to make sure things like that can't happen. Calling up and self excluding from online sites ensures you can't play even if you're mega tempted.
The blocker is good as long as you don't know a way around it.
Also, telling your partner or family member your problem can help, it did and is for me.
Start again and be strong brother, you can be gamble free if you keep strong
Good luck mate
9 missing soldiers, come on troops still time to check in!!!!
mjb4000 you have been added to the challenge and checked in.
Hi all
Checking in day 11 GF!!
Had a great day with the family today, no urges and now I have a semi final at wemberly to save for! cheltenham can disappear. I hope my focus on the footy will get me through next week.
Great to have this thread Phil keep up the good work
Take care guys speak soon X
Checking in and ready to stay strong over Cheltenham week, feel so strong after 60 odd days that i'll smash it and have no desire to give any money or waste of life to the bookies. Hope others can see it for what it really is.
Hi all, sorry for late check in. All good apart from QPR losing again. Hope everyone stays strong over the coming week.
Checking in day 98
Whoop whoop nearly in treble figures.
Had an early morning and after 3 hours wandering in Internet I realised I hadn't even thought of gambling.
I think about it most days even if I don't have urges to play, if that makes sense!!!
Stay safe
Cheryl xx
Checking in on day 353.
No urges what so ever.
Cycling has saved me from gambling. I can recommend us CG's who most have addictive personalities to get addicted to something else(apart from drink or drugs lol) i can't keep off my bike and its has really helped me keep focused on not gambling.
It has worked for me.
have a great day.
Steve.
Sorry for the late check in again! Was away yesterday, but back here today with day 15 and feeling great! Didnt even buy a lotto ticket. Delboygolf I too started physical activity as a way to distract myself, and it really helps with the self esteem issues that gambling has brought on. Keep it up guys and gals, life is so much better without gambling in our lives.
Challenge Update Week 10
Intro
We head into week 10 with 63 troops and 3 missing check ins. It’s going to be a testing week for many as it’s the week that the corrupt gambling organisations want our money more than any other. The adverts have already started, they want to empty our bank accounts, they won’t be emptying mine! If anyone is struggling this week please think hard and maybe post how you’re feeling on here so we can help you out. There is also the Wednesday night chatroom and the challenge telephone list available by emailing me on [email protected] don’t feel alone this week, we march together and are looking out for each other.
The past week saw our first female soldier bring up a full calendar year gamble free. Well done Lady Baggins, it shows what we can achieve and what a big help this forum can be. This coming week we have more soldiers joining the party and celebrating a year gamble free. They have made that choice not to gamble for a full year and their lives have changed for the better. For any new soldiers it just shows that this can be beaten!
One Year Free
Everytime a soldier goes through a year gamble free I will be posting their message in the update just incase anyone missed it and to inspire the new troops. Joanna was such a huge inspiration on the 2014 challenge and has completely turned her life around. Here is her post from her day 365 last week. If you keep making the right choices you will one day be able to make a similar post!
Whoop whoop indeed! Thank you and bless you - Phil, Mr B, Mama B, Suzanne and others for your very kind words. I had no idea I would be the first lady soldier to achieve the One Year Medal - in celebration I got my butler/personal trainer Sven to raise the flag on the north wing and have asked the villagers to dance round the inn sign (too early for Maypole) on Saturday night.
To be absolutely honest, I was considering taking an extended furlough on having reached this milestone, but now that I've read some of the nice comments here about my early days, I feel that perhaps I can still be of support - provided I can remember to log on! If people will indulge me a bit more, I'd like to put down some thoughts about my year of non-gambling....
The first thing I ask myself is WHY? Why did I get myself into such a mess a year ago - for the newbies here I should explain that I became addicted to online slots and spent a fortune (and some of my sanity) watching stupid animated reels taking more and more of my money. Well I should say 'the bank's money' for I was constantly living on my substantial overdraft. No, I never got into really seriously debilitating debt - and here I sincerely salute those of you who have done so and who have fought so hard to become solvent again. But for me I was still living a 'non-life' of trying to chase losses - the 'just one more spin' mentality which of course is never just that. As to why, well I had gone through some bereavements, was feeling a bit low, and what seemed like a little harmless escape ensconced in my computer room when the rest of the family was asleep soon became an addiction and a grubby little secret. I still don't know how or why I discovered Gamcare, but it was the lifeline I needed. I soon discovered the 2014 Challenge and the delightful Mr Brightside and Mama B and never looked back. The encouragement from Mr B kept alive my determination to break free from this stupid obsession and I also gained strength from supporting newbies and others in the Diaries forum. Similarly Phil has been a great help and a worthy successor to Mr B - thank you Phil.
In some ways I feel a bit of a fraud as I have not had to face the life-altering repercussions that many of you have had to face, which has obviously made my journey that much easier. I cannot express the admiration I have for those who have had to fight their way back from the abyss and are still doing so each day. All I will say is that I know it can be done, and my fervent wish is that you will all find that new life that awaits. Pump up the volume on your 'Life Music' and you see gambling for what it is - a false friend who subtly 'radicalizes' us into people we don't want to be.
And now I'll step off my soapbox as Sven is waiting for me in the Butler's Pantry.....
Best wishes and blessings to all. Mr B and Phil - if you have emailed me I apologise - I can't access emails on that particular server and am awaiting a new computer. Hope to meet you someday for a group hug! xx
Checking in on my 365th day. : 0 )
Joanna
Missing Soldiers
Ryan18, Poblwc and Whatisthis missed check in. I hope you are all still gamble free and check back in this week.
Milestones In The Coming Week
triangle and Ringerbell wake up on Friday having achieved a full year gamble free. It’s an amazing achievement and I really look forward to your posts on Friday!!
wolf57 brings up 40 weeks this Thursday, good going Cliff, the triple century is close!!
SuzyLemon (Thu) and John64 (Tue) smash through 9 months gamble free this week, top stuff troops!!
brutus123C and Bornagain join the hundred club on Tuesday, going to be nice to be in triple figures!!
matty21 hits three months gamble free nest Saturday, keep up the good work!!
qprloc12, Mo, spud1966, Greggsboy, OneMoreDayLesMis, New-Start, Honk, scotty1971 and insanity all reach ten weeks gamble free this coming week. Good to see you all going strong!!
shep reaches 50 days on Saturday, good start pal, keep it up!!
Roll of Honour/ Days Gamble Free!
Please double check your count and if I have made a mistake let me know. Now for the good news, based on an average loss per day of 50 pounds we have collectively saved a grand total of…………………………£196300………………………………… AMAZING work troops!!!
Summing Up
We head into week 10 of the challenge with some brilliant milestones to celebrate, two more members of the 365 club which just shows this place works. Keep your life music turned up high this week troops, use all the help available and don’t slip up. That first bet will destroy so much, it’s just not worth it. Have a great week!
Phil
Hi all
Congrats to all who are celebrating milestones this week
I'm So happy to be on the other side of 100 days....I got here before and threw it all away ...NOT this time.
I'm a regular at GA and I feel stronger than I ever have to beat this vile drug.
Enjoy a good week my comrades
Glads dad
Great update Phil, thanks for the time and effort you put in, it really does help people like myself get through these days having something to turn to.
Take care guys and here's to a gamble free week
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
