2015 Challenge – Page 85 – Overcoming Gambling Harms

Bornagain · 2014-12-22T00:00:15Z

**This weeks update is on page 45, check in is now open until midnight Saturday 4th July**Welcome to the 2015 Challenge!This thread is open to everyone, I hope it will become somewhere that helps and inspires a large group of people to take that next step in their recovery process. We start the year in different places, some of us may have abstained from gambling for a matter of minutes, others may have gone much much longer! The aim of the challenge is simple, we are going to go a full calendar year without a bet. Or the remainder of 2015 if you are joining part of the way through.I hope that as a group we can fill this thread with positivity and some amazing stories along the way. A place where friendships are bonded, coping mechanisms are discussed, we can offload when we need to and of course we will have plenty of milestones to celebrate along the way.For anyone new to this, there was a 2014 thread which was superbly run by Mr Brightside. The 2014 challenge really changed peoples lives for the better! This year I have offered to run the challenge, I have big boots to step into! I'm going to stick to a similar format, but if anyone ever has any new ideas or suggestions feel free to make them.How the challenge worksFirstly, if you would like to join then all you need to do is make a post. In this post introduce yourself, tell us about your journey so far, what form of gambling you have had a problem with and how many days you have been free of gambling for. I will then invite you to make another post checking yourself in for the week. You will then be added to the challenge and introduced in the weekly update.Secondly, once you have joined then to stay a part of the challenge you need to make a check in post once a week before midnight on a Saturday night. Let us know how recovery is going and how many days you are on. If you ever miss a check in you will be removed from the update list but free to rejoin at any time.Thirdly, I will update the forum every Sunday morning with a list of all the active members and how many days each of you has accrued. I will run through all the milestones that have been achieved or are due to be achieved the following week. I will try to keep the updates fresh and interesting so that members look forward to the Sunday update.Finally, use this thread to develop bonds and work together as a team to make life changing decisions in 2015. There may be times we are tempted or feeling low, if so this is the place to be. Tell the group how you are feeling and I'm sure there will be plenty of advice and support out there. The low times will go and being part of this challenge will allow you to have many more highs than lows, especially as the months go by! Here is to a gamble free 2015, good luck everyone!Philthe2015challenge@yahoo.co.uk2015 Membershappy days checked inSuzyLemon checked inmrbrightsidetriangle checked inBetter lifeDel79 checked inMoI Wished checked inBornagaingingermotty checked inGlads Dad delboygolf checked inJm24sonic boomGreggsboy checked inpellekaninmatty21Garyl1976insanity checked inTaxi manscotty 1971brutus123C checked inMrStop checked inshepmrdaniel1tt1980 missing soldierFreshman247cloud missing soldierLK89 checked inchartom3J33SierraJuliet checked inpaul1001 barryt27 checked inbeckyc290Stephen2105 missing soldierJohn64 checked inDazz1982BalvairdbrightfutureA86N checked inboxingdaysmay15andy14Casey checked inmba checked inskittkesLEST-WE-FORGET ClivespateGTOneMoreDayLesMisGerry8 checked injunebug1981 missing soldierLemon25Thegerman checked inAlannah checked in

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Checking in!! Still going! 31 days!

Brenzsky, we are at similar stages. Stay strong! Fight those urges!! I'm going for day 50 next!!!

Posted : 28th March 2015 1:15 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Checking in day 55 gf! Was happy to smash the 50 day mark this week.

Haven't thought about gambling much this week which is a nice change. Been keeping myself busy by going to the gym and playing football. Getting healthier and richer at the same time! Winner!

Stay gamble free guys!

Posted : 28th March 2015 1:42 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Day 14 managed to. Stay clear well done everyone

Posted : 28th March 2015 2:34 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Afternoon soldiers!

That's me checking in for another week. Surrounded by a million kids screaming in a soft play, coffee in hand, smile on face - changed days!! Oh, and money in pocket :-). 5 weeks on Friday until the holiday and a well needed break from work - no news on how the interview went - will hopefully find out this week.

Hope everyone is well and enjoyin the release from the shackles.

Be safe and be sensible

Mr B

Posted : 28th March 2015 4:00 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

So I have just read through the 54 Unread Posts on here and checked my account to see that today is my 51st Day GF.

Cue the mental image of myself at the crease taking off my helmet and raising my bat to the crowd in acknowledgement of the half century that I have just knocked.

Thank you to bornagain for the hard work and weekly updates he provides for this challenge! It's certainly helped me keep on the straight path!

Amazed at myself for reaching the half century with how involved I was in gambling. Looking back it's scary how much my life revolved around gambling! I'm in a much better place now both mentally and financially! Taking that first step of visiting these forums has been a blessing!

Stay strong soldiers!

Cloud.

Posted : 28th March 2015 4:33 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Day 35 starting the second job wish me luck am bricking it lol no urges this week x

Posted : 28th March 2015 4:37 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Checking in day 73, broken the 10 week barrier, so pleased, keeping that life music blaring out loud has been a real help for me.

Posted : 28th March 2015 7:01 pm

J24

(@j24)

Posts: 207

Not sure whether last weeks late check in classes as this weeks check in, either way 91 days gambling free

Posted : 28th March 2015 8:16 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Hi triangle,

The £20 is nothing really. The result is that I had cash in an account that I could have easily gambled and lost nothing. It wasn't my money so I could have tried to justify it to myself that it would be ok to wager it and I didnt. I just spent £2k on my garden to a big project over Easter so it will probably just go towards paying for that. Something I couldn't of dreamed of affording 3 months ago. I reckon taking that money out and not playing with it just shows how far I've come and it felt like a pretty big achievement. I understand you concern but don't worry about it. I don't see it as winning. Compared to what I've given them over the years it's nothing. But not gambling with that £20 was a massive victory for me.

Simon

Posted : 28th March 2015 9:11 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Checking in on Day 28

No urges yet, 4 weeks in and going strong. Booked a trip to New York today with my best mate, fully excited for it and so nice to have another focus other than gambling/money worries...

Well done to everyone on the thread!

Posted : 28th March 2015 11:33 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

My name is Paul. Been here a few times before, but I didn't use the site often enough, so now I would like to get involved. I am 36 years old, started gambling at 16 and am now 36. I am addicted to foot's and online gambling. I wish to stop and utilise this site with the aim of quitting for good.

Tomorrow will be day 1: AGAIN.

Posted : 28th March 2015 11:34 pm

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

593 GF days, feeling good.

Del 🙂

Posted : 29th March 2015 12:11 am

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Well done Del. I really need someone like yourself as inspiration

Posted : 29th March 2015 12:17 am

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Late checking this week, all is good...looking forward to my half century!!!

Posted : 29th March 2015 3:07 am

Anonymous

(@Anonymous)

Posts: 0

Late checking in. Just up to watch the cricket. 21 days Gf

Posted : 29th March 2015 4:37 am