2015 Challenge

matty21 wrote: Really let myself down on Sunday I went out drinking and let myself down and gambled I'm so angry and disappointed with myself but it's done now no major damage done just no drinking for a while so here we go again checking Inn day 4 I'm off to the seaside with the gf for a few days to clear me head. Hope everybody is good.

Hi matty,

Such a shame to hear of your slip after just passing the 100 day milestone. You've proved its possible for you to build up the days so just stay focused and you'll soon build them back up again.

Checking in day 37!!!! I am feeling great and I can see myself getting to 100 easy! Got a new job! Hopefully the extra income will help and I can start paying off some debts. My second job is good and also keeps me busy.

Thanks for all your support!!!

Checking in Day 76.

Keeping going everyone.

Day 99 for me. Well I'm half hour away from joining the century club. Weekend away at the seaside will prove to be a test for me tomorrow but knowing it's 100 days of winning by not gambling should enable me to resist the temptation of the slots where my addiction began.

Well done to all checking in this week.

Im still very concerned with money even though I don't gamble. You could say I'm a little obsessed with budgeting and knowing where my money is going ( doesn't stop me overspending each month unfortunately !) but yes I'd say I have an unhealthy obsession with money even though I don't gamble.

Keep marching all.

Boxingday1

checking in on day 6 going in to day 7 really has it been that long since I played, weekend has come and off for a few days so a real test of character and think i need to up the antics and find somthing to keep me busy for the next few days.Im out tomorrow night with the girlies looking forward will probably be steaming when i get in and will turn on the laptop. Good thing is my daughter has total control of my money so thats out and she has access to my online banking so she would know if i gambled. Will probably find a new game to download to keep me busy when i get home. The temption is still there but fighting it all the time. Not easy by any means but staying strong and determined. xx ggod luck all and well done on all the achievements this week !

Hi All. Checking in day 106 GF. In France looking around the D-Day beaches. None of this would be possible if I was still gambling. Starting to gain trust back. Have a great Easter. Andy

Morning troops, we have 19 check ins missing! anniek1 you have been added to the front page and checked in. matty21, well done for logging back on after your slip, its never easy especially after doing so well. You clearly still want to beat this so try to work on what made you slip and put more barriers in place.

Huge congratulations today to Garyl1976 who has reached a year gamble free and Del79 who has hit 600 days! You two deserve a few celebratory beers tonight, well done!

Day 105. 15 weeks clean.

The march continues.

Checking in day 62 today!

I look at the football fixtures and plan my bet like I used to. Only difference is I don't put it on, then I feel chuffed when my selections don't come in and my bet would have lost! Reinforces my need to stay gamble free! On the extremely rare occasion my selections do come in and I would have won, I'm not bothered by it. I've still got my money and I'm still gamble free.

Stay strong people!

Just checking in still GF. Not long until I go triple digits now. Massive thanks to Gamcare and you guys for helping get this far.

Simon.

Hi all

Checking in, never thought when I stopped gambling on the 4th of jan that I would make a week but here we are 3 months later still going strong and feeling great for it, giving up has improved all aspects of life the mood swings have gone, spending time with the loved ones rather than trawling through fixture lists and the obvious one a lot more financial stability.

Hope everyone has had a good week and stayed strong, keep up the good work

Scott

Day Seven.

Who's counting? I'm happy to say I am seven days in now, and today I'm feeling like something is missing. Not sure if I'm feeling anxious because I'm not gambling, and finding other things to do instead. It's certainly not easy to get into a new habit, or breaking old ones. If you want to stop, I think you need to make positive changes by putting measures in place to help yourself. For me, seeing what I spend each month and moving money in to separate accounts, allows me to separate my savings from my spend. Seeing an entire paycheck in one account is far too dangerous for a gambler.

This is working for me. Maybe this is the answer for some of you, taking control is the answer. Gambling for me was always a choice. I chose to escape, didn't care about the consequences, I was selfish and only cared about myself. Finally I have reached a point where I can honestly say I'm going to try and stop forever. The best decision I ever made.

Paul

Checking in

Hi All fellow marchers - checking in 304 days Gambe Free by choice, marching toward a gamble free future, just one day at a time. Apologies to all and especially BornAgain, for missing check-in last week. No excuse other than i thought i had - but obviously hadn't! I just put it down to becoming more absent minded as I get older!!

So, still although 300+ days in, I am still having gambling thoughts and urges, so can never become complacent. I have things & stuff in place to deal with these, but I will miss the Grand National as a yearly fun bet - can't be anything else - and the first thing I ever gambled on when my Dad gave me & my brother a sixpence each way every year and showed us how to read the form!! Doen hill all the way from there - just tool me 50 years to work that one out!!

So Phil - Money! I too have found that this is the root of all gambling evil! Not having any was never a problem with so many free credit lines available, and instwead of paying these off when winning, I just gambled it all back again until had to be declared insolvent and lost almost everthing!!

So I deal with now by not having anything to do with money. Salary & pension go to the partners account - and deliberately not a joint account, so i have no access. I have no credit cards - just a debit card to my account which has a small amount put in it every month for the things I need to pay for, presents etc. Anything left over at the end of the month goes to the savings account. If I need anything, I just ask and partner will get / pay for it. Since this arrangement, things are a lot better and I do not have to stress about money and bills etc. My partner doesn't stress about money at all so this works well for us both!

So thats how I cope! sure it isn't everyone's cup of tea but worls for me!

keep marching folks - nearly a 100 days into teh challenge - only 265 left :).

Cliff

Checking in on Day 58. Happy to report that I haven't had any urges to gamble, they are very rare now!

Checking in day 46 gf. Didn't make the 50 days on first effort this year. Determined to hit 50 mark this time. I am having very strong urges which is so d**n annoying!

I'm going to keep control though and not give in, I shall occupy myself in all areas as much as possible that'll give me 2 out of 3 of the triangle in place which I will employ to support me through this period of urges and nonsense chatter to myself on some level trying to convince me a gamble would be ok. It's NOT OK I start I don't stop.

Like someone here said "it's impossible to place second bet if never place the first" so that's my simple aim, not placing the first.

Stay strong all and me and anyone else feeling the pull. It's nonsese - don't bend or justify the destruction, I'm not gambling on my future any longer. It's a good future without gambling its a future of emptiness with the game of chances which return at best more lost time and financial turmoil. No thanks.

Dipping for the 50 day finish line!!

Chipping away at personal debt with patience, resolution and determination.