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Hi DI1991, welcome to the start of crushing this horrid addiction which grasps is and doesn’t want to let us go. It’s time to start to regain control again. I personally put software called Gamban on my phone and laptop as these were the methods that I gambled via. Also register with gamstop too. I am at 202 days gamble free and would have not been able to do this without these blocks in place. Good luck we are all here for you x

Hi

Well done Chartom on going a year gamble free that’s a freakin awesome achievement. I’m 2 week away myself and know from experience how hard you have to work every day to stay on top of this.

It’s my second run at being gamble free and echo the positivity regarding looking forward to Christmas like Wardal said it will be amazing it’s the time to focus on family that gambling robs us of that you realize is so important when you are not gambling.

The last time I gambled I was sat on the couch with a 18 day old baby on one arm and my mobile in the other hand spinning the roulette. Absolutely disgraceful whichever way you look at it. I then spent the next 6 week skint until next payday and absolutely miserable. I can’t think why I started gambling again after my 18 month stint gamble free last time but I know my one New Years resolution is to stay in the great place I’ve earned by working hard one day at a time to not gamble.

I’m going to enjoy my Sunday evening gamble free. Have a good un all chin up and be positive now and today.

You know it makes sense

Checking in for the week on day 369, still gamble free ...... Thanks for your kind words Godoicul,looking forward to seeing you smash past the year mark yourself and lets enjoy Christmas this year without the stress,worry,pain etc of previous years.

Horray chart on uve done it a whole year. Ive contemplated relapsing this week, I thought I could turn forty pounds into something more and enjoy the buzz. What I was forgetting at that time was the after feeling of gambling and the misery it brought to my life. Theres a guy at the social club whk won on slot machine once so he comes in everyday a nd drinks alcohol and then puts in about sixty pounds each day then he sits s at the bar liking into the distance vauguely in a miserable place. Boy do I not want to gamble I thought. The outcome however long it takes is always the same, lets all aim to never feel that way again. Adam here just about managing to stay gamble free but managing al the same. Well done chart onm a year is a fantastic feet c if u can make it to 400 days.

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Well done Adam on refraining on betting with that 40 pounds as we all know how hard it can be when the urge to bet rises, as even at over 1 year gamble free i still find myself fighting it daily, just concentrate on getting through one day at a time and those gamble free days wont be long in adding up .... you are doing great keep up the good work.

back again, in this zone again.. yesterday went to a bookies that i am excluded from, only placed £2 in a machine and won £300 and it hurt more than ever that i just threw it all back in... so even losing £2 hurts just the same, dreadful and then today went to a bookies and placed £120 in and lost the lot and felt like smahing my car to pieces... supposed to be buying a house this is all going to end in tears... i know every litlle trick that bookies pull to take my money but yet i still fall for it... what a mug its like i need a concience next to me at all times.. how do i beat this devil inside me?

hi jeff when i bought y flat in order to get a mortgage i made sure my bank statements for six months before it looked sensible so they wouldnt consider me a risk.

I have not posted in the guru challenge for a while. Guess I'm less than one month? I haven't checked. But I'm also reading codependency literature and doing some work. I am 3 months since my last casino disaster and then again 3 more months before that. So I went to a casino one time in 6 months. That's good. Just went overboard with scratchers a couple times so I am counting that too. So, whatever, I'm nearing one month. How ever you want to count it. odaat and I'm doing some personal work. tara2

67 days checking in . Haven’t been on here for a while as been busy preparing for Christmas but things are going well on not gambling. Pleased to be looking fwd to a gamble free Christmas and New Year.

The only good thing on my side Adam is that I haven’t used anything online since April when I set up gamstop I think I have one instore transaction mainly use cash, but still need to knock that on head.. got other fish to fry now such as lose weight for a very important date in may so all concentration is channeled to this as from tomorrow... giving up all distractions for a while such as the booze and that which should keep me on track and channeled roll on the £2 limit on FOBTs I will feel much more safer when this kicks in!!

Hi Jeff what's the important date? A wedding?, no alcohol or if u do drink drink vodka and sodas or gin and tonic's, theres apparently like 300 calories in a beer so if u knock that on the head no more dieting needed. I haven't drunk in a while and although its a very difficult time of year for this it works wonders on weight. Maybe just try and drink special occassionz at first like Christmas eve , day and new years then you'll break yourself in to the not drinking in the new year. No one drinks in Jan so that's a great time to start. Good luck Jeff mate

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Hi Adam just a party for myself, got to one of those milestones and to honest bit nervy about it so need to keep headstrong, was back In the bookies again today starting to wonder if I have any control over myself, who am I? Why do I find myself walking into a shop knowing how wrong it is for me?

Hi Jeff, I really think its the time of the year, everyone is struggling at mo. Will be easier in Jan when everyone stays in

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Morning all - haven't checked in recently however still gamble free since 28 May 18.

Good Morning to all Guru Challengers. Wherever you may wander, wherever you may roam, just don't go in the betting shop and leave your cash at home.

I don't count days anymore so strictly speaking I am not a Guru Challenger but my thoughts are still with you all.

Stay strong and keep going forward. Shoulder to shoulder we are more than a match for anything the gambling addiction can throw at us. With hope in our hearts and a smile on our face we are invincible....stephen