A year on gamble free

122 days gamble free,

Been a busy week since i got back into the gym had my weigh in yesterday and I have lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks which is really good. Just keep going I got a long way to go but like my road to recovery both just need full concentration and got to put the work in and be patient. but both are giving me great results and lots of positivity so I am feeling happier.

GA meetings going well but the breakeven counselling seems to be sliding downhill. Other than that work and gym is pretty much keeping me occupied not much time for much more at the moment.

Ricky out for now

hi ricky

your going great guns mate. I understand what your saying with keeping healthy positive mind and body and that's why I am throwing myself back in to my running I aiming for a 40 min 10k in about 8 weeks time. I have to also say if someone would of said to me a year ago I would be attending g.a enjoying it and getting something and friendships out of it I would of laughed

by going each week it reinforces it to me and I know not to become complacent, the main thing it taught me was that I will never be cured its how I take each day a time

have great weekend

125 days gamble free,

Hey Carl thanks for the post and support on my diary.

I don't really know what to say on here because I have too many thoughts running through my head so many different theories to why I started gambling or maybe i just deep down am trying to hide the real reason. But since I have stopped gambling I have started to look at myself and try to become more positive, Not the person I was before I started Gambling because it was that person who wanted to run to an addiction to isolate himself from everyone.

I think I am learning a lot and know I need to change as a person and I know everything takes time and I have to have patience. It is is going to be a very rocky road and the truth hurts but if I want to stay off gambling forever I need to find that truth or who I really am to stop myself from going back to the horrible ways of gambling and hiding.

Well that is my thoughts for today not sure if anyone can relate to this but I would love some feedback or support thank you

Ricky 🙂

HI Ricky

thanks for the post, I can really relate to your post, GA say this is an honest programme and thats not just about our gambling its about how we are with other people but most importantly ourselves.

And to change we have to be honest with ourselves, I always knew the reasons why i gambled i was just to scared to ever look at them because it would of opened up the emotional flood gates.

I have had to change how i think, what i think and how i react to things, I have had to change my perception of myself and be 100% totally honest with myself, I was selfish, I wanted a quick win, I was a coward, I was deeply unhappy, I was carrying things from my past,

Until i looked at that I was always going to turn to gambling as my crutch.

It wont be easy, but for me it was the only way.

Best wishes ricky.

take care

blondie x

day 126,

Thank you Blondie for the post Nice to see a different perspective on what I was thinking so thanks for that.

I do have a lot to think about and i always say honesty is the best policy. It is taking time to sort myself out but you cant get sorted overnight. It is a massive learning curve and I am just so glad I am finding out who I really am.

I started the gym again at the end of July and that is going well in the first 2 weeks I lost 7Ibs so i was pleased with that just trying to better myself physically and mentally. I am definitely starting to feel more positive and don't need to fall back to gambling to make me feel safe and secure. I love going to my local GA meeting it just gives me a purpose and a reminder of how bad i really was as a gambler. I won't ever forget how much damage I did financially and mentally and to others when i was in that horrible zone. I think most of the damage was to myself because I was a very quiet individual who kept myself to myself. But i am definitely getting there and will keep working to try help others who had a similar problem and help myself to be a better person 🙂

Hi Ricky

Many thanks for your post on my diary. It was really helpful at a time when I am feeling my worst. I am so pleased your doing well as I also remember you from last year. Your diary gives me hope.

Keep it up Ricky.

Forwards not back

Jewels

Hi Ricky,

I am so glad u r back fighting, it gives me lots of hope. U should be so proud of urself 🙂

It takes a lot of strength 2 not give up sometimes, this journey is so tough, but ur determination shines thru, I know u will do this. I believe in u 🙂

I'm looking 4ward 2 hearing some film reviews soon 🙂

Stay strong xx

hey ricky

carl

Morning Ricky

Thanks for post and I respect your opinion and take your points on board.

With regard me being on the Forum although not seeking complete abstinence, Gamcare accomodate anyone with a gambling problem which they seek to control. My gambling recovery has come a long way during my time on the site and at present I am in the best way I have ever been since admitting to being a compulsive gambler 5 years ago.

Day 128,

Thank you for all the posts of support it is nice to have so much support and sharing all our wisdom from what we have learnt from all our experiences. 🙂

Today is my last shift before a well earned 4 day weekend and I can't wait to spend 3 of those days with my wife. It is just nice to be able to live life and not worry about how much money I am going to lose this weekend. I also Have my GA meeting tonight which I am also looking forward too it just helps me to not get complacent and and to always remember what gambling did to me. But it gives me a purpose a reason each week to go back.

Other than that not much going on just work and hitting the gym and going to the cinema. staying strong and focused and trying to live life in a more enjoyable sociable way 🙂

stay strong everyone

Ricky

hey ricky

i get what your saying about hitting the g a meeting as i see it it tops up my resolve each week, bit like recharging the batteries, and i dont know bout your meeting but we socialise out of it too. the gym also is good way of getting a clean buzz and keeps you focused which is why i push myself with the running, positive mind and body.

i noticed you reporting to charlotte about the conjuring, what a horror.

enjoy time with your wife and have good weekend

carl

Day 133,

Had a really good weekend spent a lot of time with my wife, went down the gym on all my days off except Saturday because I was in London for most of the day. But it was so nice. I was just amazed how many bookies there were In London but it didn't phase me I just walked past them without giving a second thought for them.

I have my counselling session tonight will be interesting to see how that goes and then I have My GA too look forward too on Thursday. I do look forward to going to that too catch up with friends I have met. I know it isn't for everyone but it definitely works for me and keeps me in tact. It just reminds me of how devastating gambling is because I don't want to get complacent or too that place where you just forget about it and want to go back to gambling.

Well nothing else to really report still going strong 🙂

Ricky out

Day 134,

I'm Back at work now but am very lucky because I have only 3 days and managed to get Saturday and Sunday off. Last night was a very busy night I had My Breakeven Counselling and it went well. I had a lot of positive comments to pass on and I think my recovery is going well. The Counselor was very happy with my progress. Then after the session I went to the gym. I would never think of going to the gym that late but I did and it felt good to burn a load of calories and people already commenting that I look healthier and thinner in the face.

I have got a really good weekend to look forward too and I can't wait life is definitely getting better for me. I didn't think I could find happiness again or my emotions cus I spent so long hiding all my emotion or just running to the bookies to gamble I hid all my emotion and gambling used to make me forget all the pain and suffering. But now I am finding me again. Got back into my fitness and just trying to live again. I have stopped playing computer games also. I can just see a good better me and just hope I can continue with this positive energy.

I have my GA meeting to look forward too on Thursday. Seeing how everyone is doing so well on here is inspiring me and I am sure others to keep going strong.

Thank you for all the support and your stories it keeps me going 🙂

Ricky

Hi Ricky,

It is gr8 2 read how well u r doing u sound so positive. I am really proud of u 🙂

Have a gr8 day and stay stong xx

Morning Buddy,

Thanks for the message. It's so good to see you back on the forum and posting regularly. You seem more determined than ever to turn your life around. I think anything is worth a try when trying to fight this addiction so seeing you attending GA, keeping a diary, and going for counselling is all really positive.

Not sure how much you read the literature GA give you but I found the beyond 90 days book really useful at times. It maybe worth a read now and again. Also really good to see you have looked at other areas of life which may have been affecting you like the computer games. I have found in the past I can sometimes get carried away with a game so I think it's a good idea to not play so often.

Huge well done on your progress and I hope it continues.

Flagg