Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Morning Dunc.

It's been a while since i posted on your page but i always read your diary on a daily basis.

You continue to do a great job on this forum, always ready to offer advice to people who are starting up thier diaries and those who are trying to get their lives back gamble free-well done mate.

Continued best wishes,

gazza

Hi Duncs. The fruit bus sounds good to me. P and I just joined Weight Watchers 360 on line. Can't hurt right? Stay gold pal. -joanxx

Hey Dunc,

Congrats on the sweet free house, I cut all that out also, no more hot fudge sundaes, no sweets at all. Amazing how great fruit taste now, when you get a real sweet tooth, try Fiber One cereal, chocolate favor, unbelievable and a very healthy cereal. Great everyone is trying to get healthy, helps with the whole healing of mind and body as we move along in our journeys. Keep up the hard work.

Chicagoguy

Methinks maybe the laughter is hysteria at the thought of no more chocolate. Would be in my case most def.

One addiction at a time says I.

xxx

Funny duncs we are trying the same in our house, cleared all cupboards,

Thanks for post and as always keep it up mate

Morning diary.

Sadened by the events of yesterday's news of the senseless bombing in america, for me most savage to take away from folk who are in general taking time to achieve something for themselves, alongside giving often to others through there efforts. And for me the stand out thing for marathon runners is there is by and large no competition, instead an emmense unity, for there sense of achievement.

Alot like Gamcare a place to find a better life, unjudged, I love to learn from other folk on here and the united front is outstanding.

Today I am on day4 of my healthy eating regime and I have to say it is turning out to be quite enjoyable, my quest to make everything we eat Delicious!!

Arresting my addiction to gamble has led me to discover I can achieve what I set out to do. I quit smoking 20 a day over a year ago, an addiction I do battle with still on occasions but I know I am better educated in my abstinence, smokings bad points far outweigh the good, I find balance in my home life, a want to share things with my family, I have stopped there wanting something for nothing, a trait I left at the door with my compulsion to gamble. I understand today and enjoy being rewarded for my efforts, and eating healthy will help me see out more years than my previous lifestyle, there is something really good in feeling good, well aside from the knees!! LOL they are i feel beyond dieting.

today I will keep bettering my life through the choices I make, to create something I never had, never thought possible balance.

No bet today, no odds worth a sniff.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Yo,

You wrote the other day about me giving you food for thought , you returned that today from your post on Our dear friend Castles thread .

For that I thank you .

As for the healthy eating well I only have one thing to say ,

Keep on keeping on lol

Shiny xxxx

Hi Duncs,

There is definitely "something good in feeling good" my friend. Not sure if I will be able to quit chips or chocolate yet but, am working on it. Maybe not as many? lol 😀 -joanxxxx

Morning Duncanmac

Googled the mayonnaise and 2 beers and makes perfect sense putting life into perspective and more importantly priority , this site never ceases to amaze me the knowledge and the kindness of people who go out of there way to help others passing on valuable information and support to help with their recoveries

I really wish the people who stereotypes gamblers would read a few diaries and maybe give them some food for thought but its our fight and I'm proud to be stepping alongside u and many others on here , I would truly be lost without this site and the amazin people on it

Keep inspiring others ur diary is a pleasure to read every post a positive one which u pass onto other diaries when giving that precious support

Castle2

Afternoon diary.

Thanks for all the kind words folks, humbled and invigorated by them.

Today had me thinking from yesterdays posts about money and my relationship with it, to be honest it has never been good,I sort of used it as a benchmark to measure folk by, and oh how wrong was I ??

Growing up in a house with a father who is also a compulsive gambler I learnt to live with the highs and lows, sometimes it seemed we had it all and other times it was breadline, my mum did a stellar job making sure there was food on the table and was still paying the debts it caused long after the old man upped sticks and left, not before he emptied the pot.

So not learning from that I threw myself into life thinking it could all be answered on the back of a win or two. When I had money all through my gambling life I wanted to flaunt it, be charlie big potatoes, always throwing it over the bar, paying for dinner, lavishing it on anyone or anything who would spend time in my company, of course when the bad times came, I would blame my downfall on those folks, how dare they take my generousity and not return it?? in truth they never asked for it. So with recovery I discovered the value of a pound, it can be very powerfull and equally dangerous in the wrong hands.

Sarah and I today are paying the way to an enjoyable future, but it does'nt come with the stress or pressure I used to carry with it. We are never going to be financially rich but I believe we do have a thing with a much greater value.

That is our family, myself, Sarah and our three fantastic kids are worth truly more than any financial figure.

Today I feel that I would like to be judged by my peers as that, A family man, a title I wear with pride.

To see my wife and kids laugh and smile and enjoy living and nothing more is so truthfully rewarding, and that comes with a brutal honesty, I could have like my father lost it all.

I did not entertain a bet today, fortunatley my brain did not formulate life like that,just for today.for that today I duncan compulsive gambler am oh so gratefull and full of life. Today again I challenged myself to learn something about myself.

Stepping forward never back.

No bet since 23/01/2012

Thanks Duncs, such kind words.

The emptiness is gone now after reading posts of support and is replaced with sadness at my stupidity.

Usually I have a problem with my monkey brain kicking in and I spend on impulse but today felt so premeditated which is what scared me, much more like self harm.

Like you I am on statins and blood pressure tabs and have put weight on as can't exercise properly cos of joints so really don't like myself much, even less now.

All the self help books say you start with liking yourself so I guess that is where I need to start because as you say I have way too much to lose, I do have a wonderful life.

At the risk of sounding like Chicago and your good self I had prawn salad for tea, an acceptable alternative now the sun has appeared.

xxx

Hey Duncs,

Glad to see your doing well and making some changes in your diet also. I go back to see my doc on May 2, weigh up and a quick check up, my goal for the first month is lose 8 lbs. Long term goal 35 lbs by Aug 1 st. Looking for a healthy new way of life along with my sobriety. Hope your doing great, and you should be extremely proud of yourself. Your words of wisdom and experience you share are inspirational.

Chicagoguy

Hey mr mac,

Yes it seems we I am shadowing you today on the forum and what a great shadow to follow, your diary from the beginning has spurred me on to meet my first target, I wanted what you had, I wanted to feel what you feel, at first I faked it till I made it but now I think your are so right, it is an awakening of our souls, and for that I am truly truly grateful.

So I to join you in those 3 powerful words.

No bet today.

Take care

Blondie

Morning Diary.

Thanks blondie, we I believe are on a journey of our own creating and one which delivers constantly inspiring things.

Today I topped up my resolve through reading a great many diaries, wish I had time to reply to them all, but as a chef my typing skills are nothing short of shocking!!Lol but rest rest assured I read alot.

Had a great evening last night, Sarah and I used the kids bus passes and to the hounds out for a bus ride, then after a few miles got off and walked home, then enjoyed some tv (been watching a series called revolution on sky1 very good) and sarah enjoyed a glass or two of wine. Today we were up early and walked the dogs again a good few miles through rabbit country, they love it, chasing them around, mind you most of them were bigger than Hovis!! now there fast asleep enjoying the SUN!!

Made a ragout for supper and enjoyed some museili and a yoghurt, going to sort the garden out then off to work later.

Over the past few days I have slowly felt myself feeling more lively, maybe the healthy eating or maybe the sun is coming to join us, hopefully longer than last year.

So topped up with inspiration and a greater resolve to enjoy the weeekend I thank you one and all.

there is a great thread chicago is running on the intros forum, give it a read.

No bet today Why would I ???

Duncs stepping forward never back.

DMac,

As always, some truly excellent posts on your diary. I love reading your diary and take so much from it. Keep up the good work buddie and well done on your new healthy approach to your diet.

Tomso.