Back to basics

Day 47 and currently self excluding from more shops within driving distance of home. Hate the walk in to do this, but feel so much better when I walk out. I'm making the right choices and today I won't be placing any bets! I am beating this and will continue to beat this.

Day 48 the half century creeps ever closer. Looking forward to the match today, much needed three points available and I'm confident we will win. I'm glad the days of gambling ruling my life are over. I missed out on years of football because of it, but even the times I did get to the game I would stay in the bookies until 5 to 3 rather than socialising in the pub. I'm glad I'm now making the right choices. Its been a long month and money is tight, but I have got through and come payday things will be a lot better for me.

Had to go digging deep on the BBC website to find the result for Tranmere, but glad to read that your boys had a comfortable 3-0 win today, hope you enjoyed it and it must be great to be able to enjoy football just for the love of the game again. For me, that's one of the greatest parts of recovering from gambling addiction. I must have been crazy to be watching a game of football praying for two more corners...

One of my friend's cousins, Alan Morgan played for Tranmere back in the day, I think it was when Dave Challinor used to bomb those massive throw ins into the box. Always used to be a highlight of watching the FA Cup.

Anyway, hope January is treating you well, and that the good things that come in February help you to continue your recovery!

Ryan

Thanks Ryan and NT. Alan Morgan is a blast from the past, he was with us for years and always gave his all but was never a regular starter. As for Dave Challinor he had a couple of brilliant years, hes now manager of Fylde who are currently top of the Conference North and similar to Fleetwood with a big spending chairman. It was a good game yesterday now January allows Micky Adams to recruit new players I expect us to start climbing the table.

Sadly I'm back in work today, but doing so once again with a positive mindset and no horror stories in my mind. Also a bonus that I've not got the banging hangover that I had this time last week.

Good work mate!

When you're in that gambling frame of mind you forget about all the simple pleasures in life, glad you're enjoy life now the demons have left!

Hi Phil,

49 days today, one day off 50 very well done, and I think you are doing great with the 2015 challenge,

Hope your day at work goes quickly, and hey no hangover, things are certainly getting brighter for you in more ways than one, and so they should you are doing simply brill.

Suzanne xx

Day 50 so pat on the back for me today. Also a day to reflect on my progress, I have to say I'm doing well. I have no urges and I have placed plenty of strong blocks in place. Also by booking flights to New York I have given myself a goal to aim at. If I ever did get an urge to gamble I just need to think do you want this bet or do you want to go to New York. One thing I need to change is my diet, I lost three stone and have this past week found my diet a struggle. I have set myself a target of getting back on my diet and sticking it out for 50 days so when I reach 100 days gamble free I will also be 50 days lighter! I really should be doing more exercise but I'm finding it hard to motivate myself to get out there and run. So things to work on, but overall in a much better position than I was this time last year.

Phil

50 days ago, addiction had a vice like grip on your life, in those dark days you never lost sight of the gift that sat waiting.

RECOVERY

You took the advice, you hang on when it probably seemed easier to let go.

For it I salute you fella.

Your outstanding effort is for me priceless medicine.

I wish we could bottle it, but the truth is that until the day the addict takes the lid off their own bottle, recovery will remain inside.

I toast your efforts with my own bottle today.

Fantastic!

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Thanks for the brilliant post Duncs, you are a big reason why I've woken gamble free this morning.

So its day 51 and a can of worms will be opened in work today. Our boss in work is so soft and wants to be our mate, rather than managing us. As a result we all have it easy, however one lad on our team just takes it to the extreme and we are all fed up of him. A colleague is going to report him today and some of the things hes been up to leave him liable to getting sacked. If that was to happen its his fault and also the bosses for not nipping things in the bud ages ago. The boss has known we all have a problem and done nothing about it, a talking to could have improved his performance. So today it gets made official and the brown stuff will hit the fan. I'm worried I will get the blame for this and some people could turn on me for being a 'grass'. I guess I will know that it wasn't me who reported him so thats all that matters, but its just going to be a messy horrible time in work now and all of us in the department will be under the spotlight. In the past I've let stress be an excuse to have that bet, but I'm stronger now and that won't be happening, no matter how stressful and messy life gets I'm making that daily choice not to gamble!

Heavy stuff Phil

Great job of sharing how your feeling. Hope its something that helps.

Tri

Hi Phil,

As Tri says heavy stuff at work, but 51 days of being gamble free and feeling very positive, will keep your head clear to get through the S***e at work.

You really have moved forwards and upwards now, great going Phil,

Suzanne xx

Day 52 and wake with no bad thoughts or urges. Work went badly yesterday, the one member of our team who breaks so many rules and takes advantage of the boss has been reported but the boss isn't interested and nor is the next person above. Despite many people complaining about him its highly likely he will think its all come from me and no doubt confront me or tell everyone in work that I'm not to be trusted. Just need to get on with it, I was thinking I should stoop to his level but I can't work like that. So fresh start today, I'm not going to let anyone get me down in work.

Another day safely passing by without any bad thoughts, I choose not to gamble and New York is another day closer. Feel really good and just need to keep progressing and life will keep improving. Looking forward to getting work done and enjoying my two days off!

Good effort!

Nice to see you can strive for a treat by not gambling. Makes the future without gambling much more appealing!

I've got dreams of starting my own business and buying a house to rent out. As well as taking 6 months off work to travel the world! Ideally I'll be well on my way to doing this in 6 years. First 3 years is paying off what I owe unfortunately. But if I can pay off £30k in 3 years I'm sure I can save another £30k in the years after, if not more.

That's good to hear tearsofaclown. Without gambling so much is possible, need to forget what I could have had and focus on what I can have by making that right choice.

It's day 54 and money is tight, it's been a long time since payday but I have just enough to meet a mate for a few games of pool and to go to the football tomorrow. So I'm currently sat on the train heading to meet up in Riley's. I must admit for a brief few seconds this morning that devil on my shoulder said take what you've got to the bookies and imagine how much better your weekend will be after a win. However I've slapped the devil down, a trip to the bookies would make me feel like cr@P and mean I had no money to go to the football tomorrow. Today I'm choosing not to gamble and by making that daily choice my life is going to get better and better!!!