Back to basics

Hi Phil,

7 days today, well done and well done ion a strong positive post.

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne, the way I have been lately a week is some achievement! Now a weeks out the way the next target is a month. I'm back to work today, yesterday everybody phoned in sick and the boss was on his own, I'm hoping I won't be on my own today. I've tried really hard to avoid anything do do with gambling and I'm having no urges, although some idiot text me yesterday telling me to get on Chelsea in running as they had just gone one nil down! I replied to say I'm not gambling anymore, his reply was your missing out on easy money, yeah right easy money to the bookies as it turned out. Not much more to say this morning, bring on Friday for the works Christmas do!

Start of hopefully a good week, I've got tomorrow booked off to buy something new for my works do on Friday and I'm going to the football tomorrow night. My works do is ironically at a local racecourse and my mum is worrying that there could be racing on. Its a flat course without floodlights and there won't be a meeting there until next May, so I think I'm safe. I got an email about the night out and theres 34 of us going, more importantly 29 girls and 5 lads! I'm also really looking forward to my counselling on Wednesday, last week I got so much off my mind and I feel as the weeks go on I will take a lot from it. So all good and lots to look forward to, no urges today and my barriers are in place.

Hi Phil,

While there may not be any gambling at the course, I still think that the odds you've got there are pretty good! 😉 Our department Christmas do was over the weekend, so we're having a small team one in the new year as we were working. Based on the gossip that came from the party, I'm quite glad I didn't go!

As for Football Manager 2015, I've had it since its release, and Steam tells me I'm already past 40 hours playing time. When it comes to pure value for money, you can't beat that!

Hope the week is as good as your optimism for it!

Ryan

Thanks Emily and Ryan! I think I'm also the only lad who isn't married, so it should be a fun night.

Just in from some Christmas shopping, was supposed to be going with a friend, but went with my mum as thats safer for me. I'm feeling really good but, I wouldnt have wanted to be tested by carrying a large amount of cash. So everything I bought was put on my mums card and she will take it out of my money. Bought some new gear for Friday night and am now very excited about it. Now I'm just chilling out before the football tonight, JPT Trophy for us tonight and hopefully a step closer to Wembley. Its early days but I feel so much better and feel back on the right track.

Just finished my counselling which went well again, I'm off to work now but feeling really tired today. Last nights football was just unbelievable, 2 nil up, 2 goals ruled out for offside, penalty to win and we still messed it up and got beat, the season gets no better! Still feeling really positive, life is in my hands, 2015 is going to be a good year, no slip ups!!!!

Glad you're enjoying the counselling, I found it weird at first but I did learn a lot about myself which I was probably surpressing by gambling and blocking everything out.

Hope it works for you!

Footy sounds decent! One of my mates text me his betting slip last night for my opinion. I wasn't rude but I said I'm not really interested. Found myself checking the results for him though which I'm not sure if healthy, ended up wanting him to win.. He lost anyway!

Its the end of day 11 without a bet, I feel really positive, but really tired! Tomorrow I need to be up early for a haircut and then a day chilling out before my works Christmas party. Tomorrow night I'm taking out 100 pounds, and I choose to use it to enjoy my night out, I won't be tempted I feel so strong. I'm getting dropped off at 6 and meeting a colleague for drinks, too many times in the past I've missed Christmas nights out because I chose to have a bet, tomorrow I am making the right choice.

Hi Phil,

12 days today and pleased you are feeling soooo positive,

Enjoy your works do, you deserve it.

Well done

Suzanne xx

Feeling great this morning, 8 weeks ago I tried some clothes on and they were skin tight, I had piled weight on over the year and I decided I needed to diet and get healthy. I didn't want to see photos from the works do and hate what I saw, so I set myself a target to avoid all junk food, chocolate, alcohol, crisps etc..... apart from allowing myself a couple of pints at the football. Well today is the day 8 weeks later and I have stuck rigidly to the diet and I'm weighing in 2 stone 8 pounds lighter and all my clothes fit! I've set another target now and after tonight I'm going to go for another 8 weeks barring a few days/nights out over Christmas and NYE. So after all these weeks dieting I am really going to enjoy my 3 course meal tonight at the works do and then the many drinks that will follow!!!

Pleased to also be coping with my addiction really well, no urges and feeling really strong. I have a 10 day trip to New York in September as another goal and if I can last till then without a bet I will easily achieve it. No bets today!

Oh My God my head is banging and I'm ashamed of myself!!!!! Mr B will vouch for my ability to handle large amounts of alcohol, but last night I was very quickly rotten drunk and have no memory of it at all, it must be because I've hardly eaten or drank in weeks. Anyway text a colleague to ask what happened and I was apparently sick in the middle of the bar whilst directors from work were there and I was put in a taxi home. I feel so stupid and am dreading going back to work, I hope I don't get disciplined for it.

Only positive thing is that I had 100 pounds on me yesterday and my colleague was late so I was alone for 20 minutes and had to walk past three bookies. I can honestly say I wasn't tempted and as I walked past each on I said to myself f**k you I'm not giving you my money.

Don't worry about it too much! These things are expected a Christmas do's... I sprayed a bottle of beer over my boss Lewis Hamilton style!

You didn't do it on purpose, this things happen, most importantly, congrats on staying strong!

Hi Phil,

Shouldn't worry too much, everything happens at Xmas do,s, well done on walking past those bookies.

Take care

Suzanne xx

I still feel rough from Friday night and I am shortly in work, which I am really not looking forward to. My boss was in yesterday so will have no doubt told everybody about the night out. I have already had a couple of lads texting me fishing for info, I've just said I can't remember a thing, which is the truth. Oh well get today over with and then I only have to get tomorrow done as thats when the director is in.

I've got 50 pounds left on me from the night out, no thoughts about gambling it, there are two matches this week I'm going to on Tuesday and Friday night so it will be needed for them. Yesterday I heard on the radio it was Cheltenham races, my favourite, but I didnt let it affect me and succesfully blanked it out of my mind. Its early days but following the way I have been feeling lately its really good progress.

Phil

fella I hope that head has fixed itself, as the other good folk have written don't worry about it too much,these things happen,I can vouch for it after working in hospitality all my life.

You should just laugh it off,oh and maybe put some lemonade in it in the future!!!!

Great to see the footy is still giving you drive to make the right choice.

And lastly a huge well done for offering your services for auditing the 2015 thread,it will gift you focus and another reason to remain gamble free.

As for the race meeting,you can reimind yourself you do win,every day you don't wage a single penny

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back