Focussed and not willing to give in.

Hi everyone, hope your all doing okay and staying gamble free? Today is day 84 gamble free for me.  Been super busy with Easter holidays, childcare and work so not been super active here but I'm doing okay! Was really pleased to get through Aintree gamble free and feel since then some pressure has dropped off knowing there's not much left at present I would want to gamble on.  Life isn't bad at the moment just busy and none stop. I'm noticing things so clear these days.  I was sat in a room with other parents the other day and looking around saw one bloke literally watching horse racing on his phone and another two refreshing ***** none stop. It's rife and it's everywhere but never really noticed before how prominent gambling is before this.  I'm passionate about not gambling anymore and not ruining my life by doing so. Treated the wife and step daughter a lot the last few days I think they deserved it too. Anyway enough for now hope your all okay xxxx

88 Days and counting gamble free.  Feeling quite proud.  Had one to many family meals this Easter and also feeling super large! Need to get back into calorie counting and losing a bit of weight im scared to jump onto the scales I've definitely gained.  Losing weight has been something that's helps me focus during the last 88 days so in some ways it saddens me that in becoming "more comfortable" with my need not to gamble any more, I've had a week of eating c**P!  I'm being real with myself though too, it's been Easter the step daughter has been off school and we have made some nice memories and had some nice treats! Two days for my 90 days which was always my first target to get too! Ironically my 90 days will land on the same day I have a GA meeting which will also be quite nice. Overall doing okay definitely no gamble thoughts, just need to get back into calorie counting and being good. 

Today is 90 Days gamble free! 🎉 🥳 👏 

Had a lovely weekend away from work albeit I have a very high pressured week this week in work! Today we invited my parents around for an Easter Meal so the wife has been cooking most of the day ready for that later this afternoon. 

Really lucky to have got to the 90 day mark without failing and now I'm here I want to keep it active in my head always.  Next focus is 12 months challenge.  

I haven't wanted to bet at all but I have wanted to "game".  I've avoided all mobile gaming knowing I cannot play without paying to win.  I've found myself looking at certain gaming adverts over the last 90 days thinking oh I would like that.  But I've avoided downloading and playing.  They rope me in every single time so I'm keeping a focus to not download and play any at all.  For me I could always live without sports gambling or casino betting so long as I had gaming spending, it acted as some kind of intermediary for me.  If I didn't game then it would turn to casino and sports bets instead.  The gaming kept my addiction alive I guess.

Now the new me just stays away from the gaming and the gambling.  I find my mind wandering sometimes not to gamble but it's like it's trying to find a new space to fill the addiction. All I can do right now is keep the focus on my mind always as I definitely feel "anxious" with no reason. 

Onto 91 says from tomorrow keeping the focus. Sorry for the slightly obscure ramble today just releasing some thoughts. 

93 days gamble free and on a gamble front doing okay.  No real urges no real pressures to gamble for now.  Work wise I've done too much this week and feeling it.  53+ hours in the week and since I'm salaried for no extra money.  On the plus side work is ticking along okay too and I'm there or there abouts where I need to be. 

Focusing on Sunday for now as I'm in work today and tomorrow then have two days off.  Planning a family afternoon out on Sunday, something to look forward to! That' seems to be the positive part for me, more time with my family now I'm not blowing my brains out gambling or gaming. 

1) Keep it alive every day remind yourself you are a compulsive gambler! 

2) keep yourself busy fill the spare time with different activities, take up a new hobby, read a new book whatever it is but finding space fillers has helped me astronomically. 

Thinking back over my first 90 days this is without a doubt the best "quick fire" advice I can offer to anybody reading who is struggling! 

Hope your all doing good and staying out of trouble. 

What an achievement well done, I am on 40 days today, love it on here but some of the relapse stories scare me to death, you seem to be doing great, its good to see.

@dazza85 Well done Dazza 👏👏👏.

Sounds like you need to recharge your batteries after working all those hours!😴. 

Enjoy your family time on Sunday and hope you can rest your mind and body somewhat on Monday 🙏.

Take care.

Pink Lady 🩷🍎.

Thanks guys, Im 97 days gamble free today and on a day off.  I must say I worked my a*s off last week.  Its meant not being able to do some healthier commitments I have that have lee me to put 3 pounds on in weight.  I've used calorie counting as a control measure to keep me almost addicted in something more positive and because work got so deep in the trenches last week I totally dropped it away.  Now I'm left today feeling slightly rubbish.  My body is craving naughty foods all over again, my stomach hurts and I've a terrible headache! I know it will pass, but Im trying to get back into it today! Still focusing towards our big holiday at the end of next month, no thoughts at all of gambling for now! 

98 Days gamble free and collected my 90 Days pen from GA tonight.  Gave a therapy Infront of a fair few people and went back to my day 1.  Read a post from my thread here and talked about how proud I am to be here today 98 days later after rock bottom.  My wife attended tonight as it was an open evening.  Great to have her support but it rocked her a little a few guys talking about how they slipped after years of being gamble free made her worry I would too.  I told her I intend to keep my addiction alive every single day and remind myself I am a compulsive gambler and can never bet again! 

Day 100 Gamble free!!! 

A significant day for me today hitting my first 100 days! Very proud of this.  On my most recent Beacon counselling session I mentioned in the future I want to reach out and help other people struggling.  I think that's a direction I would like to go in life and to also keep it alive for me always in doing so! 

Not feeling so great today.  3 weeks 1 day until our family holiday of a lifetime can't wait but the countdown is going slow, work is going heavy a combination leaving me feeling lethargic and tired and fed up. 

Got paid my annual bonus today.  Last two years I've blown 75% of it just on gambling. Feels nice to see a bit of extra money that we can put away for a rainy day or something.  Nothing major or life changing but enough to cover a future serious car breakdown or something. 

Hope your all okay.  Working all weekend so should fly by I hope. 

@dazza85 Congratulations Dazza on your fabulous achievement of hitting the 100 day milestone!!👏👏👏👏.

So lovely to hear that your annual bonus has not gone anywhere near this rich gambling establishments!👊💪👌. You and your family deserve to have this reward much more than they ever do. Hold your head up high and be proud of this moment. Oh, and don’t forget to treat yourself, no matter how small. You deserve it.

Take care and keep doing the right thing for you and your family.

Pink Lady 🩷🍎.

Thanks Pink Lady! Today is Day 108 gamble free.  im doing okay on a gamble front, although recently I have had a couple of dreams where I've woken up remembering having spent a fortune gambling and blown everything.  It's weird because I woke up really upset.  Then I realised it hadn't happened. I've been reading around a little and I think it's perhaps just because I'm keeping being an addict so alive in my mind. 

Works stressful at the moment and family life has issues so there's a lot going on for now.  Usually I would hide myself in my fake worlds and blow £££££ so I'm holding it straight to make sure I don't do that. 

Day 118 Gamble Free 🥳 🎉 Nothing really to report. No gamble thoughts. Lots of work.  Holiday in 5 days can't wait now! Two weeks abroad with the people who mean the most to me.  Have to admit 118 days ago I didn't think this was possible. Not one bit!  But with perseverance and a constant reminder of who I really am I've been able to abstain from gambling. 

One thing I guess I bumped into an old friend but a good friend who knows my gambling situation and he wouldn't shut up about how he was doing "stocks trading" and working it towards it being a full time job.  I told him that was gambling and I wasn't interested but he defended it and continued to big it up heavily talking silly numbers. I feel bad for him really because he just doesn't see it.  I can't let myself get tempted that's for sure!!