Fresh start, adapting to a gamble free life

Jimbo

I think we have to do whatever necessary to keep the gambling at bay. I'm sure you felt stronger after each day when you managed 100? We just have to realise we cannot gamble again!

Keep up the good work!

Dickyo

Day 10

Thanks Dickyo, you're right any preventative measure is always worth it if it means no gambling.

Not had much time to think about gambling over the weekend as have been working most the time. Now i'm off for a few days this is when i need to stay strong.

Finances still a mess but must remind myself gambling is not a quick fix to this, it is the reason i'm in this mess.

Thanks for reading

Jimbo

Good work Jimbo

Get out for a run, clean, cook whatever, just don't give in to this b********d! We are all stronger and happier people without it!

Dickyo

Day 11

Thanks again Dickyo, can't agree more, gambling breaks you down as a person and destroys your personality.

Been busy all day working on the house again so not had chance to think about gambling. Going for a drink tonight with mates which i'm looking forward to. Really positive about giving up for good this time. Not allowing myself to participate in any gambling not matter how small, i think this is where i have gone wrong in the past and one thing led to another.

Have a good day/night everyone, keep gamble free and happy

Jimbo

Well done jimbooooo on day 11

Keep doing what your doing, i am on day 1 again today after going 94 days gamble free. Life is so much better without gambling in it.

Good luck mate

Well done Jimbo!

Away from working, what else have you considered doing in your new found spare time!?

You are through what I felt for me was the toughest time, just keep strong positive and every erge you fight you become more free, stronger and another step forward.

Have a good day mate,

Hanz

Well done Jimbo

Wish I could have listened to my own advice. Failed yesterday, but starting again today.

Keep up the good work.

Dickyo

Day 14

Thanks so much Jamie, hanz and Dickyo! Other than work, i'm doing up my house (needed completely gutting). I was very fortunate that my parents helped me out with the deposit. This consumes a lot of my spare time and is very rewarding. I'm also a keen road cyclist but more of a fair weather rider! I do intend to get back on the bike soon. Have a lot of other hobbies like hill walking, snooker and drinking real ales 🙂

My girlfriends birthday yesterday, felt cr@P not being able to treat her the way she deserves to be treated. She's an absolute gem, she's never asked me for anything other than to love her. She deserves more than this after 6 years of me always being skint! This just makes me more determined to never gamble again!

Had a big urge to play poker yesterday after seeing an advert on tele, handled it really well though, thought it through to the end which meant me thinking about the time and money wasted. This soon went after thinking about the negatives and not the "BIG WIN" that never materialises.

Sorry for rambling, take care everyone, don't line the pockets of the bookies and stay happy!

Jimbo

Day 15

Really fancied playing poker again last night but managed to handle the urge quite well.

Even though i've had a couple of slips in the last year or so, i do feel that i've come a long way. Between 18 and 22 I gambled solid without realising i had a problem. It's been a learning curve and i'm beginning to realise that the slip ups are part and parcel of recovery. I used to beat myself up about this but everytime I slip, i learn something about myself whether that be a trigger or a pattern of behaviour leading up to the slip.

Working loads still so no time to act on any urges i'm getting, will post more when i'm off.

Thanks for reading

Jimbo

Day 16

Last day at work before a nice week off which i'm very much looking forward to. Get to spend it with my girlfriend which means I won't be able to gamble.

Not had many urges recently as far too busy at work. All I seem to think about at the moment is my debts which gets me down.

Hopefully things will settle down a bit in the next week and start doing some of the things i love.

Keep safe, keep gamble free and stay happy peeps

Jimbo

Jimbo,

Well done on avoiding the urges mate. When I see a TV advert I think about the money they need to pay to advertise.

I work in advertising and trust me...gambling sites spend MILLIONS of £££ every year to try and get you to gamble. The reason they do it...is because they make a HUGE return on investment from TV advertising. I certainly do not want to be contributing to gambling adverts and this is the motivation I use I avoid the "free bet" adverts.

A win is a lose and a lose is a lose. Doesn't sound a good deal to me mate!

Enjoy your off with your mrs. She sounds a diamond mate. This time next year when her birthday comes around again, think of how grateful she will be for her present which you have worked hard for, saved for and thought about!

Onwards and upwards mate, you are smashing it

No complacency though!

Hanz

Day 21

Thank you so much for your post hanz, I love all the sayings you have, always makes a lot of sense! I just hope i can always look at things in the logical way you describe.

Not going to have the internet for a while so not going to be able to post for a bit unless i can do it on my phone.

Enjoying a really good week off and made loads of progress with the house.

Been mountain biking today with my brother which was really good fun (and tough!). Too busy to think about gambling at the moment which is just how i planned my week. Need to do some xmas shopping but purposefully waiting until tomorrow when i'm supervised with the gf 🙂

Huge thank you to everyone who reads and posts on my diary, the support has seen me get through a tough 3 weeks and I really appreciate that!

Take care,

Jimbo

Day 23

Had a really nice pre-birthday weekend with my girlfriend, puts a lot of things in perspective! Did feel awful that I didn't have any money to buy things.

Working until Thursday now so hopefully won't have time to gamble. Not really had any thoughts of gambling recently.

Not much else to report at the moment, will hopefully check in soon,

Thanks for reading

Jimbo

Day 25

25 gamble free days and today I'm 25 years of age! Not the best birthday ever as I'm working nights but a lot to look forward to when I'm off.

No thoughts of gambling recently, just need to keep my guard up.

Take care everyone

Jimbo

Happy Birthday Jimbo!

You're doing great.