Let's go again.

First GF weekend under the belt and nearly at a week. Slowly getting closer to the 25 day first target. Payday tomorrow though. This is when it really starts!

Got a busy weekend coming up and a few things longer term that I will need money for (stag do is now sorted) so these will be things I have to think of to stop me from gambling. Got a weekend in London with some of the lads this week. This always ends up with us hitting the bookies and watching football. That will be tough, but I must say strong!

Been reading the forum multiple times daily and getting onto chat when I can.

We can't win because we can't stop.

RA

One week GF.

Decided to have a read through my diary from the start of the year. Full of positive posts, and great words of encouragements from other users. Then the dreaded comment from me to say I have had to reset my day count. What a rubbish feeling, and I felt rubbish reading it again, as it feels like you let those that offer support down.

Not been tempted to bet today, but have been thinking about this process a lot and how much I want this to work.

RA

Ra you haven't let people down bud. Support doesn't come with terms and conditions.
Keep fighting dude

GF weekend. Managed to avoid betting when all the lads went to the bookies on our weekend away. I just used the excuse that I'm sick of wasting money as I never win and that seemed to be accepted with no questions asked. It all went easier than I thought.

I also received some inheritence money this weekend. I have transferred it straight to our joint account. I could use it to pay off my personal overdraft, but why should my other half not benefit or enjoy that money because I have been stupid in the past. I think I want to try to save and get out of this small mess myself.

Not really had any urges. I obviously thought about it a bit when I was in the bookies but never even looked at a slip.

Hoping for another GF week.

RA

Good on you ra.
Good to see your resolve held strong.
Thanks also for stopping by my diary.
Have a great gamble free week
Deano

Thanks deano. I must admit it did feel good knowing I avoided temptation.

Two weeks GF today. Pretty happy with that. It all feels a bit different to previous times I have given up. Reading back over old diaries I don't think I had accepted that betting was something I just can't do anymore. In my head I just wanted to cut down and be normal. This time around I know that's not possible, and I have better blocks in place. Still can't be complacent though.

I still haven't been able to 100% switch off from it all as I have an ongoing issue with an overseas bookmaker about $50 they just withdrew from my betting account back in August. They claimed they had double charged me (they only took the one payment from my bank) and that to correct this they had to reverse the transaction. Still no sign of this in my bank account and I have been told it can take up to 30 working days for it to clear. Those 30 days are up Friday. I just want to get this sorted so I can close the account down and it's one less avenue to trap me into a relapse. I have thought about just letting it go and closing the account anyway, but then I think why should I, that's my money they have taken! And after all the money I have given the industry the least they can do it give me what's rightfully mine.

Anyways rant over.

One more day closer to my first goal of 25.

Have a good GF week.

RA

Thanks for the post on my diary. Must admit, I also watched live tennis scores, point by point on livescore. So glad to be away from that, that isn't any sort of life.

Keep going mate, let's see you hit this 25 day target! Personally...write the $50 off, close the account. Forget it. In the grand scheme of things, that money doesn't matter to you. Ending contact with a bookies is far more important. What if they give you your money, and a free bet as an apology....?

All the best.

Heading into the weekend still GF and on target for 25 days. Then I will aim for one full Calander month. Small steps.

More wedding and stag plans this weekend. This has to be my motivation.

Have a good weekend all.

RA

Time goes so slow waiting for the days to accumilate! Feels like so much longer than 18 days. I guess that is what gambling does to you.

I am trying to run 100km in October. A little challenge for myself, something to take my mind of betting, and to give me something to aim for. I'm doing ok so far, im on 21Km. I went to buy some new running gear, but was in two minds about buying a top for £15 as money is a bit tight. I wouldn't have thought twice about spending £50+ this weekend in bets, yet i don't want to buy matieralistic things that willl actually benefit me for a fraction of the price. What a stupid mind set!

Anyways, with the running and the online surverys i do (mentioned in a ealier post) i have been keeping my mind off betting and feeling good.

RA

What's the rush for the day's to stack up ra? Personally I would want to be getting younger not older. Don't wish your life away bud. Enjoy and embrace
Kudos on the running I can see a joint challenge for November coming up 30 days of running maybe? Keep safe bud

True true deano! I guess I just want to get beyond the 56 days that I got to previously, but you are right, I shouldn't focus on that too much and just embrace each day (he says whilst sitting all sweaty after a 7km)

Hope your recovery is going well mate.

RA

Thought I would drop by as fighting a similar fight. The weekends are the time I struggle most too, also the value of money is so out of sync in my head. I have just got off the phone to an electricity/gas supplier to save a few quid on household bills but only just over a week ago I am losing the equivalent of a years supply of gas/electric on one football match!

I am on day 8 of another go at kicking this horrible addiction. I am in a mess financially but I am desperately focussing of tidying the mess up and moving forward with my life without having to gamble and risking my future.

Keep going and stay positive I have hope it can be done, especially if we all stick together and relate to our gambling monsters within.

Matt

3 weeks GF. Hopefully the first of many. Going well so far.

RA

Finally got my refund that I was owed. They offered me a free $100 bet but I have just closed the account and left it at that. I've got back what's rightfully mind and I can now fully switch off from gambling. No matter how much I tried this was always in the back of my mind. Silly really as it's a small amount in comparison to the hundreds I have wasted.

Onwards and upwards.

RA

25 days! Reached my first target. Feel very good about it all, but still very alert as to what could happen if I decided to gamble.

Toughest day though today as I am by myself with nothing to do, and it would be days like this that I would go on a binge. Blocks in place so I can't do this.

Next target is for a full Calander month.

Have a good weekend all.

RA