Living The Dream!

Day 11 started with run three of my couch to 5k plan, it was a killer, but I feel better for it. My knee however is starting to give me a bit of pain and this did stop a prior attempt at couch to 5k. I will keep going, but if it gets so bad that I have to stop I will have to swap running for swimming. The rest of the day will be spent with family and enjoying a good afternoon of sport.

I've no urges to gamble at the moment and my focus is on keeping up my blocks, making it ever harder to gamble and having a positive mindset. I feel in a good place and I feel if I keep this up then life will get so much more rewarding. I will be in the chatroom tonight, no bets today!

Hi Phil

Not sure if you already know but there's a sport's tape in boots called Kt tape it's the same you see sport's player's use its an absolute godsend. When I stopped gambling in September I also started running. I hadn't run since school so injuries were extremely common for me. You'll be surprised how fast you adapt to running 5k all the best with it anyway hope you're enjoying it.

Good to see you're in a positive mindset as well. Enjoy the ride

Deano

Hi bornagain.

How's things going? I am up early today as I have a hell of a lot of work to be getting on with plus I am gearing up to going for a run so I can empathise with your situation ha! The problem with exercise - it's absolutely awful and such effort getting yourself to actually do it and then afterwards you feel amazing. I hope your knee clears up a bit and you can get some more runs in.

Yes - keeping focused on blocks and being gamble free - good plan. I decided to be the most extreme I've ever been with my blocks and I'm excited that this Friday I'll be paid and have no way of accessing the money (apart from some going straight to a cash card via standing order) - really going back to basics!

Best of luck with these week

Day 12 has been a good day so far, been out for a walk with the little fella in the sun and I've had no bad thoughts. The job hunt continues and I expect some good news soon. Being a happy family is the most important thing in the world, I don't need anymore pain from gambling. I need to stay positive and stay happy, theres so much more to life than a trip to the bookies. No bets for me, I'm choosing recovery!

Hi BA! Beautifully positive post you've got there. Tells you everything you need to know about which is the right path to choose and why. It's about LIVING instead of simply existing. More power to you.

Day 13 brought my first run of week 2 on my couch to 5k and it was a struggle again with my knee, I will persist for now, but its looking ever more likely that I will have to swap the roads for the swimming pool. Thursday is my next planned run so I will see how I go. Day 13 also brings another clear mind and no urges to gamble. My morning has been spent chilling with my little man whilst applying for more jobs. The perfect job can't be far away.

This afternoon I will hit the chatroom, and nip out for a haircut ahead of an important appointment tomorrow. My minds in a good place, my recovery is on!

All the best on the job hunt Phil.

Maybe take it easy on the knee for a week? Swimming sounds like a plan

2 week's bet free tomorrow keep pushing.

Best wishes

Thanks Deano, its day 14 today and I've been mad busy and also had to pass a lorge number of bookmakers, its frightenening just how many of these there actually are in city centres. The sooner the fobt restrictions the better as then a fair few should close. They are literally everywhere and everytime I passed one I thought to myself never again. I only had a few coins in change on me as I need to remain vigilant, however I would not have set foot in one even with a wallet bursting full of money. I don't want to darken one of those vile places again. I'm super tired today as I barely slept last night, so just a quick post. But its been a very productive day and another bet free day to add to the list. Onwards and upwards.

Day 15 and I feel good now my runs out the way, although again my knees are troubling me, I've two days off now till my next run and I'm hopeful they will be better by then. I'm certainly feeling I already have a little more stamina.

Its my GA meeting tonight and I'm looking forward to it. On the gambling front I have ad a few little thoughts this morning about that quick win and then walk. Very quickly I saw sense as the quick win never happens as I can't ever stop. I've also got got blocks in place that prevent me getting any money to gamble. The reason for the urges are because I have a few bills coming up and that silly gambling thing in my head tells me I can win money to pay them off, its never worked before so I won't be listening this time.

Staying positive, making the right choices, no bets today!

Day 16 started with an interview that I felt went really well, hopefully some good news will shortly follow. The rest of the day will be spent bonding with my little man. Theres no bad thoughts in my head and today will be another gamble free day.

I had a good GA meeting last night, I really enjoy the new group I have found and I believe it will really help me on my recovery mission. I also spent yesterday renewing my self exclusions from all the towns and cities close to me. So I'm making small but very positive steps, I want to remain in recovery, I want to treat everyday the same and make it a gamble free day. There will be ups and downs along the way, but by concentrating on each day as it comes I can do this. No bets today!

Hi BA,

I realy hope your interview was a success. Good luck!

My couck to 5k programme starts this weekend. I too am quite overweight and need to drop 3-4 stone t get to my ideal weight. This is urgent as my knees have recently started to creak going up and down stairs. I am sure you know what I mean.

Have a great weekend.

mark

I wake on day 17 feeling great, feeling positive and knowing this daily battle will be won one day at a time. Lots of people sign up on here full of hope and good intentions, but many like me don't put their all into this and end up slipping up. I have slipped up many times since I first logged onto here. There are many blocks we can put into place and the triangle of gambling is a great bit of advice. I used to put all these blocks in place, but I would still slip up. I used to get told I needed to attend GA and I used to think no thanks, thats not for me. I think deep down I didn't want to commit to it, maybe deep down I wanted the inevitable slip along the way. I did however notice how most of the longer term members here who had stopped for a substantial time all had one thing in common, they attended GA. I'm now ready, I want to be succesful at this, I don't want to slip up again, so I have now been to my local GA meeting for the past two weeks and I will put my all into it and into attending every week. I desperately want to stop for good and it clearly works so it would be madness for me not to attend. I'm taking all the help available this time round. My local group made me feel so welcome and on days that bad thoughts may enter my mind I have a telephone list full of supportive people who can give me a word of wisdom or support. I've finally made the right choice, and I would reccommend anyone who wants to give up gives it a go.

My Saturday will be spent chilling with my family and enjoying todays sport on tv. I'm pleased to be making the right choices, no bets for me today!

Day 18 is going to be a long day and a huge struggle. I have sciatica that flares up once or twice a year, it comes out of nowhere and last night it came back and its left me struggling to move and in aboslute agony. I wish I could go to sleep and wake up in a few days when its gone.

On the up side however today will be another gamble free day, the fight goes on and I remain positive.

Hi BA! Our bodies can be unwieldy things some times. I can empathise to a degree, with the sporadic onset of pain, but for me it happens in my head rather than legs. Wishing you the best to get through the next few days as easily as you can. As you say, at least you have the solice of being gamble free and all the positivity that brings. I would say onwards and upwards, but maybe not today, perhaps horizontal and sideways would be more appropriate? ;o) All the best, "what".

Day 19 and I'm still in agony with my back. Getting out of bed this morning was a painful task, it should ease up through the day, but I'm dreading the pain when I wake tomorrow morning. The back problems have got me pretty down mentally and I'm feeling quite depressed today. But I won't slip up, I will remain strong and ensure I keep making the right choices. No bets today!