so my day 1 gamble free was Friday 5 January. And nearly done day 2. was wondering today where all our money that we have gambled actually ends up. Is it in the hands of a few casino owners or are they themselves gamblers. I say today let's stand united against the beast and let's slay it by starving it of our hard earned money. We can do this together and if we fall down we will help each other up.
Day 3 nearly complete. As always happens when I stop gambling I have turned to food and eaten my body weight in chocolate today. But did do a run with friends this morning so not all bad. Going to keep going forward. X
Well done on day 3. Thanks for checking in on me too. I turn to other things too and am a comfort eater but also at slimming world too so trying to beat 2 things now. Getting back into reading which I love. Great escape. Good luck on staying gf xxx
Thanks want2stop. I think I'll look into slimming world too as heard so many great things about it. Day 4 going ok but I have had some thoughts re gambling. Not goi g to give in to them. X
Have wanted to gamble today. I haven't. But I have really wanted to. I'm tired and grumpy and just wanted to gamble. Got to ride it out. Good luck to you all. Xx
Tired and feeling rubbish today. Have eaten so much chocolate tonight it's crazy. It's my automatic alternative to not gambling. Tired tired tired.
Hi Annie. Sorry you are feeling ourt of sorts. It is early days for us and we are bound to feel sad sometimes.We know we have to stop gambling or spend the rest of our lives in that horrible place, where we have suffered so much pain and anguish.
Hopefully at times we will feel positive about our recovery, and one day we will find the peace and happiness we are looking for. Stay strong Annie, we are all going forward together and can understand each others struggles. The bookies have plenty of money, they won't miss our contributions to their coffers.
I also have to be really careful with chocolate, I can easily binge on it and than I don't feel very well.
Take care my friend. You have gone 6 days without gambling. Just one step at a time and the days will fly by.
Yes stick with it . Life can be great . Just be careful not to try and give too much up at once . I would suggest concentrating on the gambling first , it will release loads more money to be able to join a gym and afford to eat healthily !
Thank you Stephen and Vulture. I really appreciate your kind words. Today I am wanting to gamble and have googled my favourite game but I will not join another site. I typed in gamcare and came here. I am on day 7. I will go forward. I want to continue with the 2018 challenge. I did run today so that was good. Thank you again and again. Xx
Good choice you know it makes sense . Try and avoid googling ! It will take a while to break the cycle . I had a bit of an epiphany today and want to share it with you . I thought about if I hypothetically gambled for the next year and lost x amount of money . There is absolutely categorically no way that I could win that amount back , even if I won my spider senses would tingle and I would carry on until I lost . Therefore I am going to be so much better off financially by not doing it . I am learning also that it isn’t about money it’s about waking up in the middle of the night stressing about what I did the night before . What bills am I going to put off because of an hour of stupidity . What about the wasted hours that I didn’t spend with my kids or wife . It dawned on me that you don’t have to be rich to be rich . Concentrate on what you have , not what you will never have . Just wanted to share that with you
Thanks Vulture that's so true. I think when I'm gambling any wins just mean I can continue to gamble for longer. Trouble is I just end up upping my stake and loosing more quickly. That is very true though. I think I must have gambled about £50000 in the last 4 years maybe more. Scary that money looses all sense when gambling. I would rather walk than pay for busfare but can't stop myself pressing the spin button time after time after time. It's great to come on here each night and feel support and advice from those who really know and don't judge. Thank you. Day 8 for me. Hope today has been kind to you and everyone else. X
Well done and thanks for your post on my diary . I am finding that not all characteristics of a compulsive gambler are negative when you channel them into the right areas . We probably share the same brain function as a marathon runner but they channel theirs in a positive way for them. We are pretty disciplined when we want to be so use that as an advantage . It got me a good career . The money part about the bus fayre is so true . You will find as I do that even when I have money , I don’t spend it on normal things like new clothes , restaurants etc . In fact without gambling we are pretty low maintenance . I can guarantee you know where they put all the reduced items in the supermarket and walk there first . I do and probably always will !!
Absolutely! Without gambling I would definitely have money to spare!
Hello Annie. Congratulations on reaching double figures. We don't need gambling in our lives because it causes nothing but misery. Occasional past wins might stick in the mind but it was always short lived and we always gave it back with interest.
Whatever unfolds and wherever destiny leads us, it is bound to be better than living the dismal life of compulsive gambling.
Let's leave gambling in the past and move on .Take care...stephen x
Hi Annie , was looking for your update today but nothing as yet . Hope you had a gamble free weekend and look forward to hearing from you
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