Slowly but surely

Great going.

Just keep focussing on where you are now and where you were some 70 days ago. Well on your way to 2.5 months gamble free.

Day 71,

i was thinking yesterday about the last time i placed a bet. yesterday was 10 weeks. it was england v turkey in a friendly. i am so proud that i have managed 71 days. I have come so far and i never again want to be in the state i was in after i lost a large sum of money on that game.

just re read my diary on my lunch at work and its amazing to see where i was to were i am now.
Just getting on with life. big 60 hour week at work to repay more of my debts. Theyre slowly going down too which always helps.

holiday to cyprus is 3 weeks saturday and the football season starting next saturday as im a bolton fan.

Ben

You should be proud Ben - massive well done! But keep that memory close as its good motivation for remembering how you felt, how gambling had you beaten.

I'm also away in 3 weeks (Portugal) can't wait!!

day 72 today,

nothing new to report, just very busy at work.

Tommy, thanks mate, i appreciate your comment. i will not become complacent. portugal is absoltely lovely. i have been so many times to albufeira, lagos...albufeira old town is my favourite place. the square and bars, restaurants are lovely! ill be 96 days gamble free when i go to cyprus so ill hit the 100 day milestone whilst im out there.

Hope you have a great time mate
ben

73 days chalked off now, nothing to report. no thoughts of gambling atm
Ben

Thanks Ben. Yeah off to Lagos for the first time. Usually go to Vilamoura which I love.

It will be awesome to be away when you hit 100 days!

lagos is beautiful mate, youll love it and yeah definitely tops the holiday off knowing ill be 100 days gamble free. im only 27 days off that target!

74 racking these days up now. my 60 hour week is 75% complete after today which is good news! all the overtime extra cash is going straight off what i owe to reduce debts which is excellent.
Hope youre all well
Ben 🙂

Boo to 60 hour weeks...Yay to feeling excellent 🙂

Thank you so much for my congratulations 🙂 I can't believe I haven't dropped you a post until today 🙁 Well done for getting through the Euro's & making sure you go into the football season with the right mindset will help keep you safe! If you feel a wobble coming on, phone the helpline, get into chat, talk to your diary, get support, don't think that because you've come this far alone it always needs to be like this! Recovery is an evolving journey..Good to see you are embracing it - ODAAT

day 75! post #100
3/4 of the way to my 100 day target! today is the last day of my long 60 hour week so feeling really great. looking forward to the football season starting tomorrow and my weekend away with the OH.

Thanks for the comment kelly, dont worry about not dropping by until now! yeah i will take onboard what youve said and will utilise the facilites such as helpline, chat etc. i appreciate your help

Ben

Great going, just another 25 days then, to the magic three figures gamble free.

I've got a 72 hour week coming up, if it makes you feel any better lol.

good afternoon diary,

today is day 78. 11 weeks and a day since my last bet. i have conquered my challenge of getting through the 1st football weekend without placing a bet. dont get me wrong, it did cross my mind as so many of my friends and family were having a flutter however i kept mentally strong and knew i was in a bad place 78 days ago and i didnt want to end up in that way ever again.

feeling proud and another day closer to the 100 day milestone. stay safe all
Ben

Day 80,

went to my first away match of the season last night. blackpool away in the EFL cup. lost 4-2 after extra time. the day out and atmosphere was better than the match. alot of my mates who i go with all had a bet, i however didnt and stayed mentally strong.

last season i would of been in the bookies 100% having a large bet on the game. feel proud and i didnt really struggle which is a positive. i have a long way to go though as its only been back a week. need to keep focussed.

Hope you all have a good day
Ben 🙂

day 81,

nice 7 -3 shift today. get home nice and early. went swimming last night. did 64 lengths ( a mile) in the pool. feel better inmyself and i enjoy it. trying to shed a few lbs for my holiday. 2 weeks on saturday!!

every day is getting me closer to my 100 day target. lots of distractions and potential downfalls as people arounf me (family and work members) are talking about the new football season and they all have a bet at the weekend. keeping strong at the minute. i have double checked all my barriers and theyre still in place, just in case i have a moment of madness.

Ben

Good morning folks!
Today is my 83rd day gamble free. I am working today which feels strange. It brings back all the memories of when i used to gamble. when i gambled, and i was in work saturday, i used to come in work an hour early and study all the european football leagues for form, injury news, head to head results and pick my bets for the day. i cant believe id happily spend £100 on football bets on a saturday which when i look back is ridiculous. absolutely disgusting. what was i thinking? and then the same sunday.

anyway, thats the past, its happened and i can only look forward. today i have come into work on time, havent looked at any form etc, just got on with my job.

my team (bolton) havent won a competitive away game for almost 500 days!! today they play AFC wimbledon so lets hope we stop that rot today.

Enjoy your weekend people
Take care and stay safe
Ben