So far so good

Congratulations - massive achievement! Yet another post to inspire me tonight. 100 days gf tomorrow that must be a cause for celebrations and very well deserved they'll be too!
Stay strong!

I'm working all day, a 16 hour shift. I will have a nice drink on Sunday to celebrate. Thanks.

Hi Brandon,

Well done for the work and the success that you have already achieved, don't let your guard down and allow gambling back into your life. Great work for keeping away for over three months, now the next challenge is to identify your triggers and to place enough blocks that will stop you from gambling when you feel those urges rising up.

Best of luck

Ryan

Huge milestone passed for me, never thought I'd get to this stage. 102 days without a bet. Went shop today on my own, ended up having to park right near the bookies I used to regularly use. A great feeling walking past, without a single hint of an urge to gamble. Without fail, if ever I passed that bookies in the past, I would have gone in.

I'm loving finding myself with spare time, being able to read again, plan holidays, even sit and watch a football match without caring who gets the next corner.

Not getting complacent, on here most days, determined to stay gamble free.

Hi brandon , bit late to the party but well done on reaching 102 days gamble free and welcome to the century club my friend , I hope you continue to enjoy your new found spare time , its amazing the free gifts we get by giving up :))

Take care and all the best

Alan

Thanks Alan.

Quick check-in, 15 weeks today.

Another week done, 112 days gamble free now.

For the first time since I stopped gambling, I've been around others who are gambling. I even got asked what I thought about a certain bet (not everybody knows about my addiction), just commented about the match itself rather than the betting aspect. No hint of an urge (the people who were betting, lost).

Working hard, paying off bits of debt where I can. Over the past 3 months I've managed to put a decent dent in it, still a few years left yet though.

116 days and counting.

Having thoughts about telling my mum about everything. A few months ago this couldn't have been further from my mind, but having my wife supporting me has been great. Don't think I could tell her face to face, I'd be a jibbering wreck, maybe a letter? I know she'd be great about it, I think it may help to let somebody else know.

All the best everyone

119 days

122 days.

Been thinking lately, do the little niggling thoughts about returning to gambling ever completely disappear? Occasionally I think to myself, I could be in a position in a few years to bet £10 per weekend, just on football. But then I know it's such a slippery slope, I really don't think I'd even want that. After 12 years of gambling on every football weekend, without fail, I just wonder if this urge will ever completely disappear.

127 days gamble free.

To anyone who has recently quit, it does get easier, honestly. As soon as you've done a week, then 2, then 20 days, a month, it racks up quickly. Set yourself mini goals, milestones. Treat yourself, even a little something to show for your effort. Keep yourself busy, limit your access to cash, put online blocks in place. Rediscover things your enjoyed before your addiction took over.

133 days without a bet now.

Thinking back to my daily routine a few months ago. First thing I would do, before work, check horses for the day. Put bets on early races, between 2-3pm, £30-£50. Be distracted at work, thinking about potential wins, watching races on my phone, talking about bets to colleagues who didn't really care. More bets on horses after work, whether I'd won or lost, FOBT for roulette, maybe another £40-£60. Home with a few open slips in my wallet, folded away in case the Mrs went into my wallet. On my phone, keeping an eye on races, looking at the next race. Making stupid decisions based on 2-3 minutes of research on a horse, just so I didn't miss the race. £20, £30 singles, constantly refreshing fast results; head never looking up to speak to Mrs, or look at tv. Bets on football would also be running, English, Italian, Lithuanian, Slovakian who cares really. 10pm, onto South American football, maybe even until 2am often enough. Sometimes hundreds down, sometimes up...to more than likely lose the next day. Repeat.

Now....productive at work, engaging with colleagues more. Far more helpful, happy and energetic in every day life. Hardly on my phone at home any more. I haven't looked at a horse result in over 4 months....in all honestly I had zero knowledge on it, I was an absolute chancer, no interest in the actual racing. Football....I follow English & Spanish now...no random lower league Eastern European matches whilst eating dinner, checking livescore.

I was a very regular, very heavy gambler for over 10 years. Quitting has took a lot (including coming totally clean to the wife), but it can be done.

Delete all your sports apps, betting apps, talk to your partner, be honest. Cos it feels f*****g amazing to say I am 133 days gamble freeeeeeee!

Totally know where you are coming from Brandon. Horses weren't really my thing, but I would wake up and put some bets on whatever tennis was inplay. Wouldn't have a clue who was playing but I would just slap money on whoever was fav to win. Checking each point live on my phone, even when driving to work (stupid I know!).

Then getting to work and maybe putting a few more on some in play basketball. Usually on total points. Then I would have FlashScores up in a small box at work so not to get caught. Do that all day and the same when I get home until football starts.

It's a horrible way to live isn't it. Like you I'm much more attentive and generally happier now that I'm not always on my phone or trying to hide bet slips from the girlfriend.

Anyway massive congrats on racking up those days and the big changes you have made. Keep it up.

RA

It's a strange thing to say, but it's such a great feeling when you're sat at home, halfway through a bottle of wine with the Mrs, watching a film, and it's occurs to you....I have no bets open. No stress. No thoughts of a follow up bet to chase losses. No niggle in the back of your mind about the Brazilian matches at 1am. You're just watching a film and having a nice chilled night. No idea about any of the football scores tonight....forgot there were even any matches. Nothing else matters.

Stay strong.

Edit, just to add - it's also great looking at your bank balance and it hasn't changed a penny in 5 days!