The 100 Days Club - Would you like to join?

Also, many thanks for letting me have my initial target of new years, to be honest on the 3rd of December I couldnt see past the next hour or day to be gamble free.  I just wanted a target which I could see me able to achieve (one that I could see in the light at the end of the tunnel).  One month later it has been very difficult to achieve with missing my poker in pubs and visiting pubs with fruit machines and seeing friends who were indeed gambling...… I can say for sure I struggled but i'm soo happy that I achieved it and this new year early months I can see being a lot easier as I have started to build in the habit.

I wont join the social club this year for my snooker (eg 500 pound fruitys more realistically),

I wont go to pub poker (I need to make new acquaintances anyway but I will miss it so this will be the toughest part).

I will get fitter through the gym (I'.m determined to get the fitness and stomach that I've wanted for a few years) with not drinking helping with fewer calories intake.

I will continue to not smoke hit the 3 year mark at midnight last night (which so far has saved me exactly £4384 an more importantly ive not smoked 13151 cigarettes I was on 12 a day).

So lets do this come on 2020!!!!

adam123

Just read those excellent posts by Mixer, Ineffable, Danpo and Adam which I found truly inspirational.

I know I am not fighting this battle alone for good people are by my side ready to offer advice, encouragement and support.

Anybody who is looking for other hobbies to replace gambling could consider the following:

1/ Join a gym/ swimming/ running clubs etc.

2/ Dancing - Salsa, Modern Jive (Ceroc) and Lindyhop welcome absolute beginners and no partner is required.

3/ Community Choirs 

4/ Amateur  Dramatics

5/ Adult Education Classses

Just a few ideas in case anyone is interested.

Stephen x 

You're all most welcome, we as a community and what a brilliant one it is are here to help each other through the times of weakness but, also here to thrive from each others strengths.

Adam and stephen it's great to see that you are both putting plans in place to prevent g******* ever taking over again , it's also nice that you are sharing these new interests with the group.

Life will give us what life will. Without g***** we'll be stronger, better sighted and navigate it all so much better...... this is very true as  i know withought g******* we will all see things so much clearer for what they are, Withought g******* we will strive for  what we really want in life and the things that make our life a happy one.

If anyone's thinking it's late lol, I fell asleep quiet early last night and woke up just now so thought I'd have a little read, couldn't resist clearing my mind and writing a little piece.

Hope your all having the best of dreams, catch up with you all tomorrow, for now I shall be trying to go back to the land of nod??? 

*** Good Evening! ***

Here we are on the 2nd January; here's wishing you all well as we get into this new, different, but infinitely more fulfilling 2020, one day at a time!

***

Adam - you're setting up the New Year as you mean to go on - focussed and ready to enjoy it.  Yes, it's going to be different but in a better way.  And 3rd March as your new target ... done.  Not too far away, and achievable.  Just for today though, we know what to do!

Stephen - some excellent tips there.  I'm actually joining a gym - one month at a time, not sure if I'll last a year! - but something I need to do right now.  I've heard AmDram is very fulfilling and there are loads of local clubs abound up and down the UK.  And as you know first hand, the world of dance is just great on so many levels.  We're opening the curtains, and this life opens up for us. 

Danpo - this really is a brand new life as you recognise.  It requires one daily vow and coping strategies in place in case we feel weakened for whatever reason.  You are laser guided in your approach and this is the way to do it. We are with you all the way!

***

Lots of us dread January ... but why?  With our daily promise we are living a better life.  We are looking at things not from a financial perspective (it is an expensive time of year and catching up with all the spending anyway), but a new personal perspective. 

We are looking at things and thinking about things differently. 

Let's celebrate what we have. 

Let's embrace the month ahead.  Our '1oo day club' will keep you motivated and keep you thinking - that's a promise! 🙂

***

Here's how we're doing 🙂

Boo                                      20th Jan 2020

Fighter1                            Hon. Member !

bertieboo                           10th Mar 2020

Fir tree                             28th Mar 2020

Changing habit               28th Jan 2020

Danpo                                7th Mar 2020

Murlo                                11th Feb 2020

Determined to Stop        1st March 2020

Stephen                            10th Feb 2020

Adam123                            Reached target ? new target requested --> 5th March. Granted!

Franco1875                       19th Mar 2020

Spendlikewater84          Hon. Member!

Ineffable                            21st Feb 2020

EsoxLucius                       28th Feb 2020

Mixer                                  13th March 2020

***

Our preparation for tomorrow:

"Just for today, I choose not to gamble!   It might be Winter but in my soul it's Spring.  Just for today, for me, my family and friends, I'm making a positive, fulfilling decision - even if it doesn't always seem like that!"

***

The Serenity Prayer

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference."

***

Have an enjoyable evening everyone!

Mixer

Hello people, seems quiet today hope everyones ok. A piece of that last post I put on was dedicated to mixer I loved the words you wrote that's why I relayed them back but forgot to dedicate it to you mixer .

I've got a ga  meeting at 7 pm looking forward to sharing my part of what's been happening over christmas and how much of a good one I have had, yet still get quiet nervous as its only my 3rd meeting and tbh I'm a really shy guy, you might not think it but obviously its completely different on here because for one we are not face to face and two you dont know me and probably never will. I know that eventually I will feel more part of the group as I get to know people more, the more I go.

If anyone ever having a bad day and feel like they want the devil to take over just sit back and breath for a moment, take some deep, deep breaths. Think of the reason why you are where you are now and if it helps think back to the lowest of lows you have been at from g******* that should be a kick up the backside to remind yourself not to take up the opportunity to dance with the devil.

You/we/I are worth more as a person than that !!!

Anyway guys, I'm taking my vow for today, today i choose not to dance with the devil, today I choose the happiness and freedom my mind desires for my loved ones but especially for myself .

Peace out people and keep it real !!

Hi thanx for the opportunity to join 100 club I'm now 111 days gf done so well proud of myself but just of lately been struggling a bit been longing to gamble as it's got a bit stale and boring lately but I have in my head is to gable will be to loose money so what's the point I have gam ban in place also because I feel I'm doing so well I'm scared of if I break it and give in to gambling that will be it and I will quit like I do with diets etc so there is no going back for me x

Hi thanx for the opportunity to join 100 club I'm now 111 days gf done so well proud of myself but just of lately been struggling a bit been longing to gamble as it's got a bit stale and boring lately but I have in my head is to gable will be to loose money so what's the point I have gam ban in place also because I feel I'm doing so well I'm scared of if I break it and give in to gambling that will be it and I will quit like I do with diets etc so there is no going back for me x

Hi thanx for the opportunity to join 100 club I'm now 111 days gf done so well proud of myself but just of lately been struggling a bit been longing to gamble as it's got a bit stale and boring lately but I have in my head is to gable will be to loose money so what's the point I have gam ban in place also because I feel I'm doing so well I'm scared of if I break it and give in to gambling that will be it and I will quit like I do with diets etc so there is no going back for me x

First of all I'd like to give a warm welcome to spend. Spend you can do this, just know that you are not alone in this. We as a group are here to support you plus gamcare are only a phone call away. You dont have to do it alone ! 

See spend it with me I absolutely hate g*******, I nearly lost everything through it, but being a cumpolsive g****** maybe one day I will have thoughts of doin it but that's the thing we need to learn coping mechanisms to make sure these thoughts stay just that and that we dont turn them thoughts in to actions, no one on this planet can control what they think about but remember this you can control what you actually do. I hope you are  in a better mind space today be nice to hear back from you.

For the rest of the 100 day crew I hope you are all holding up well as we start the new year, I had a great time last night at ga I couldn't wait to tell them how my Christmas was which was fantastic. 

Today, just for today I am not going to gamble. 

See you all around, takecare, danpo.

As always Danpo your last post was excellent. Excellent advice, practical and inspiring. 

Best wishes to all in the 100 Day Club. Hopefully everyone is happy and well but if anyone isn't feeling all that chirpy well I would hazard a guess that life will improve the longer one stays g------ free. 

I personally believe that we have all suffered for far too long and we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to say - Enough Is Enough. 

Stephen 9 weeks GF 

*** Good evening! ***

And you've received a terrific warm welcome to our club from Dunpo, spendspendspend.  Quite righty and wisely, you need to keep on top of your game, even after a very commendable 110 days g***ling free.  It is great to have you with us! There is no room for complacency with our condition: you've recognised it and our group will be all the stronger because of it.

***

Thinking about it and Acting On It

Thoughts about g***ling will pop into our heads at any time of day or night, triggered randomly or by something we see or hear, like adverts.  We need to accept this will happen.  The question is, if we are unable to dispel or disregard the thought quickly, how we deal with it before it becomes a craving or urge.

The secret to remember is that cravings and go.  We are compulsive.  The moment will pass.  We need to understand that when we do have a weak moment, not to act on it; it will pass.  Grit your teeth and let it pass.

As an example, I went out on a day out with my young son today.  After seeing him bouncing around on trampolines for two hours (made me feel knackered just watching him), we went to the shopping centre and ended up in WHSmiths to buy a newspaper.  There was the chance to but a lottery ticket or two ... innocuous enough, but the thin end of the wedge.  It would be a trigger point. Win or lose, my eyes would light up in that evil way and off I'd go again, into a pitiful relapse.  Because that's all it takes. One match to light up that haystack. Whoosh.

So ... grit your teeth and let the moment pass, because it will.  I'm at home now, the moment passed and I'm alright again.  Until next time.  And I'll know what to do.  Just for today, mind!

***

Here's our daily vow.  All we have to do is stick to this:

"Just for today, I've chosen not to g***** I have made the decision.  Not because I have to.  But because I want to. Because I want to live a life as it should be lived, not without the damage that g***ling will inflict. I recognise this!"

***

Danpo - great post, I echo Stephen's sentiments exactly!  Let's keep this momentum going. Why? Because we can and because it will help us all!

** Rollcall! ***

With the tooting of an array of golden trumpets (and why not!) we've welcomed spendspendspend wisely 'topping up' his g****ing free resolve!  Good move.

Related to this, here's a wise saying I came across today:

"It's not how away you are from your last bet, but how near you are to your next bet that counts."

In other words, we never want to get to that "next" bet.  It must remain mythical, a figment of our imagination. Somewhere south of the south pole ... something that doesn't exist.

One day at a time, with constantly monitored and improved awareness and coping strategies, we can make sure that's the way it stays.

Spendspendspend .         Hon. member (100 days +)

Boo                                      20th Jan 2020

Fighter1                            Hon. Member !

bertieboo                           10th Mar 2020

Fir tree                             28th Mar 2020

Changing habit               28th Jan 2020

Danpo                                7th Mar 2020

Murlo                                11th Feb 2020

Determined to Stop        1st March 2020

Stephen                            10th Feb 2020

Adam123                            Reached target ? new target requested --> 5th March. Granted!

Franco1875                       19th Mar 2020

Spendlikewater84          Hon. Member!

Ineffable                            21st Feb 2020

EsoxLucius                       28th Feb 2020

Mixer                                  13th March 2020

***

Enjoy the weekend everyone - living life - not the unnecessary and unwanted misery g****ing always brings.

Mixer

Wise words indeed, let's do this, just watched a film and now listening to music with a cup of tea, simple pleasures.

Good afternoon everyone, what a fine one it is while not having a the worry of g******* on our heads, shoulders. 

"It's not how away you are from your lastbet, but how near you are to your nextbet that counts."

Mixer I absolutely love them words, what a great meaning they have. 

Everyone keep up the strong minded willingness to pull through. Let's stay on this path of glory as we prove to ourselves and our loved ones that we can and will beat this horrid addiction/illness.

Today I take a simple vow, Today I choose not to g*****.

I'm going to leave one just for today from the ga recovery programme everyday so here goes.

" Just for today i will try to live through this day only  and not tackle my whole life problems at once. I can do something for 12 hours that would appal me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime"

I'll drop another one tomorrow, not sure if anyone familiar with them but it's in the little orange book you get from ga.

Dont forget if your ever feeling at a week point, having thoughts of g******* as mixer says they are just thoughts and you can get through them, they will pass and when they do and you haven't acted on them you will feel very proud. Just say strong guys.

I'll catch up with you all later on today.

Good afternoon , thought I'd pop in, another chilled day on my own today.  Not done too much watched a couple of games on TV and a film.  No thoughts of going to town gambling which is great.  Onwards we go towards our targets.  I like to think that we are all getting stronger each day and our new habits will have a lasting effect.