Today, I will not gamble

Hey Stuart thanks for the post on my diary. I'm a Tranmere fan, so sadly not used to the quality of football you get to see at Old Trafford. Its an unwritten rule that you can't change teams so I have to call myself a football fan as well as Tranmere fan. This way I can go to various games on my travels and see some decent football. I also enjoy ticking new grounds off my list and intend to do all 92.

I've had a read through your posts and see the urge keeps coming back for you. The other night in work I told a lad Man Utd would win three nil and as I'm sure you know they did. I could have thought about what could have won, but the truth is I can't win because I can't stop. I don't think about gambling now, I just love watching live sport and I try to enjoy it for what it is. I avoid all knowledge of odds as I don't feel this would help me. I read you had limited your sites to a pound deposit limits, wouldn't it be more useful to self exclude? I think the more barriers we have in place the better.

You sound like a great guy and you are doing incredibly well. I think your urges are making this a really tough battle and you should put a few more barriers in place and reinforce your good work. Life without gambling is amazing keep up the good work mate.

26/3/14 - day 135

So pleased to have remained gamble free at the weekend and urges have since passed. Was disappointed to find out how close and how easily I could have slipped.

Cheers robby you're spot on mate looking at the odds is a killer as it lures you in. But you're right I could never have walked away. Once tempted I know just how slippery a slope it can be I've treated thousands of pounds as if it's pennies and I'm not doing it anymore. Sounds like you've got it nailed in your head now how to keep this horrible addiction out. Keep going mate

Born again cheers for the note, football at old Trafford isn't much better than at trammere atm! Went to olympiakos and was going to go to city last night and it's a good job I saved £40.how is your recovery going?

Cheers

Stu

Day 145 - 5/4/14

Still gamble free and currently free from urges. I avoided all things around the grand national and so wasn't tempted at all.

5 days short of 150 days and then target is 200. Still know I've got a very addictive personality but I need to make sure I just continue to think about what I've achieved in the last five months.

Stu

Day 150 - 10/4/14

Another landmark achieved today, it really is amazing how the days soon add up. In my head it only feels like yesterday since I gambled but I have made real strides in the past 5 months and feel such a better person for it.

I will never return to gambling I just won't allow myself. It's been such a horrible couple of years but I feel I am through the worst now and can get on with my life. I am going to beat this and I am going to look back and then use what I've learnt to help others through this. There is so much more to life than throwing hard earned money at fat cat bookmakers who make money off the back of other peoples vulnerability and addictive nature.

150 days done, 5 months tomorrow next landmark of 200 days in my sights on May 30.

Stu

A big congrats on 5 months Stu,and what's more satisfying is you've still got the same desire to keep gamble free- more so.

Keeping those painfull memories fresh in your mind is the key,gambling = misery,the odd success only enhances a greater fall next time.

Thanks for the post,my blips over the last couple of months will serve me well, a painfull lesson to learn once again, but I'm learning.

My biggest problem has been complancency,,thinking I'm cured after a few weeks,this is the time I should reinforce the barriers not let them down,this is a lifetime battle you have to keep on top of.

I'm back in a good place,confident of not gambling at present,your right the days soon rack up

Keep on your guard Stu,150 days a huge achievement,well done mate,your an inspiration!

Day 154 - 14/4/14

Still going strong and although I've had a pretty bad day, I now don't look to gambling to make me feel better as I know it only makes things worse. I'm obviously gutted I never learnt this sooner but I'm glad I've learnt it now. I'm over 150 days and I know I ll continue. I can't face rock bottom again and it's the thought of it that keeps me gamble free.

Cheers for the post robby, complacency was always my downfall as well. I just can't go back to having that feeling again. Hope your recovery is still going strong.

Stu

Day 162 - 22/4/14

Still gamble free, will post in more detail later this week but in a really good space and long may it continue. If I'm busy for a couple of days I don't have one thought about gambling, it's only when it's quiet that I get urges.

Will remain strong

Cheers

Stu

Day 172 - 2/5/14

Another month down with no gambling and now 9 days from being six months . Haven't posted for a while because I've not thought about gambling for a while.

I have the day off work today and therefore know I am exposed to sitting in and throwing money down the drain. Am posting to remind myself what this is all about and I'm going to achieve something better instead today.

Stu

Day 191 - 21/5/14

Happy to report still going strong and gamble free. Such a different outlook on life now and over the past month I've gone days at a time without thinking about gambling or even all the money I've lost.

I know I won't return to gambling now and I'm too far in to get complacent.

Don't get me wrong it's easier now the footy season is over but that's not the poor now, I refuse to even acknowledge a temptation let alone act on it.

9 away from 200 days and just gone past the 6 month mark.

Stu

Day 204 - 3/6/14

Still doing well and not letting gambling back in to my life. Very happy to reach 200 days and now onto the target of 300!

It really is amazing how quickly the days add up if you just don't gamble. Still not in great financial shape, but I think by the end of the year i might be in a position to think about saving again!

Anyway I've learnt that the best way to get through this is not to look back as it can't be changed.

Cheers

Stu

Day 227 - 26/6/14

Still going strong and the World Cup isn't giving me any urges! I'd have bet on Spain and England and lost both!

Still strong with the mentality that in te long run you just can't win I mean who would have predicted Costa Rica would win the group! Small wins and big losses means it's not viable!

Not going back to that life again!

Day 245 - 14/7/14

Still going well even the World Cup final couldn't tempt me! Starting to get a foothold financially again and now it's just a case of keeping alert.

This is now the longest I've gone gamble free since 2010 so massive pluses already. Next step 300 days

Stu

Hello Stuart,

Firstly well done on reaching day 245, I too am tainted by this infectious disease and reaching day 245 is amazing. I am only going to be starting my first day tomorrow (15/07/2014).

I am 23 years old and have been gambling since I was 18. I can relate to many of your points regarding money and others who have mentioned it. When I have money I struggle to spend it on non essential and sometimes essential items because I keep thinking the less I spend the more I have in my gambling kitty. Even when I win quite a lot of money through gambling I still cannot bring myself to spend it on anything it really is quite strange.

Obviously you have done extremely well to reach 245 and I cannot begin to contemplate what it would be like to reach that sort of days without gambling.

Please can you give me some words of advice.

Regards,

Sam.

Day 265 - 3/8/14

Still going strong had a couple of sporting events where I've thought I knew who was going to win but such an easier watch not betting on the outcome and is definitely more enjoyable.

Hi Sam hope your recovery is going strong. The only reason I have got to day 265 is because I just don't allow myself to gamble. It's simple, when I was getting 5 urges an hour it bet on anything (at one point it was the Romanian second division whilst at lunch at work!) I just don't put the bet on, instead I'd make a drink or something and avoid the time when the bet was at good odds so I'd miss the opportunity. Just physically don't let yourself do the bet - having the urges is one thing (and these go down away time!)

Keep it up

Stu

Hey Stu, your advice to make a drink or something when the odds are good has made me think what an awesome Idea that is.

I too bet on sports and often bet on tennis when someone is 1-0 to win 2-1, which obviously rarely happens.

It's my day 1 today and if I make it as far you then I'll be over the moon!

Keep it going mate you deserve it.

Kirk