What a day!

thanks Phil

Day 249

Happy to say I've not thought about gambling much over the past few days. Also happy that I'm enjoying the gym- words I thought I'd never say! Hopefully, this won't be like my usual behaviours with new ventures....try really hard for a wee while, get quickly bored and give up. The regime suits me so far, I've been going before work which gets it over and done with and sets me up for the day- nothing too strenuous and good news is that I'm 6lbs down 🙂

I'm enjoying meeting new people- I tried a keep fit class tonight with a colleague with whom I've had little in common before, met another couple of women there and swapped numbers to be exercise buddies. Things I'd never have done this time last year cos I was too busy gambling.

I've not used computer for past few days (hence the short posts using my phone-I'm slow at text typing). This has been a novelty as I usually spend quite a bit of leisure time online or working from home.

I'm on annual leave next week and plan a week of r&r at home (too skint to do anything else!). I will make an effort to catch up with all my buddies here over the next few days- I do feel guilty that I've not been posting prolifically. I know how much a quick "hello" and supportive posts helps me keeps strong- I will try harder 🙂

My gardening plans yesterday evening were replaced by the Apprentice final lol.

Off to get my stuff sorted for gym, work and nightshift- horrible thought!!!

Good morning athletic Irene:-)

I'm glad to hear you enjoying your fitness classes, it's nice to meet new people, have fun, chat and at the same time burn those calories off:-) fantastic!

Gardening....i'm sure you will catch up with your 'duties' in time, unless orther interesting program will come on air lol

Very well done for your continued abstinence, keep it up girl!

Hopefully catch up in chat some time

Thank you for your posts

Take care and keep doing what you doing, it works very well for you, i'm very proud of you my friend:-)

Sandra x

Hi Irene

thanks for posting on my diary- lovely to hear that you are well and getting on great. Well done for going to the gym!!! am very impressed.

But most of all well done on 249 DAYS!!!! excellent.

take care friend

enjoy the sunshine

Stuxxx

Thanks friends x

Day 250

Nightshift weekend again-the times flying by and the shifts seem to appear so quickly, pays the bills though so I really shouldnt complain.

Struggling financially and paydays almost a week away, good job Im on hol next week (cheaper than going to work!).

My unfit legs are feeling the strain of exercising-another great excuse to do nothing next week lol!

Wow Irene ...I SOOOO understand that last post ....the last week for me before payday is hell and I have to borrow money to get to work or sometimes they lend me money to pay back after payday..

It's humiliating but I have no luxury of pride..

my friend raided his coin jar to help me and I converted the money over on one of those coin star machines....I too have benefitted from having some holiday as its saved on travel money to work and also daycare for dots ...I know my sitter would help me if I couldn't pay but dotty isnt the expense it's the travel to work at near £20 quid a day as I live in the sticks. Dots costs £5 a week to feed, less than a packet of cigs...

I have also booked some time off in August to stay at home..and afford to eat! ..

Ah we'll ...enjoy your break Irene...I have done nothing at all

R and D xx

Day 250!!!! That's awesome. Proper inspiration to me and others. Getting to the gym as well that's great to. Us gamcarers seem to like to get fit. I guess it's all part of recovery, improving our minds and our bodies. Have a great weekend and roll on that holiday. I'm getting mine a little quicker. One more shift today and I'm done for a week - I'm in holiday mode now tho lol. Just gotta stop clock watching!

Thanks Rach/Dave x

Day 251

Not long up- feeling strangely happy...one of those days where I get up feeling like I can conquer the world! I'm about to put that effort into grass cutting (really don't want to spend next week gardening or making big efforts to avoid!). Just 12 hours left to work before annual leave starts.

Despite being off for a week, I've made an mess of my timetable and need to go in Tues to deliver training I'd committed to. Also, got a work event Fri which I feel like I should attend although its not critical that I do- an outside, fun thing so shouldn't be too much of a chore.....unless I get a better offer!! My manager's giving me back some time and I don't start back till following tues 🙂

My body's still sore from yesterday's exercise class- finding that I've got more confidence to try new stuff as time goes by. Despite being the wee, slow, fat woman at the back of the class it was great fun- previously I would've balked at the thought of making a fool of myself. Now I realise that everyone is too busy working hard and keen to support people who are struggling- a bit like this site- (rebooked class for next week!) Been doing my daily gym- just 30 mins easy peasey before work. I lost lots of weight last year doing on of these "faddy" starvation diets (quick results!!!) it was great at the time but taught me fa about lifestyle etc and as a result put on couple of stones again. I want to get them back off and have accepted that like anything worthwhile, it'll take hard work and patience and a willingness to make small changes. Unfortunately, abstinence from food is not an option lol.

Oops- once again, this "quick post" has become a bit of a reflection session. However, I feel its important to document that I'm trying to put some of the principles learned through this process into my everyday life.

Irene

It is a pleasure to read your diary, such an honest approach to life today, something our addiction tries very hard to rob from us.

Enjoy your week off and enjoy the rewards abstinence gift you.

So true what you say. 'slow and steady wins the race'

A concept we take some getting used to as in our gambling life we wanted everything Yesterday!!

Keep up the good work.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

Hey Irene,

Beautiful post, you are getting out there and taking life for full. It's amazing to hear, and you went so far it's great. I am more than proud of you, you been there from the start for me, and i enjoy to read every one of your posts, it makes me happy. when i see other people life unfolding in front of them. There is so much out there, we can enjoy and you do just that.

Love it:) Fitness takes patience, but it's worth to see the results. You can eat anything you like as long as you keep burning few calories as you go along:)

send you big hug and enjoy your day!

Sandra x

Thanks for the continued support Duncs/ Sandra x

Day 252= 36 weeks

(not been to bed after nightshift so prob a waffle on way!)

I've had a lovely day. Nothing special just hedge cutting lol (grass done yesterday). That's my "big" chores complete so I can focus on r&r next week 🙂 Gardening took much longer than it should, I kept stopping work to chat to people passing- sometimes I feel like a hermit in winter rarely catch up with neighbours, however today managed to catch up as they passed- I'm now privy to all the neighbourhood gossip!!

My besty's away for a week. Hopefully she'll find some peace, as that's almost a year passed and I know the next few weeks will be tough. She told me yesterday that we're having a memorial football tournament next month and I've been recruited to play in the "aunty's" team. I still cry when I think about him and feel guilty that I wasn't there as much as I should've been. One of our last conversations was the day before he died, him giving me keep fit advice!.............No brave wee boy should die of a horrible illness- life is so cr** sometimes. No family should suffer that loss- its been hell for them and hell to watch them try to cope.

S***e, hadn't intended to write all that. I am so angry though, life can be f******g cr** for those who don't deserve it. Anyhow, I'll miss besty this week (which is what I actually started with!)

Time for bed methinks!

Hi Irene

Our paths haven't crossed for one reason or another I'm sure u will agree its difficult to support everyone , its great to see how well ur doin in ur recovery and also the amount of support u give others u av found a really good balance , with regards to ur own diary dont be afraid to write down anything put what u feel good or bad it will only help u goin forward

Full respect to u for everything u r achieving and the people u r helping along the way

Castle2

Hey Irene,

well done on 36 weeks, and really glad you had a good weekend...

you are right that the goodies in life seem to get the tougher deal, but the efforts you are putting in over the past 36 weeks is definitely worth it and good things will happen to you as a result.

have a great week and speak soon

Phil

x

Thanks Castle (lovely to "meet" you) and Phil x

Day 253

1st day of annual leave....oh the joys of switching off alarm, rolling over and back to sleep (eejit Irene forgot to unset 6.30am alarm!)

Had a leisurely morning watching rubbish TV before doing my 30 mins at gym and out for lunch with a good pal who treated me. Sat outside after lunch, and watched the world go by. I love "people watching", wondering about their lives- think I'm just nosey lol.

Visited sister this afternoon- her dogs unwell and had a trip to the vet. She's been prescribed some meds but after her recent radiotherapy, my sister's understandably worried. Paddy (who usually pesters his pal) was very gentle and quiet with her, seemed to sense her feeling poorly.

Anyhow, no real plans for week ahead except to remain gamble free!

hi irene

oh and for the record im a people watcher too

Hey Irene,

I'm so glad you have your well deserved rest, and i'm sure you will use it in full:)

it's nice to take your mind of things, relax and of course enjoy yourself. I don't really want to mention gambling, because i KNOW you wouldn't do that.

Take care girl and keep up with your new friends and gym!

Sandra x

P.s. well done for another day abstinent.