Will power alone - Lets do this!

5,4,3,2,1....Day 60 GF.

Sneaky suspicion that my niece is showing too much of an interest in slots - something to keep an eye on!

63 days now, and the football gets underway in a few hours time.

I won't be gambling this season or any other. I know one bet and the old habits will creep back in so I am done with all that S***e.

The season ticket has arrived and I am going to enjoy the football (hopefully) the way I used to.

UTV!!

70 days GF boom!

Congratulations on 70 days, amazing!! S:)

Hiya, well done on your ongoing recovery - and I mean recovery in your own way.

You post in a very intelligent way and although (as I've said before light-heartedly) our paths may not be the same but our destination (if there is one?) is.

I've made one point elsewhere and I'm not getting into the debate but I don't think you are a liar - I think there's a difference between being a liar and having reasons for keeping something to yourself.

You seem like a flexible person and in time may make different decisions.

Best wishes, Phil. PS who do you support??!!

Glad your way is working for you. keep going. tri

Thanks @Sharon41, @triangle and @Phil72, I appreciate the ongoing support. I dont agree with everything I read on other threads but without the forum I dont think I would of been able to get this far.

@Phil72 I am a long suffering Villa fan, but things are looking up 😉

Your team are playing Cardiff tomorrow where I live but don't support and I live half a mile from the ground so it's gonna be mayhem!

Ps your questioning of Santa's existence just lightened a dull evening! S:)

Hi - It Matters More. I'd just like to say that your journey as a recovering CG is refreshing. Many addicts have there own way of dealing with things and its important to just do what works based on your own experiences and outlook. Your GF days are totting up nicely and I'm pleased for you. There will be challenges ahead for sure, but I think you have the determination to see it through.

I would however like to express a word of caution. You will understand from reading other diaries that the wiley old gambling compulsion inside your head does not give up that easily - so you will always have to be on your guard. It may be 3 months from now, or 3 years - but hopefully you will have the sense and strength to keep your resolve.

Two years ago my gambling exploits came to a head (again), and after councilling, debt consolidation and support from my OH I then made my pledge to stop. At the time I seemed to have a light-bulb moment after anayising the hows and whys of my gambling world and finally came to the conclusion that nobody can actually beat the gambling odds (as set by the bookmakers) over a period of time. Gambling wasn't really about luck or skill - it was about the odds of winning, that only a fool would risk.

However, I got back into gambling just 6 months later. On reflection, I believe that I hadn't really dealt with some of the underlying issues, and furthermore I had not yet found the help, understanding and encouragement from this site.

All the best

@Phil72 I don't think Villa bothered to travel looking at the one sided score 😉

@Sharon41 I still don't know whether to leave the mince pie out or not?

@changemylife thanks for dropping by, I am in no way going to become complacent.

Going to post this on my diary to try and avoid getting into a lengthy debate.

I am a little shocked at some of the pressure I am seeing applied to new members about confessing to OH's. Some members are going to the extent of asking for a date for when the new member is going to confess.
Now I am not saying lieing and secrets is going to do people any favours, and this it is probably a good piece of advice for most people but give people a chance to get theirs heads straight, they have only just got the courage to join a forum and post their story. And maybe offer the advice and then take a step back, don't keep repeating the need to confess as if it's some kind of cure for gambling.

I have seen diary's that show confession after confession followed by relapse after relapse - it is fair for the OH to know sure thing but as I have repeated in the past that I know my scenario isn't going to be benefited by a confession - this is not an act of self preservation, trust I have valid reasons and perhaps so do others.

My wife caught me at my worst, the damage was done to the tune of £14k. Yes I have gambled since but my debts were still going down during this period and I am better off financially (not as good as I would be if I hadn't gambled for sure).

I'm no saint and I don't want to be.
I may offer some advice for what it's worth but you can take it or leave it.
I will give support because I'm not a bad person.

But most importantly I will not gamble!

So just to clarify . " It's fair for the other half to know , sure thing " just as long as it's not your Other half ?

So Do as I say but not what I do !

Your right , It's not a cure for Gambling but neither is Lying to those you claim to love , self preservation for sure !

Thanks Alan for your ill-informed comments.

What I was trying to say is that if there are massive debts that your OH isn't aware of then of course you should confess - it's only fair.

My wife found out I had £14k debts, these have been massively reduced while I gambled (not from winnings obviously).

You know what about me and my family to make your assessment?

I'll informed ! I think you only need to take a look around the forum to realise that anyone with any substantial gamble free time has been open and honest , maybe you should copy and paste that post to the f and f section and see if they agree ?.

So you only think it's when you have debt you should confess then , some interesting logic there too !

I'm not going to stand and argue the toss because in your mind you can justify keeping your wife in the dark and feeding her Bull s***e and that of course is your choice whichever way you dress it up but surley it's her that's the I'll informed one ! .

Have a great day !

What concerns f&f's about gambling? It's the money first and foremost.

If it wasn't for the financial implications I am sure 99% of people on here would still be gambling, and the majority of f&f's wouldn't give two hoots.

Regardless of me and my situation my point was the approach to new members - there is a risk of scaring them away by pressuring them into a confession to the extent of asking for a completion date for "us (gamcare community) to give you space to do that and then check in on how it went for you - without hassling you in the meantime"