[Darren72]

Time flies … didn’t even realize it’s over a week since my last post.
Still going strong, had the second pay day since I left gambling behind last week and no urges or weak moments to speak of. It’s quite weird still having cash in the bank on the last day before pay day, but certainly a good feeling.

I’m still hitting the gym 4 to 5 nights a week, I’ve lost around 12 lbs since started and I have so much more energy because of it, but the key is the mental side, you feel so much better.

I’m down in London next week on business and looking forward to not spending my time searching for the nearest William Hill or Bet Fred in my free time … just the hotel bar for a few cheeky pints will do.

Hope everyone is doing ok, we can do this.

[Darren72]

Weekly check in —– still going positive and strong!!!

[Darren72]

….but even if you’d have won, ultimately you’d have lost.

[Darren72]

New week, things going well …. just booked a 2 week holiday in Gran Canaria for end of July …. another thing to focus on to ensure I keep motivated at the gym each night.

Stay strong people.

[Darren72]

Hi there,

I have a pretty similar story to yourself, only difference being I have gambled on FOBT for a lot longer. When they were first introduced at the bookies I was like you, starting on the roulette wheel betting low amounts. Then I watched some people win big money on them and my addiction escalated exponentially. When you see someone put a few quid in and win 100s of pounds you instantly get the bug and increase your stakes. With the roulettes I got to the point of betting ￡80 a spin …. ridiculous!! Yes, you may win now and again, but the point is you will never win enough, you will carry on until it is all gone, plus more!!

The last year or so gambling on them it was the likes of Rainbow Riches that was my preferred gamble …. thinking I could win the Gold pot each time, when in reality, these machines will sometimes not pay out until they have taken over ￡15,000!!!!

They are evil, as you say, a months wages can go in minutes/hours …. that’s not how life should be and I have taken the decision to stop …. for life!!

I’m now on Day 51 and after 25 years of gambling I feel the best I ever have in that time. Yes, it’s hard at times, but for me, the most important thing to do, is find something to replace the habit. For me, I have taken up fitness at the local gym, and it works, obviously I feel physically better, but mentally too.

Take a look at my blog, using this forum really does help me, and others, as we all are pretty much in the same boat and can gain strength from each other.

We can beat this horrendous addiction, but realise you have to make some life changes to beat (control) it.

[Darren72]

Hi Vera,

I understand the recommendations made by GA, I guess I just felt the need to ‘test’ myself. It’s certainly not something I will do on a daily basis!

Yes I had both cash and cards, as you know most service stations now have cash machines too ( although most rob you of ￡1.99 per transaction) but I just wasn’t interested.

You’re absolutely right in regards to ‘keeping in mind that when things improve financially, complacency is likely to set in.’ This I’m sure will be a potential issue, I just have to keep reminding myself daily why I am doing this.

It’s takes minutes to lose hundreds of pounds … but potentially years to repay it!! I’m not going down that road again, I refuse!!.

Stay strong. x

[Darren72]

Feeling good both physically and mentally. Had to travel up to Scotland for business this week and made a couple of pit stops for refreshments. This is where I would normally have made a play to the ￡500 gambits and end up there for hours on end (normally coming out at least a ton down!) but I walked past them without batting an eyelid. I even, on the last occasion, walked into the area where the machines are and just stood there for a few seconds and then walked out again … maybe to prove to myself I am now mentally strong and will resist the temptation ….. it’s really weird not having any urges to play them, I’m so fixated on righting my wrongs and seeing gambling as a complete negative .. for the first time in over 25 years!! Feels great!!!

[Darren72]

Hi Vera,

100% yes!, I’ve lived the last god knows how many years deceiving, lying and generally just living one big lie. My whole reason for coming to this site was to allow me to converse with other people who know what it’s like to have a debilitating condition such as gambling and share the highs, and lows, that come with remission.

I can honestly say should I ever ‘fall off the wagon’ which I am sincerely hoping I don’t, then I will share that experience on here …. no point kidding yourself let alone anyone else!

This forum really does help with my rehabilitation, knowing there are people who will listen, as well as people who may want me to help them with advice, shoulder to cry on etc.

[Darren72]

Hi folks, still going strong and the urges seem to be weakening, though I know I have to be on my guard at all times. I’m hitting the gym at least 4 times a week and this really does seem to be focusing my mind on what is important in life, removing the negatives that has blighted my existence for over 25 years.

In regards to your comment Geordie in reference to if I could not attend the gym due to injury etc, I would have to find something else to focus on, no doubt about that. I’m sure if I looked through my older posts I have mentioned that I believe re engineering your brain and finding a new focus is imperative in order to live life without the gambling disease, and I stick by that. Just stopping gambling without making certain changes to how you live life is not suffice.

Anyhow, the shin splints seem to have waned so I’ll be back on the treadmill later this evening … onwards and upwards folks.

Darren.

[Darren72]

Hi i-did-it,

I’m quite aware those moments of weakness will raise their head time and again, but I’m ready for them, everything in relation to gambling I now picture as a negative, there are no positives involved therefore it cannot be good for me.

I realize I am still in the early days of remission, but I’m feeling really mentally strong, and I do put a large part of that down to me taking up fitness. We all know how exercise can release those endorphins into our mind and body, and I really am feeling the benefits of it.

You have to refocus in order to succeed, you cannot live the same life you did with gambling and expect to live without gambling, it won’t happen. Your mind and body has to be occupied, imagine sitting at home twiddling your thumbs with nothing keeping you busy … that really is a recipe for placing the next bet. Keep mentally strong and remember, it’s your life to live however you want, nothing can keep you from doing that so long as that is truly what you want.

Anyway, my shins are killing me today, shin splints really make it hard to recover for the next gym visit tonight, but I will …. cardio vascular tonight, happy days!!

Stay strong folks, day 33 on it’s way!!

[Darren72]

Apologies for not responding when I promised, and also this response itself its short and sweet as I have to run off for a dental appointment.

I completely understand where you are coming from Geordie, but I am not in denial, nor am I being cocky .. just very confident in my mental ability to beat this, which I will do.

Payday was Saturday, today is Day 30, and not a penny has gone to the bookies. No urges whatsoever, work and the gym keeping me mentally focused.

It is about making changes, in my case lifestyle changes, that is the only way to abstain … it is working for me, might not work for everyone, we are all unique …. but it works for me.

1 month completed, feeling mentally strong and no looiking back.

Darren.

[Darren72]

Hi Geordie,

I will post in response to your above responses tomorrow, in a tad rush today …. just really wanted to quickly say I do appreciate your honest opinions, I don’t see them as a personal attack …. but will respond to you to a greater degree in the morning.

[Darren72]

Geordie,

I completely understand where you are coming from, why? is a simple question, what’s the point etc … very simply, we will all, at some point, have to be in a position to be able to self regulate again, we cannot always rely on someone being there to wipe our bottoms and look after our piggy bank for us.

You seem to think I will fail with this strategy, I know I will not, and the main reason being? Because I have never before tried to give up the gambling habit with a truth and honesty within myself that I want to quit, not just for a day or week or month, but for the remainder of my life.

Some people need support therapy, or alternative therapies ie hypnotherapy etc in order to have a standing chance in succeeding with their stopping, I personally believe it is purely a mental state of mind … cold turkey facing it head on is the only way to go for me.

I was a heavy smoker for over 20 years and stopped about 3 years ago through cold turkey … I found it relatively easy … why?? Because I wanted to stop, nothing more, nothing less.

I have gambled nigh on a half of my life, now is not the first time I have attempted to quit … but it is the first time I’ve attempted to quit for good and wanted to, there is a big difference!

Day 25 … deep breaths and plenty of negative thoughts towards gambling … it’s a mind game folks, stay strong!!

[Darren72]

Hi Micky,

Urges and cravings do come … but like giving up the nicotine, they subsequently subside, it’s just keeping focused and on track during those periods. Stay strong!!

[Darren72]

Hi Charles,

We do have a joint bank account that I put enough money into each month to cover the bills each month. As for the remainder of my monthly wages I have made a conscious decision to leave in my personal account. I am really feeling positive about life moving forward and need to prove to myself that I can fight any urges I get and continue to abstain from gambling completely.

My gym work is keeping me busy in my spare time, I am really feeling the benefit of starting to lose some weight and going to the local gym 5 nights a week really helps to focus my mind on what is important.

Day 24 … let’s ‘ave it!!

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