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Hi Lizbeth
It must be so hard to see your granddaughter and daughter leave but trust in God that they will be ok- your daughter has extra reasons now not to relapse with her beautiful daughter to care for.
Your garden sounds fabulous – selling jewellery is a really great idea – many entrepreneurs advise that if you can turn something you are passionate about into a business, you can build a business while not even feeling like you are working.

Lizbeth it will be so good to have those extra debts paid – and I think gambling is so far from your mind – you are moving forward in every way and leaving old destructive behaviours behind – keep strong , keep focused and keep doing everything you are doing .
Xx

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The forums are quiet .
As I know many people on here are busy living full gamble free lives, in many cases this is a positive thing.

For me , the urges have died down – I do get triggered by ads on TV- but my barriers prevent me from gambling (which annoys me at the time ) .

I hope anyone is struggling continues to fight this horrible disease – I may not be cured but I am living a gamble free life and I am happy . This is is no small part due to the the positive support I receive on here- both on the forums and in the groups .

Having money in the bank is the best feeling!
Onwards and upwards

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Thank you Laura
Not much time today
Just needed to write – bad anxiety this morning- interrupted my sleep- nervous about work today. Feeling a little over whelmed – trying to juggle too many balls – too many people to support right now .

At least I can do it with a healthy bank account – one less worry ..
Onwards and upwards

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Hi Nightmoney,
Well done on starting a thread and accepting that gambling has become a problem for you .
You can purchase a gambling blocker for each of your online devices – I use betfilter, but you can get others . This means you cannot gamble and I find it helpful in that it gives me time to think things through to the end when I would be left feeling terrible and having no money . Perhaps something like this would help you ?

I could never stop or stay stopped without barriers but now I have clocked up a very health five months (almost) gamble free.

!Keep positive , keep posting and keep working on it

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Hi Monica , How life can change ! As a mother I know how much pleasure it must give you to help your daughter out . I am happy to hear that you are enjoying your new job- It’s great to get paid for doing something you enjoy and which  motivates you .

Yes we could all be back to square one with one impulsive wrong decision. I have made that decision several times but my barriers have prevented me from gambling . I always wake up next day with a huge sense of relief . For years I always left that one door open , and for years I eventually stepped through it.

Gamstop seems like a great idea but I too have found it difficult to use – it asked for my passport details (a photo of it) which has put me off completely – especially as there have been so many leaks of details in the media in recent years . That’s me finished with Gamstop- it seemed like a good idea but I feel it has been poorly thought out and even more poorly implemented .

What a change it will be for you to have Pete gone- you will have control over everything including the fridge! You can keep all the healthy foods you love in there with no temptation . Perhaps it would an idea to decorate a room in colours you love and have a really special place just for you  – with soft lighting , candles and cushions . It’s making me want my old man to move out ! Lol.

Monica I am so pleased life it going well for you . It really does motivate others when we read the success stories .

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Greta post Lizbeth – stay focused on those debts – what about having a chart on ur fridge or mirror which u mark off each month – I love visuals and find them very motivating ?

You are doing all the right things – I think when we remember that we are as important as any of the other people in our lives ,we improve life for everyone .

Keep strong and watch that debt fade away xx

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Thank you Laura and Monica for posts on both mythreads. Today I wore my new clothes- life is just so much better in new clothes. That must sound so daft but yeah it is!
Today at last I can let go of some of the old scruffy clothes that have been hanging around for years – anything decent has went on eBay during the bad times -I can let the “maybes” and when I lose weight clothes go because I will never again be unable to buy what I need.

And the weight is falling off also – I have found a new determination. I think knowing that I can buy clothes helps motivate me. I am returning to the old me – at least to an older version of the old me .

I realise my whole post is about clothes- this is one of the big things I went without and one if the rewards of being gamble free.

Enough about clothes – today I realised I need a necklace …

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Hi Monica
Great to read for job is ok- sounds like you are enjoying it .
It seems like you are getting your break through- with your tax rebate and earning a wage you will feel secure in no time .

It is sad that you and Pete have come to an end but I guess when one door closes it leave room for new doors to open . It will feel strange for you for a while but it no doubt a positive move .

Hope to catch up with you over the weekend .

Massive congratulations and well done .

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Hi Raynor ,
We all seem to have hijacked your thread – I hope all is good with you and you post soon.
Laura I am laughing because if there was a sun in the window I would think I should not waste that sun and probably would leave the dishes .

What helps me with household tasks is watching hoarders on my phone – it triggers some very deeply hidden urge to clean !
I guess so should watch it more often !

Earlier today I came across the comments on my earlier post on this thread – I had to laugh – must be the first time anything I have said was described as profound !

Gambling is full of ironies – perhaps we should start a thread on this topic.

It is all about getting what u are trying to avoid !

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I seem to be posting between two threads- this is my latest one and the one I want to use I have lost a tiny amount of weight but enough to get some really nice summer clothes in a cheap shop. I bought two complete outfits , sandals and a nice watch – all cheap – infact the lot cost me less than I often spent on one item in the past . I cannot wait to wear them . I have cut out sugary treats and I think I am having withdrawal symptoms today – – I am just so hungry !!! But I am seeing results so happy to continue. Life is Good!

As I was shopping I kept thinking of each item as one deposit – it wasn’t a conscious thing – it kept popping into my head as I keyed   in my pin. 

Instead of the horrible dread after all those deposits I actually have nice clo to wear .

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Yes Monica – we are all dying to hear how it went – update please !!

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HI Flit,
Well done on seeking help. This is a horrible illness which takes over our lives .
It is helpful that you trusted your husband enough to confide in him – your relationship will be all the stronger after this. Most people find this really difficult to do so really well done .

You are doing all the right things and you fell will get better quite fast actually. The brain begins to feel a little more normal and you can relax a little .
Hope to read more of your progress

Onwards and upwards

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I started my healthy eating plan three days ago and am delighted to see the first signs of weight loss . I guess because I have put on so much weight I will see much more immediate results . It has motivated me to keep going . I have decided that I deserve to be slim and to wear nice clothes as much as anyone else .

Something interesting just happened – we have a long weekend – hubby went out to two matches in the afternoons – today I said I was going to beauticians for an hour and he asked could I wait until he is in work as this is his day off ! I almost said yes but now I have realised that I need to show him that my needs are just as important – it was so subtle I almost missed how he considers himself more important . So that me off for a pedicure!

It got me thinking about how we value people – in our lives do we feel some people are more important than others? . Do we feel people from our country are more important than people from other countries ? Even here online , do we feel some members are more important than others ?

i guess none of us anywhere are indespensibe and we all end up the same in the end !

I like to remind myself that we are all equal so then how can I waste thousands while children around the world starve ? We are all equal I guess – we just don’t have equal wealth.

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Hi Monica,
So glad you got the trousers – since I put on weight trousers have become the bane of my life ! Feeling that we look good is so important , especially when starting a new job!

Yes it will be great to watch those debts go down and especially good to pay off family .
I hope you are excited about starting tomorrow and that your first day goes really well!

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Lizbeth,
It sounds to me like you have your priorities right – charity begins at home – you provide baby sitting services (yes I know it’s a pleasure !) to your family , you support an elderly mother (which isn’t always the easiest task) and you provide lovely fresh produce for your family .
If you can get by, why beat yourself up about work or volunteering outside the home?
I think sometimes we forget how much we already do.
If you absolutely need to work that is another matter entirely!

How about deciding to postpone the idea for six months and just enjoy and that you have achieved and achieve every day ? How about being kind to Lizbeth – and accepting that being with family and close friends is ok. Sometimes we just don’t need all those outsiders .

It just seems to me that you have come so far , overcome such obstacles that you could do worse things than take a little time to just congratulate Lizbeth and enjoy all you have achieved without the burden of work hanging over you .
Forgive me if I’m way off the mark .
Xx

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