Loser's 100 day challenge

[Calvin (facilitator)]

Is there another alternative activity you can think of that you can also enjoy. Its all about substituting.

Its good to hear that you have remained gambling free.

[Mona58]

Hi

Well done on 28 days .

You could try to "substitute" "overeating" for healthier eating. Try new recipes..get a new cookbook (in abundnce in Opshops $2)... buying new untried foodstuff.. keeps you mindful and occupied. Becomes new habit and a happier well fed self.

All the best on your journey

Mona

[LOSER1973]

Thanks Calvin thanks Mona....
I have found when I get upset I use Gambling and Eating as a release so mentally this has been very difficult for me, even to the point where i feel I rather be dead life is so boring! I'm not suicidal so please don't misread this. 32 days gamble free and have urges bad to the point I know I have self excluded that I was thinking to buy a plane ticket to Queensland to go gamble at the casino there. OMG sounds ridiculous hey I'm like a drug addict but with fricken pokies! I even went to Time zone and blew $50 playing games that resembled pokey machines. I know I have a long journey ahead but worst bit is it will always be a long life fight I guess it will only get easier as the years go by.

[Mona58]

Hi

Yes, those early days are crazy. Takes a while to get back into life, hence finding new interesting things to do.

Mona

[How the F did I get here]

Mate you're going good! Keep it up!
What progress you are making.

I had to laugh at you first post though (except lotto and M cup)
Had a giggle.

I too am the same with food, I have a problem with it, funnily enough the only time I'm not thinking about food or craving it (mainly anything fast/junk/sweets) is if I'm in front of a machine.

Anyway keep doing what you are doing! Best of luck.

[Jc]

Regarding the overeating - that’s normal for any addiction.

I believe it’s called ‘trading addictions’ or ‘substituting addictions’, when you’re combating one addiction, so your brain will compensate for fighting one addiction by becoming addicted to something else.

So for example, many ex problem drinkers end up becoming gambling addicts and vice versa.

I made my first attempt at quitting my gambling, I desperately craved alcohol.
So now that you’ve quit gambling, you’re brain is compensating for that by overeating:

Best example is my dad. He used to be a problem drinker - stopped, and Now has a gambling problem.

You just have to fight it all at once.

[Mona58]

l think the culprit is "SUGAR!" When I quit drinking l craved sugar! ... eventually that eased off but I have Occasions where I find myself with a sugar urge and I know that I'm getting depressed so I retify my mind by relaxing cause I know too much sugar is NOT good for me... I do indulge in moderation with some "expensive chocolates"!! since I don't gamble any more I can afford this indulgment!

I do indulge also in healthier alternatives... like when baking I try making things with half or even use only a quarter the amount of sugar .. I'd often end up feeding it to the Magpies! The GHO site / Facebook sometimes has healthy recipes! Since l stopped gambling I'm able to afford better quality food stuff.

Mona

[LOSER1973]

Mate you're going good! Keep it up!
What progress you are making.

I had to laugh at you first post though (except lotto and M cup)
Had a giggle.

I too am the same with food, I have a problem with it, funnily enough the only time I'm not thinking about food or craving it (mainly anything fast/junk/sweets) is if I'm in front of a machine.

Anyway keep doing what you are doing! Best of luck.

Thanks for your reply "How the F did I get here"
I actually won in the cup first time ever!!!! Not much just enough to buy myself two coffee's hahahah but looks like I need to buy myself clothes since I look like a rolly polly beach ball stacking on 10 kg + in emotional eating! Craving the pokies and junk food bad I am thinking of a venue I can go to that I haven't been banned from but they didn't give me the list of venues I excluded from for this same reason! If I didn't own a pet I would have flown interstate for a few days just to hit the casino! This addiction is **** and its getting depressing not to play the pokies. I feel like there is nothing ro do I mean how many netflix films can you watch? How is it going for you?

[LOSER1973]

Thanks everyone for your reply's 39 days pokies free and I feel like shaving my hair off as I am totally depressed not playing them. Not interested in doing anything else either feels like groundhog day over and over and the weekend is the worse so repetitive!

[Calvin (facilitator)]

Yes it can be really depressing when we stop doing something that we were so used to. It can be difficult. Its basically withdrawing from something.
Remind yourself of all the positives that have come from making this change. Its okay to be negative, we can't expect ourselves to be positive. but reminding yourself of why you've quite gambling in the first place is useful.
Keep your eye on the prize! That prize is enjoying life without the toxic relationship between you and a machine designed to steal.
If you're getting sick of watching movies, try something new. This may be a chance for you to learn a little more about yourself by expanding your interests and hobbies.

39 Days is an amazing achievement in itself. Have you got some counselling support as well to help you manage how you feel along the way?