Destructive gambler asks "How do I quit poker?"

[Vraket]

I seriously think that you should look for other enjoyments/hobbies rather than looking at ways to get rid of the addiction (dont get me wrong here, I think you know what I mean).

If you don't find something to replace the gambling with, you will have a hard time finding a way out from there. Even small stuff like eating healthier and working out will help you get your life together, since you will have more energy.

Set some personal goals (about things you will achieve, not about things you won't do. Eg, be positive), promises to yourself. Read them every morning.

Good luck!

[luckyjimm]

Thanks for all your thoughts - there's some really great advice there. Yes, it is really important that I start exercising. Even if I didn't give up poker, getting fit is such a worthwhile goal in itself. I think all my problems come from having no confidence with women and a rejection complex. So I bury myself in porn, poker, food and booze so I don't have to deal with this. If I get fit, I'll find I eat less (or burn off what I eat), have more confidence in how I look, and have more control over my life in general. It's not so hard to get disciplined; the hardest part is making a start. I've managed to completely give up smoking - having been a heavy smoker, I'm now a month without, so I know I can do it.

Yes, a drastic change would be good. Spending all day bumming around in a pointless job, in order to earn money to blow in a few minutes each weekly payday is not a good way to live. However, I also need just to develop life skills so that I can look after money, feed myself properly, use my time well, etc.

I used to go to the poker club every day after work, spending 20-30 hours a week there. I've stopped doing that - I've only been there once in the last month. Mostly this is since I no longer live nearby, and they've made changes which mean I can no longer play the network I like there. But it means on the one hand from having seen a pool of 30+ people I knew every day, I now don't see them at all and am on my own at home a lot more. This is kind of a good thing if it gets me to socialise with my old friends more.

TEFL is something I've considered doing it, though I have prejudices towards it since I'd be acknowledging I have no chance of getting a career that will pay well. But, curiously, I am much better at living when I'm in Italy than when I'm in London - eating well is so much easier, for a start.

So, in essence, I need to get fit and get laid; and start spending money so I can see it has value outside PLO!

[luckyjimm]

Oh yes, I have joined the Amazon DVD rental scheme and signed up for a dozen a month, so most days after work I get home and watch a film. It's not as social as going to the poker club, but probably better for me. Going swimming would be a much better idea - there's a pool I can get to by bus. Just realising that there's life outside poker...

[luckyjimm]

Also, I don't have a computer at home, and I think it would be a good idea that I don't get one, would you agree? Since there are two things I'd use it for, neither of them healthy...

[mindflayer]

[ QUOTE ]
My goal is to be able to do the splits and be flexible, 1000 pushups in a row, 1000 crunch's in a row, and 100 free standing handstand pushups in a row. I want to be extremely strong and fit. All of these goals are possible and Im going to do them by working at them every day.



[/ QUOTE ]

What are you??
a) robot
b) olympic gymnist?!?
c) drunk gymnist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaGxBlgUWlA

I would be happy if I could get up to 40 push ups in a row.

[Jobless23]

I heard the games on Bodog are pretty good. They also have a sports book. Cya there

[Ralph Wiggum]

I have the exact opposite problem. If I played more poker, then I wouldn't be so broke.

I'd suggest going out and meeting some people.

[Poker Plan]

Sounds like you are really getting it together. All the very best to you. Stick with it.

Regards,
Ian

[AlfilRey]

It´s all pretty much been covered, with some very good replies. However, I just figured I would point out once again how amazing sport/exercise is.

For me, like a lot of people, any big loss is frustrating. Lately, I can´t seem to win online. Now it´s a small sample size as I only play an average of once a week or two, and only for 2-3 hours, but still. The last time I played, 3 days ago or so, I set up 4 tables, spreading the $3k I decided was all I was going to risk for the session. First hand I was dealt in 3 of the 4 tables, I got it all-in, each time as a favourite, and each time lost the pot. In the other one, I got an opp all-in, lost it as a favourite on the second hand I played. Then tripled up only to be back to original stack. Then doubled another guy up as a fav once more (set + low wrap vs high wrap) only to work my way back up through another doubleup. Finally, got it all-in with top pair + flush draw vs top pair worst kicker no draw, and lost for a $4.5k pot. Needless to say I felt like utter [censored], dropping $3k in 20 mins.

I needed to release this destructive emotional energy that even a short session like this had filled me with. I did 250 situps (tough type) and 100 slow pressups. I fought through the pain in my stomach, and through the pain in my arms. I could feel the endorphine release in my body. The depression largely went away. I felt alive again.

After my session, I wanted to just curl up in bed and cry myself to sleep. Instead, I got up, did the stomach crunches and the pressups, took a cold shower, got dressed and went to pick up my sister at the airport rather than getting her to take a cab like I wanted to for a moment.

note: its not the $3k loss that was so frustrating, as the fact that ive been on an online "can´t win" spree for the last 5 months or so. that was after winning on average $1,300 a day for about 3 months in a row.

[luckyjimm]

When I'm at my most physically unfit, I really can't win. As shown by the session where I did $100 into $675 - the day after I'd lost $2000 - and kept on playing till I was bust. I know by now exactly what the pattern is: deposit, double up a few times, move to a bigger table, take a beat, go on tilt and bluff the rest away. It happens nearly every time. But if I'd been physically fitter / sharper, I'd for once have been able to walk away at the top of the wave.