The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Joins The Foreign Legion In Their Quest For Sobriety.

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse and I have a very abusive relationship with alcohol.

I can't just have one glass of anything, I have to drink until I pass out or run out. Whichever comes first.

This Bus is a place of solace and safety, where drinkers, non-drinkers and those who aren't quite sure can come and post or just sit and 'be'.

No-one will judge you, no-one will think any the less of you because we all have the same thing in common.

Alcohol.

And for those who want to read the journey's so far and the original thread by JWN, the lady who very bravely started these journeys for us, HERE they are.

(PS - the title is just for you notevenamousie)

Why the banging head and wandering off Mouse?
I would like to be really tough on television but then I'd feel I should limit my internet. We have laid back mornings because we're both morning people, and she does have a bit of television. There's been loads today - I think 'sick day rules' are different though.
My DD's father will buy her a comic and tell her how generous he is being not that he sees her that often currently, so I'm in.

NewlyLush if you can happily moderate, you will get nothing but respect here. Because many of us can't, if you can then that's great. If it doesn't work, we'll be here then too :)
Was it ok being around your DH if he's the heavier drinker?

thinice - she'll get there in her own time, she'll see him for what he is and how he is treating her, as an object to bargain with rather than his DD. (I'm assuming, so sorry if he's not like that)

NewlyLush - No name change yet? Hmmm. NoLongerALush?

Re your drinking, it's early days but you are like me in many ways. The first time I stepped onto the Bus, I was drinking around 90 units per week, vodka and white wine were my weapons of choice and I cared not one jot about anything other than being able to sit down at some point in the evening and start drinking.

I cut back at first, then I stopped for about 3 months. Then slowly, I started to have the odd one, the odd two, the odd seven.

And before I knew it, I was back to drinking every night. Maybe not overdoing it but definitely drinking every day.

So I had to stop. And stay stopped.

Tomorrow I'm going to the docs to discuss my Liver Function test results. They are 'under investigation' whatever that means. So yep, right now, I have a very real incentive to not drink.

But what if I get the all clear, it was an error or nothing to worry about, will I go straight back to drinking?

Nope. I love being drink free all week long, all day long. I can't imagine now having to start again each Monday.

Are you happy with the way you are drinking now Newly? If you can manage to control that, no booze in the week, booze at weekends only, would you be able to keep that going do you think.

I thought that I could but before I knew it, I was drinking too much, too often.

I'm not saying that you will fail like me, not at all. I'm just sharing my experience of trying to cut down. Clearly not strong enough to do it, but I hope that you are if that makes sense. xx

Off to grab milk and bread, be back soon.

mouse umm Liver Function Test, wishing you all the very best. Those words strike fear in me. I must have done permanent damage. If I were to project, and if I were brave enough, after a sustained period to allow that poor organ to heal, I would like to have one. But as you say, would that be a green light to resume drinking??? Hey Ho all in the future.

Happy Double Digits Day to Saf MsGee and anyone else into doubles now. Lots of success stories, well done.

Day 15 of the diet for me. I did go over my calories at the weekend BBQ and I had two (large) glasses of wine which just made me want to drink more (predictably) so I really need to work on not drinking when out. It's a real weak point for me as I'm generally fine at home but have yet to socialise without booze.

Still, I am pleased overall as I've gone from drinking most days, to just Friday & Saturday, to none at all over 12 days. I feel I am making progess, working out the triggers and avoiding them. But still need to be on guard. Some days I actually quite enjoy the challenge . Makes me feel in control.

Ma I will do the diet with you. I am sick of alcohol keeping me overweight. My tips would be eat lots of low fat, low salt and no processed food. If you like your carbs, weightwatchers bread is the lowest fat. They also do nice yoghurts. Plan your meals and snacks. If you feel hungry drink soft drinks as you might actually just be thirsty. Try not to get to the point where you feel really hungry as you will crave sugar. Snack in between meals. Swap high fat/salt snacks for healthy ones. I eat raw sugarsnap peas instead of crisps. I use dairylea extra light triangles instead of butter. Grapes are lovely and sweet. After a snack/drink wait at least 20 minutes to see if you still feel hungry. You probably wont.

The best tip I would say is to take a starting weight then do not weigh again until your clothes feel looser. I get demoralised if I am trying hard but not loosing weight so I am trying to be guided by how my clothes feel on me.

Finally, move as much as you can. Wear a pedometer and try to do more steps each day.

Hello to thinice and any others I might have missed

Also, keep a record of what you would have spent on booze and use the money to buy new clothes instead as the weight comes off.

Enjoy it! Ma you are going to look stunning in that dress. Can you print the picture out and stick it on your fridge and mirrors.

Hello everyone

I've got an interview tomorrow morning, I only submitted the CV yesterday afternoon.

Well done Onemoring can I ask what it's for?

thinice - I was going to ask for one anyway, a LFT, just to see what I had done to my body. I have to be strong tomorrow and not let whatever comes of the results be a reason for hitting the drink.

DH had some of my favourite ever wine, Pinot Grigio Blush from M&S, it's lightly sparkling and delightful to drink on a warm sunny evening. Even the smell of it made me feel sick. I don't mind him drinking, not at all, but I think that he is minding me not.

I can tell. Ho-hum, suck it up boyo, this is me, Mouse, and I'm not drinking today.

In fairness, he did say that he wants to cut down to 2 glasses (small one, half pints) of beer and 2 glasses of wine per night. Again, small 125ml glasses, not the fishbowls we used to have!

thinice - how are you feeling about the who drinking thing today?

Faire - I once had the same kinda chat with Obrigada (where is she???) and had her swinging her legs under her desk to help burn off the cals whilst sat at a desk.

Apparently, if you stop moving for more than 20 minutes at a time, your metabolism slows right down. So even if you fidget, you'll be burning the cals right off!

newlylush you sound like me too, now on week 8 or something, went swimmingly drinking sensibly on Friday and Sat for the first 7 weeks but am now finding a temptation to drink more on those nights, and able to justify it because I've been doing so well (although it may actually not be more, I think it's just that I'm physically unable to drink as much as I could). Difficult week this week, I can feel the weekday craving /habit coming back as have a change of routine - back to uni, and the idea of a drink at around this time is very appealing. Am now sodden with mineral water and cordial in an attempt to stave it off! Anyway, my advice would be to stay vigilant.

clamberingup, thought I had replied to your PM but it doesn't look as though the message went through! In terms of being all things to all people, it occurred to me a few weeks ago that if DS was putting himself under as much pressure to succeed as I have for much of my life, then I would be horrified - ergo I might not be being very sensible vis a vis myself. A funny way of thinking about it I know.

SaF - I consider TV to be my friend in the morning as DS is happy to finish breakfast while I sneak in a quick shower - but we watched taped programmes of short duration and he is trained to turn the TV off and put his shoes on when the programme ends .

onemorning, well done!

Blimey Mouse sometimes I spend that long just catching up with this thread . I will have to jiggle in my seat now and DH will be raising his eyebrows thinking I've gone cuckoo again . Especially when wearing a face mask and laughing out loud at some of the funny things that happen on this bus .

mouse today I feel towards Mr Mouse and all those able to enjoy one or two glasses in the garden on a lovely evening. Also that can never be me.
I am confident I have 'done' today. The shop closes soon and I always hated going into the pub and saying 'a bottle of house Red/ White to take out please' I may as well had 'desperate' on my forehead. Which would have been true.
onemorning good luck with your interview. What are your strategies when you do/ don't get the job. Hopefully do. Either way it would be a very good reason to over indulge for me.

Sorry to post and run - had a few things to sort. Taking on board the advice. It's very interesting to hear your stories. What I do know is that without the bus I wouldn't have got this far and just had a few units over the weekend, with the intention of not drinking tonight. So thank you all for that. If it's OK I'm going to stick around and be honest about how it's going. I'm not frightened about going without a drink for a few days now, whereas I'd normalised drinking so much (along with DH) that I had got into a routine. legalalien - I can see what you mean.

Mouse I'd sort of chosen the name NewlyLush to convey that I used to be an Old Lush and now I was lush in a good way. But obviously it's open to this one. How does this one work?

Welcome Double (another relative newbie here). How is your evening going so far?

Whoops - should have previewed. In second para, should read "obviously it's open to interpretation".

OldButNotALush - I love it! Much more positive.

thinice - here, have a {{{{hug}}}} x

Faire - either that or he'll wonder if you've left your love eggs in!

Alright Dubs?

Where are the others? IsinDe, Obridaga, FairyLoo, and any other newer Babes?

DH is cooking chilli and I'm turning more and more green. Feeling dreadful again, I think I may have over done it.

oh Mouse you need to take care of yourself. Maybe you will feel better when you have had something to eat.

I had a LF Test years and years ago, it came back normal - whoopee! an excuse to carry on drinking for another 10 years or so. What a warped addicted mind I had I do hope yours is OK and that you don't treat the news in the same way as I did.

BB - nope, not at all. When I was really ill, I didn't want to eat or drink anything. Then as I began to recovery early last week, and started to get my appetite back, I never once fancied a drink. Not once.

Over the weekend, I did wobble but only because it was the weekend. Habit. That's all it was.

I don't need to drink, I don't want to drink.

The LF test came back as 'under investigation' and those two words were enough for me to think long and hard about my drinking. It was/is killing me.

It's rotting my organs, messing my bowels up, burning the lining off my stomach. Damaging my eye sight, staining my teeth, making my face red with broken veins and adding weight that I really don't want or need.

So, nope, even if the test comes back again as normal, I will not be celebrating with a drink.

I too was stunned by how mildly raised my liver function was even at my worst, and how quickly it's gone back to normal. I probably have some permanent upper GI damage - but I did after hyperemesis in pregnancy, so it was never going to get back to normal completely.

Poorly child is asleep and I am shattered. Trying to at least see 9pm, like normal grownups do!!

Well done, I'm loving the new tough Mouse, don't waste the time like I did. That advice applies to all the new babes, it is never too late to give up, but it seems crazy to wait until your DC have left home like I did, I really regret that

i am intent on hugging you i'm afraid bb x

Thanks SAF that's so sweet of you.

love eggs

Isinde

I am so sorry.

I see Gerald exactly as that.

working hard here (honest I am !!)