The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Off On A Journey Far & Wide, Full Of Support, With No Reasons To Hide.

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse, one of the Brave Babes on this Bus. :)

We're heading to sobriety, in various different ways, in our own different ways, some of us are there, some not quite yet.

We're a group of non judgemental, mothers, wives, partners, sisters, daughters, girlfriends, and of course all of the male equivalents that run alongside those 'tags', but most of all, we are, or we have been, just like YOU. :) Real people with real concerns about how much we are drinking all of the time.

Our relationships with alcohol are varied, and you'll find most of us are wanting to do something about it..... desperate to stop the cycle of drinking, stopping, drinking, stopping, drinking more, stopping for shorter periods of time and then the reverse, doing ever so well and then 'something' happens and you're back to square one, a place that sometimes gets a little crowded, one little square filled with lots of people who all want out.

Sound familiar?

You're never alone here. Ever.

Come and take a seat, post or lurk. We won't bite but we WILL look after you, SUPPORT you, if you want us to. :)

And for those want to know how we've ended up where we are today, about three years on from THIS THREAD RIGHT HERE

To our last thread JUST HERE

It will be lovely to meet you so why not take a seat and have a gossip about all things booze related but also, DCs, husbands, wives, in-laws, out-laws, and everything in between.

There's always a seat for YOU xxx

no I don't want people to know who I am - although in real life I have told everyone and anyone that I have given up alcohol :). - don't care what they think and tbh because ui have been so up front about it I don't think they care really - makes it easier on social occasions - as people now know I DON'T drink :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISINDESIDECAR :)

Isinde it's about time you named those two gorgeous girls of yours. So that instead of calling them dt1/dt2 we can call them by their honorary bus names ( Thing1 and Thing2? ) After all, they were born on the bus and have been with us all the way.

Hi all, just checking in. Happy birthday I!

Well, I drank about a bottle of wine last night after an AF week. If I'm honest, I didn't really enjoy it. So, I am less daunted about another AF week ahead.

Good luck to all the babes

Afternoon, tis me, Mouse

Greeny - I saw that report too, people born in the 70's, women are catching men up, are now more likely to become alcohol dependant and die of alcohol related illnesses as a result. than ever before.

I wonder why? Why if you were born then? What the age has to do with it? Is it that we are having children later in life, less of us having career breaks until later? Who knows. I found it sad watching that woman sat in the chair saying that she "walked into a shop every morning and bought a bottle of vodka and no-one batted on eyelid"

She was hospitalised for those who didn't see the report with her life hanging by a thread above her head. All because of the amount of alcohol she consumes/d. Terribly sad. She has young children too...... born in the 70's.

Ma - great news on Richard and to read that your brother is finally becoming his old self again must be such a joy to see :) I'm so pleased for you xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORGEOUS ISINDE'S BABY GIRLS I hope you have a wonderful day and are planning something wonderful? I think that you should call them Indi1 and Indi2 :) Big huggles to them from me and there friend Nemo xxx

Paw - did you feel pissed? Or sick by the end of it? I'm only asking because you said you didn't really get much out of it..... almost like 'why did I bother?' and I can so understand that feeling.

I went out last night for a much needed hug from my lovely friend and we shared a bottle of cava and then I had a G&T. I felt sober, but a little happy, which was enough for me.

This time 3 years ago, I'd have wanted more and more and more..... the thing is, ALCOHOL CONTINUES TO BE ABSORBED/RELEASED INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM UP TO AN HOUR AFTER YOUR LAST DRINK - How many of people know that I wonder?

So your last drink, is always the one that does the most damage if you are really going for it.

Right, off out to take the little fish and the wolf for a walk along the canal. It's cloudy, breezy and cooler here today. I am loving the respite I have to say, sorry sun worshipers.

Date night tonight, and TMI alert, I've not had a period since 3rd April (early meno) so you watch, my body will decide that today is the flipping day!

Has Baby been back at all?

Big hugs to those who need them, back later hopefully xxx

Hi Mouse - not pissed at all, really which -disappointed- amazed me after a week of abstinence. It just didn't really give me a buzz.

Well hello all. Two weeks for me hurrah. Can't say I have missed it at all! I also have date night tonight I think only the second time we have been out this year! I am going to have a few drinks tonight as planned with DH but take it steady as I do not want to undo all my hard work this week with a hangover tomorrow. Feeling a little better TMI also but period has arrived which explains at least half the dreadfullness. My PMS has been so bad the last few months it floors me for a couple of days.

Have a lovely weekend babes and well done to all xx

purple no you shouldn't have diet coke if you're low carbing, sorry. Artificial sweeteners can provoke an insulin response, apparently, and also the low carb way of eating should break your addiction to sugar, and having sweet drinks will only sabotage that. If you have a look at the Bootcamp spreadsheet it has the rules at the bottom, they are very easy to follow. There's an ongoing low carb chat thread here too where you'll get any advice you need.

Crabby - I'll be with you Monday as that's when I do the food shop so tomorrow night, I'm going to get a list from the Bootcamp spreadsheet and Ruprekt has PMd me to say that she will be my Buddy!

I did Atkins full on once, and a low carb diet last year and kind of do it one and off, I did the 5:2 diet and lost a few pounds but to be honest, I found it hard to keep my days spread out so stopped.

Artificial sweeteners are killers to diets full stop! Seriously, until I read up about Aspartame, I had no idea at just how much they can stop you losing weight and even ADD weight to you!

Read. The. Label.

I am going to look like a shoplifter on Monday as I pick everything up, read it and put it back again!

See you over there too Crabby :)

Purps - how are you feeling lovely? I mean really?

Greeny - PMS is the pits, it really is. I hate it. I have it all the time now, GP says that because I'm in the early stages of the menopause, I should be considering taking estrogen but I've never been great with artificial hormones, hence DH and I using Funbags and nothing that's going to send me DoolallyPlop as I have been known to go a bit 'off' when on the pill or when I had the coil, injection etc....

Hope you feel better soon xx

Paw - do you feel a bit like you wish you hadn't bothered?

Fab Greeeeeeeeny TWO WEEKS!!!

Thanks, Crabby, for the info. Strange really, I never drink Coke normally but when I ditch the wine, it seems like a small treat. Sigh. I shall look up the other thread.

Green and Mouse doing OK - not brilliant - but OK. Had two really good days but yesterday was always going to be difficult. I've looked after two sisters after school for the past academic year. Started off dreading every Friday but pleased with the extra cash. Fast forward to now and not only have I got fond of the girls but their Mum and I have become good friends. When I first met her, she was very much a Yummy Mummy and I didn't think we had anything in common but.....she's lovely and we've shared loads! Plus, because I knew she would be coming in the house to pick the girls up, I HAD to tidy up every Friday. This was a pain and a pick-up for me. Might sound odd to some. Our Friday meetings started off with her standing at the door and me hurrying the girls out - to her coming in, us sharing wine and chatting - sometimes for an hour and a half plus. It was something we both looked forward to. Friday was our last one. So sad. I didn't buy wine but had to text her to say that her daughter was ill (temp of 39) and could I give her some Calpol - but - added that I hadn't remembered to get wine. Sure enough (as I hoped/didn't want) she brought some with her. Ho hum. Drank a lot less than of late but, got a bottle on the way back from dropping the children off at XP's. Still, today I have cleaned the fridge out and 90% of the cooker - both in desperate need. Feeling OK, Mouse, honest, not perfect but a fuck sight better.

Dear Mouse, I understand how emotional it is with children/school/progressing/leaving etc. I had a 'leaver's lunch' with DS1 at his school on Friday. He made sure I knew what the menu entailed, ensured I stood in front of him in the queue, got my tray for me - and my cutlery, poured me a drink of water and took my tray at the end of the meal. So gentlemanly. He's such a lovely boy. For my part - I made an effort - for the first time in months weeks. Deforestation of the legs, nail varnish for the toes, mascara and dug out something nice clothes (that actually fitted - just) and put a bit of jewellery on. He noticed.

Looking to improve on the current efforts tomorrow but feeling better - and more hopeful.

Love and hugs to all (don't care how un MN that might be!) xxxxx

Lovely Mouse I'm really glad you joined the thread. When you mentioned lean meat on here I wanted to post Nooooooooo... Fat is your friend! but didn't want to look like I was arguing and butting in! The whole point about low carbing is that the fat keeps you full and satisfied so your body doesn't feel deprived or as though there's a food shortage and start hanging on to its fat reserves. If you aren't eating enough carbohydrate to trigger your insulin response, then you won't lay down any of the dietary fat as adipose (fat) stores. So you can slather your veggies in butter, pour olive oil on everything and drench your lean meats in double cream sauces, all whilst losing weight. ;-) You'll get masses of support on that thread and Rup is lovely.

Purple can you find a high fat low carb treat instead of diet coke?

Hi babes, sorry for radio silence but life just gets in the way sometimes! It's good to see Babes doing well, you are all in my thoughts.

Having recently taught myself to crochet I have recently contributed to a Woolly Hug project. I have really mixed feelings on it - I am honoured that my novice crochet can be included, but at the same time so sad that it's needed..... Hope that makes sense.

DD leaves primary school on Wednesday and I feel really emotional about it. DS is just finishing Y9 so I think it's because she's my 'baby' and this is the end of my time at primary? Anyway, leavers assembly on Monday - many, many tissues will be needed by moi!!

Also, I'm knackered! I'm self-employed and my last break was Christmas 2012. We have 10 days in the Vendee booked for 22nd August - can't wait, need it!

Be strong Brave Babes, my pom poms shake for you

It's certainly a sad time of year. Lots of changes, lots of goodbyes. Things will never be the same again. All we can do is support each other through it and help our youngsters understand that the whole of life is a journey and these changes are just one more step along that path.

Working in school, I go through leavers week every year and say goodbye to our year 6 children. Most of them I remember welcoming when they took their first tentative steps through the door into our reception class. I become so very fond of them and do miss them when they've gone.

I would encourage any child to keep in touch with primary school. Go back to visit when they get a chance, it's so lovely to hear from them from time to time. Some of them will have been a member of that school community for the whole seven years. It's a big part of their life which they will never forget.

Purple even if you are not looking after the girls anymore, could you still keep in touch with their mum? It sounds like a friendship you might like to keep. What about arranging something like a weekly, or monthly, coffee morning with her so that you don't have to have alcohol if you don't want to?

Hey purple good to hear you are feeling better now. I have decided to move permanently into the sidecar as I have given up trying to give up. Its just beyond me.
Off to St Andrews today for a picnic on the West Sands but looks like the haar is going to put paid to any sunbathing!

Yuk Yuk Yuk! Hungover! Had about a bottle of wine last night, didn't enjoy drinking it, had to dilute with water and left 3 glasses unfinished. It tasted really syrupy don't know if that's because of the low carbing? Anyway I still forced enough down my neck to feel very drunk. The room was spinning and I felt awful. My tolerance has definately decreased. This morning I feel dreadful. All those who abstained last night be glad!

Ah well no point crying over spilt milk and all that! Onwards and upwards, back on the bus and I will not be drinking today. Sorry not to NC my eyes hurt at the moment! Love to all. X

Oh greeney you poor thing, what's good for a hangover if you're low carbing? Bacon? Lots and lots of water too, it's going to be another hot one today.

Ma you might not be ready for af days but I'm sure you're drinking less than you used too? Or at least much more mindfully?

You'll know when the time is right.

< rigs up sunshade over sidecar and passes round suncream >

Thanks Faire, the kettle is on and I am seeking out the bacon as we speak.

Waves to ma in the sidecar, hope you have a lovely day. It's rained a little here, my garden is cheering!

Green I find my tastes have really changed since low carbing and a lot of things taste way too sweet now, including a lot of white wines and even prosecco, which I love. I opened a bottle of chardonnay last night and it tasted sickly sweet. I've left it for cooking with and opened another that wasn't so sweet. Even that didn't do it for me so I switched to red. still determined to drink though even with a hangover still from the night before

A hangover makes me crave carbs so it's more difficult to stick to the diet. Bacon and eggs with extra butter or olive oil, keep your fat levels up during the day and resist the carbs.

One more thing for the low carbers... Water water WATER!!! You must drink loads and loads more than you usually do, 2 litres a day at the very minimum. If you produce ketones from breaking down energy from your fat stores, it is vital that these be flushed through your system quickly. If you don't you could
A) compromise your kidneys - a very small risk but it's there, and
B) it will impede your weightloss - the body won't produce more ketones if there are a certain level of them in your system, it's a safety mechanism. So especially if you're hungover, you need to drink way way more than usual.

Sorry for hijacking thread with all the LC stuff.

Thanks crabby I truly feel awful, got that whole anxiety, guilt thing going on too. Bit of a watershed for me I think. I didn't enjoy drinking it, didn't enjoy the affects and hating the hangover. Truly no point at all.

Huge hug Greeny It's a blip, that's all, you've done a great job recently and yesterday is only one 'errr' day out of 15 good ones. Drink water, take vits, eat well, give yourself a break. Aim for a good day today. xxxxx

Thanks Faire, we're going to try but sometimes life gets in the way, don't you think. Hoping we keep contact, sometimes she's been a bright light in a dark week. xx

Green I've got a huge knot of anxiety in my stomach today too. Don't feel right at all. Don't know if it's the remnants of a couple of evening of drinking too much (and then drinking again moderately last night) or the aftermath of having witnessed something a bit traumatic a couple of days ago. I know I'll be tucking into the wine again come 6 though. Dry monday and tuesday though.

Thanks babes, trying to use it as a positive and feeling happy that I won't be drinking this week and won't feel like this again. crabby sorry you feel bad and that you witnessed something traumatic. I'm sure you'd feel better tomorrow if you had a dry sunday as well. And think of how fewer carbs and calories :)

I've had enough 3 day bender feel like crap i can't control the drinking after the first one this has got to stop