The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Off To Find The Summer Sun and Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hello, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the Bus, take a seat and enjoy the ride. We're a Bus full of drinkers, non-drinkers, those who are trying to give up for life, those who are giving up for a few hours because that's all that they can manage (which is fine!) or quitting just for today......

We don't wear Judgey Pants (they're far too last year darhling ) but we have hugs a plenty and tough love when it's needed. Which isn't often!

So, what have you got to lose? If you're reading this, you're thinking that you are no longer happy with the way you drink, which tells me that this is the Bus for you. :)

If you'd like to see where we've been so far and what we've been up to, take a peek HERE

And if you want to knnow why we're here in the first place, take a look at THIS THREAD RIGHT HERE :)

See you soon x

(Yay, I'm IN!)

Jango Scribbles is when one person does a really quick scribble on a bit of paper and the next person has to make some sort of picture out of it! My boys are pretty artistic. As there was only three of us, we scored each others efforts out of 5. I got 15 out of 5 at one point!!! Love my boys!

Purps

My two still love scribbles and they are teenagers

Ma I'm pretty sure pulses are good, they are protein. I don't think fat matters so much as sugar, so sugar free is best.

@ Faire x

Purps Sounds like a good game to pass the time when out with young ones.
I know i ll get a better sleep than the alcohol induced one of yesterday :)
So for me that is a start. The very thought of alcohol actually makes me want to vomit! Wish I always felt that way.
Anyone else on day two tomorrow we can cheer each other on.

Heyjango I will be on day 2 tomorrow. Beat the bastard tonight

ma glad you beat her tonight :)
feels good doesnt it.
day 2 here we come x

Yeah, had two alcohol free beers so that was good. Bet I won't sleep tonight though - fins it hard to switch my brain off without alcohol. We shall see. At least my liver is getting a night off for once

ma great news about Richard!

purple lovely to see you again, I've joined the Facebook, but still feeling old and confused about how it all works

I would join in the diet club, as I really need to lose weight/eat healthier but have no self control (would probably sabotage everyone else's good intentions) but am cheering you on from the sidelines.

Hi all, mammoth read and catch up session(!) and I have a couple of things to contribute......

1. Pom poms waving for all babes - you all rock in your own special way
2. Baby a friend of mine had a colostomy operation 3 years ago and it changed her life (in a good way!)...... She had serious back problems which meant the nerves to her bowel were affected leading to regular accidents. The decision to have the colostomy wasn't taken lightly but her life is so much better now. Hth's xxxx
3. I've been 5:2 fasting since March and have lost 2 stone. I had to lose my mint imperial habit but I look and feel so much better for it. I want to shift 1 more stone but I'm looking at what I've achieved rather than what I haven't.

Anyway, keep doing what you all do best! We're off to France on Thursday for 10 days, can't wait......

Be brave babes

Good morning horses soooo good to hear from you, thank you about the reassuring comments re colostomy, I know it's for the best, they want to remove everything and my op would be a massive one and my youngest is only 2, it's good to know your friend has had a positive experience. On the 5:2 what do you eat on your 5 days, surely you still stick to a basically healthy plan, I have a friend who stuffs her face with rubbish for 5 days and cuts right down for the 2 and has still lost weight!! Well done on the weight loss, you must look and feel amazing. I'm on day 6 and last night was a struggle, oldest dd was away so no "beady eyes" upon me, dh and I not talking so he was in the living room drinking beer and Lemoncello and yet I stayed on the wagon though was literally keeping the ww away by kicking my feet at her. Aaaaanyway off to a children's party (at 10am on a Sunday, as if you would) have super day my confidents as green would say lets keep on keeping on xxxx

Had wine again last night, and feeling tired and ratty this morning. I've put the remainder of the bottle (about a glass full) in the freezer. So Day 1 today, or day 16 since joining the bus (nine AF)

cross posted baby well done on five days, at least you can 'enjoy' the children's party without a hangover. i can't tell you how many times the past few years I have resented these sunday morning kids parties impeding on my saturday night's drinking!

Morning - hi to all

I hope everyone is well.
keep on keeping on all
Just looking at swimming timetables to see what suits me best as this is now my new venture :).
I honestly love love love love being sober. Honestly babes - nothing (no night of drinking) is as good as sober feels.

My health anxiety is lessening as well :)
Love to you all
L xxxxx

Morning everyone,

Day 2 (again) let's hope I can keep going for at least a week. I think I'm going to need to say something to DP as he seems to plant the seed then the next thing I'm sitting with a drink. Well done to everyone managing to keep the WW at bay! Away to hang out my washing on this glorious day. X

Morning. Hope everyone is doing well this morning. Well done to those who managed to kick the WW into touch last night. For those who didn't today's another day..With the support of this thread - as a lurker - I am approaching 2 years sober. I had a bottle a day habit, more at weekends. I have lost weight, am a better mother and partner and daughter, am performing better at work - life is so much better. So why am I now considering drinking again? On the one hand, I know its doomed to failure and i will descend right back to square one On the other, although life is better, its more of a constant - there are no highs, nothing to punctuate the week or differentiate the days and it does bring home how routine and boring life and partnership can be. I almost feel that its inevitable i am going to give up so whats the point in prolonging it. I've probably forgotten over time just how bad life was. Anyway, sorry for dropping in with my worries, having only ever taken support and encouragement from your posts. Everyone, have a good day!

Hi bailster, you've done great! I don't think
I'm in a position to give any advice as I can't seem to get a lid on my own drinking. But I really think you should keep going as turning back to drink may set you back to square one. You've already said your relationships with family has improved. I think you're more strong willed than you think. X

Hi whatever. I know you are right and its that thought of being back there that has held me off. Maybe I am just a bit down. Can't shake the thought that everyone else is living life and I am spectating.

bailster I'm so glad you found the courage to post, we can all learn so much from each other and give support, so many other lurkers will be where you are now so sharing your feelings will help you, us and them. I'm not sure how to advise you, do you think you have the willpower to have wine ONLY on a sat or maybe another type of drink? I know exactly what you mean, I'm only on day 5 and whilst I know it's what I need to do, life ain't exactly rockin, stay close and the experienced super babes will come to the rescue.. A very warm welcome to you x x x

Hi babyjane How are you doing today? I know from your posts that life is difficult at the moment for you. I hope that you are getting some respite from your health concerns and that you find some time today to relax and have some you time. If I am honest, no I dont have that willpower and would be finding excuses to drink every night in a short time. It does seem like a constant battle though. If I know I am not going to have a drink then I am fine I can accept that. However, the urge never really has left. If I was going to allow myself a drink today for example, I would want it now, wouldn't want to wait. and it wouldnt be a glass, I would want the bottle and then I would need some in reserve so I don't run out. And I wouldn't sip, I would be chugging it back. I suppose this answers my own question really.. Instead of going back the way, I know I should be looking at ways of improving what is dis satsifying me in my life in other ways. I guess i am just so angry and annoyed at myself that I got myself into this position and that I feel so apart from the rest of society.

Hi bailster. A lot of what you say sounds familiar, very familiar. I occasionally manage to come off it for a bit, start seeing the benefits and then hit the self destruct button and go back to square 1. Today is day two which is the furthest I've got for a long time....think that tells its own story.
Am also making significant changes to my diet to see if that helps wit the sugar craving part of it.

bailister I am nodding my head in agreement with every word you say, I know every trick in the book, gulping the first glass on an empty stomach for the "hit" buying the highest vol wine and I have 250ml glasses to fool myself it's only 3 glasses and recently was buying a wee extra 175cl bottle to fit in my bag and top up in secret!!! It's shameful behaviour and ridiculously the only person I was fooling was myself. I'd love to be that cool, sophisticated mum who sips Chardonnay while preparing a gorgeous meal for her perfect family but I don't think I ever can. One wise babe once said that a bottle of wine could " shake things up" on a boring Sunday and for me it "shook up" a rather mundane life and no one ever thinks that's how life will turn out, 40 something, overweight and plain old ordinary. I'm trying to find other ways to fill the gaps, maybe you could too? Sending you a warm, reassuring hug x x x

Baby on my 5 days of normal eating I aim to stay under 2000 calories. I googled and that is roughly the amount I would have to eat to maintain weight, so I stick to that and on Mondays and Wednesdays I aim for 500 but am relaxed if it's 600.

I've kind of made it up as I go along(!) but it's working. It's not come off overnight but I'm ok with that, I'm going on holiday 2 stone lighter and that's good!

Hi everyone, newbie here, I'm hoping to join you all on the bus! I haven't got a clue how I'm going to do this. I'm drinking too much and I can't seem to cut down (tried and failed many times). I have a glass or two of wine while preparing the evening meal each night and then 2 more glasses with my meal. I won't have anymore BUT I look for this every night - a meal isn't the same without wine. I hate the way I can't do without it. For years I only drank at weekends but I have been drinking most nights for the last couple of years. I know I need to cut it out. I know it won't be easy but I'm just going to have to learn to do without it. Reading your stories is very encouraging. Any tips for getting started would be much appreciated x

Welcome sylvana. I suppose the best tip is gp recognise the triggers and try and break old habits. I drink every night too and it is so hard not to. Believe me, I know.
Can you drink a soft drink in a wine glass while you prepare the meal, then just have a glass of wine with dinner. That would reduce your intake and be a good start.

Welcome sylvana, I'm new to the bus so probably not the best person to advise. Like you I've got into the habit of daily drinking so I'm trying to cut down with mixed results (had wine two days this week, none the rest).

For me the main thing is simply not to have wine in the house - that's my drink of choice. I made a point of buying lager for dh, knowing I can take it or leave it, so that when he suggested getting wine in I could direct him to the lager and he'd be satisfied with that. For me someone else saying 'shall we get wine, go on have a drink' is enough to break my resolve.

I also made loads of plans for during the week with the dcs. I've been off work and would normally drink more than usual knowing I could have a lie in. So I planned some early activities to deter me from having a drink the night before. It totally worked until my mother gave me a bottle of wine....

I'm back to day 1 today but I've drank 7/8 units this week which is a huge improvement on my usual 20 plus. I think just being on this bus is a huge help in itself x