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

bailster I also relate very much to not feeling part of society, my depression and drinking has caused me to withdraw from friends and social situations and it's hard to find your way back. At least here you are among friends and we all have the the same issues and we all want to help xxx

Hi Balister how do yo think alcohol will improve your life ? you will gain weight, have feelings of guilt, self loathing etc - not to mention the hangovers, feeling like a crap mother and partner, not to mention the crap sleep and damage you do to your health xxx. 2 years is fabulous - really think hard and try and remember why you wanted to give up in the first place. we rarely want to stiop doing something good unless of course the bad from it outweighs the good x
Hi Sylvana I would echo ma's tips for stopping - change habits - put something else in your wine glass - good luck x
Horsedognaols congrats I your weight loss - Blimey 600 calories isn't a lot - how do you do it ?
Well back to reality today with non stop washing and ironing - hoping to stop and read my book soon - good luck to all fighting of the WW tonight x

Hi sylvana welcome aboard. The best advice given to me is to change your routine to confuse the habit, eat earlier , eat later, maybe plan an alcohol free night, bubble bath, paint nails, buy a new book. If all else fails put you pygamas on and don't have wine in the house, it's hard but in your case it's sounds like it's habitual and it just takes time and steely determination to break it, it's tough but I'm on day 6 and boredom aside it's easier than I thought. Post on here whenever the craving hits and someone will coach you through it til it passes. There are wonderful people on here who can help you, so glad you posted x x x

Day 2 done and dusted and its been a long long time since I could say that.
Looks for Venus and thurso and silver and indie and all the other babes who are lying low or lurking.

jango did you make day 2?

Evening all,

Happy Sunday to everyone.

Well done Ma. Hope you're in your jammies and planning a well deserved good night's sleep.

Just wanted to share a few bits and bobs in the hope it helps anyone on the journey to 'freedom' (i say that, because that's what it feels like - drinking or the threat of drinking or the recovery from drinking or the temptation to drink or the feeling of 'when can I drink again' just feels like a prison sentence - hopefully one day I'll have served my time and I can walk, Morgan Freeman like...out of prison).

I'm on day 14. I've now gone two full weekends without one drink and that has included being in a couple of restaurants, a family celebration, a gig, a hotel stay and a bunch of other stuff that would normally be loosened up with alcohol.

Yes, I feel like I've achieved something, but I also feel utterly miserable. Constantly rowing with dh and generally just bumbling around without a bloody clue as to how to be happy with normal life.

This has made me realise that alcohol was one of my best friends and I feel sad, lonely and miserable without it.

I've been catching up on all of your posts and they've really helped. For those struggling with day 1 or day 2 or day 98 and then back to day 1...these are the things which have enabled me to get to day 14 (the longest I've gone without drinking in 20 years).

1. Whoever said keep busy - they are right. I'm reading like a fiend and I would happily have 4 baths a day if it didn't mean a fierce gas bill.

2. And I agree about mealtimes - they were a key trigger for me, so I've started eating my dinner at the dining table with my 2 yo DD at 5pm. It feels less appropriate to bring wine to that kind of dining experience.

3. Make the decision in your head NOT to drink before you head out for any social occasion. If it feels ambiguous in your head, you're more likely to hit the 'fuck it' button. Before I leave the house, I say to myself 'I'm absolutely not drinking tonight'. It just feels more definite.

4. Try to stand still and take it all in. I used to race through every event and occasion thinking 'when can I get to the bar', whereas now, I've been trying to appreciate that actually...not everything is an excuse to have a glass of wine. Sometimes people just get together to chat / watch a movie / hang out / look at the sea.

5. Eat as much as you want. Whatever food calories you're putting in your mouth are much better than alcohol calories. The feeling of wanting to eat your own leg subsides after about day 8. Until then, give yourself a break and have 14 Hob Nobs if you feel like it. You deserve it.

6. Don't hate yourself if you have a drink. Just wake up the next day and start all over again. You haven't failed because you're still trying.

7. Keep your ticket for this bus in your bra at all times. You'll need it.

Hope that helps a bit. I'm feeling incredibly angry / grumpy / sad / sorry for myself at the moment, but somehow, this bus makes me want to be a wee bit better.

It's good that, eh?

XXXX

Chippit. Wow. Could you post every day. Three times a day? Please.....I don't think I would drink at all reading your posts regularly!

I'll post again in the morning lovely babes X

Chippit I too am bumbling around trying to be normal, I'm bored lonely and arguing with dh, I miss my friend (pinot grigio) but keep on in the knowledge I will find a better friend, have a date with zumba tomorrow and will keep on keeping on, never made it this far before but no miraculous New me YET, sending you a hug chippit, I know how you feel my friend,only too well xxx

Well done all.am doing loads of reading up on this lowcarbing thing and it think its going to be the way forward for me...feel excited about making a positive change.
By the way, just looked out the window and it is dark! Pitch black dark. Only a few weeks ago it was light I to the wee hours (in Scotland). Summer has really gone, hasn't it?

Lonnika 500 - 600 calories is not a lot but I generally find it quite easy. I'm not much of a breakfast eater so I skip that without any worry and then I just don't eat until mid-afternoon at the earliest...... I then have something like scrambled eggs on toast or a small jacket potato, then I have another small meal about 5pm so I use my calorie allowance in quite a short period of time which makes me full. I have my 'starving' days on Mondays and Wednesdays and I generally work those evenings so I don't sit around being hungry!! It also helps knowing I can eat more the next day - so I only ever diet for 1 day at a time twice a week.....

Thanks for explaining :)

Thanks dementedma. I'm going to give it a go :)

To anyone trying or about to try giving up a nightly habit get a kindle, watching programmes in bed or reading really helps with the boredom and I hit the wine witch on the head regularly with it and she seems to back off for a while x x x

Ah buggar, wine witch got to me. I feel so positive then cave so easily, it makes me sick.

Tomorrow is my Day 1.

Hi to all the babes :))
MA I did make it to day 2 by the ery skin of my teeth
Hi to any new babes.
Blimey it seems that I ve got all the stressors egging me on to hae a tipple today. No way though things are shit enough without the hassle of a dry mouth, sore head and lower mood
Day three tomorrow.

Feeling crap:-( hangover again argued with dp. Can't seem to last more then 2days af. Will try again this week but it never seems to happen. I just give up and buy wine. So fed up of this feeling but I've almost given up tryin to give up as it never works. I've not voiced my problem to anyone which I should really but feel so ashamed about it. Struggled with it so long,lost all my friends last time I was at a low and can't face doing it all again now. Day one today but I'm not in control I know that I'll be hungover and feeling crap again by the end of the week!

Day one again feeling disappointed :( anyway going to pick myself up and try again and try to be positive about getting to day 5 had family party so drank sat felt that hungover yesterday that I though feck it and had a bottle of Wine so failed miserably ok moaning aside I have a challenge I'm going abroad in oct so I'm going to try and do no alcohol as fitness regime today is day one who wants to join/ buddy me?

Morning - had a thought last night - I Remember JWN saying sobriety shoud be enjoyed not endured. I try to use positive rather than negative thinking - so for example - I don't think about what I am missing - I think about what I am gaining - it is difficult to explain really - I hope that helps - Good luck babes x

Just popping on quickly with following links for Ma on Paleo - be back later

www.primalbritain.co.uk/top-100-paleo-recipes/

www.marksdailyapple.com/welcome-to-marks-daily-apple/#axzz2cOnX17Le

Good Morning everyone, just want to say well done chippit. I remember reading your first post, I was feeling the same really wanting to stop drinking, but I've not managed passed day 6 . To all the other babes keep going, I feel this thread is really helpful as there's lplenty good advice on here. Hope you all have a great day!

I'll buddy up with u this is! Although I'm not likely to get past day 3 goin by my track record! I've been thinking I was clever doin controlled drinkin lately but the problem with that is we all know we don't have control really do we? So its just a matter of time til we slip up.... I want to be alcohol free for a time to get some perspective. On plus side me and dp have made up and I don't feel too rough just tiered. Will make plans for rest of the week to try and put myself off ruining any days with a binge...

OK, I think I'm ready. Let's do this.

Thanks for the list, chippit, I was already thinking that eating with the kids would be a good idea. If I can get to about 8pm without drinking, I'll be through the worst of it I think...

Well it's a deal mrspickle we can do it together one day at a time x

Hello all

Welcome to all the new babes and well done for posting. Hope we can help you out with however you want to handle your relationship with alcohol. The bus will help you, it has certainly helped me. Keep posting.

Hello to occasional posters and all regulars, seems to have been lots of activity since I was on yesterday.

Lonnika please keep posting its great to hear how well you are doing. Baby hope you're ok lovely.

To the poster that has been sober two years and said they felt they were observing life and not living it (hope I have got that right) there will be lots and lots of people out there feeling like that as they watch YOU. I certainly do. I feel I live a half life when I am drinking and am missing out on experiences which other, 'better' ie sober people do have. Please ride this feeling out for a while and see where it takes you. We don't judge on the bus and whatever you do is your decision and we will support you. But having fallen off the sober wagon after first 60 days sober and then 40 days sober (all in the space of a few months) I can't imagine how it would feel after two years if you then regretted it. I feel bad enough. Anyway keep posting and let us know how you are.

I am on day one AGAIN (groundhog day) after wine with Sunday dinner last night. I'm not hungover but I feel jaded and again disappointed with myself. Filling up the fridge with sparkling water today and planning an early night already so I stay sober. So cross with myself. I went out to a party on Saturday night when someone else drove and I didn't drink then, just had lemonade and I was so pleased but then it is almost like I let me guard down cos I had managed that?

Have a good day all babes and sorry not to NC

Pink X

Morning, tis me, Mouse

Ma - I'm Bootcamping but have moved into the 'lighter' version as found that the Uber/stricter Bootcamp was too much too soon and not practical with Nemo. So, I eat loads of chicken, pork, beef, cheese, cheese, cheese, and low carb veg, any veg less than 3g of carbs, strawberries, double cream in coffee, eggs, ham, corned beef, asparagus, bacon & sausages (check for added sugar) tinned tomatoes are great for using as bases, mushrooms, green peppers are the best out of all colours, spinach, watercress, butter, healthy fats....... BUT - WATER IS KEY

I drink 5 pints a day which works out as 2.5 liters..... it increases with the more weight you have to lose if you follow the Bootcamp rules, but I'd say keep a pint glass topped up or have a few bottles dotted around the place and drink them throughout the day.

Don't forget that you'll be detoxing as well as dieting and changing the way your body burns it's fuel, from carbs and sugar to fat stores so you will feel crappy at first, 'carb flu' is what most call it...

As long as you remember healthy fats and water are good, sugar and carbs are bad, and to drink lots of water, you'll soon get the hang of it.

Day 3 of the holiday and I've not broken my diet once

Google is your friend, there are so many low carb site out there these days, look for healthy fats and it will tell you what to eat, but a nice, varied, colourful plate of food is what you are looking for, but try what works for YOU otherwise you'll hate it xxx

Morning babes, Day 2 for me and I am going to strap myself in as I am tired wasting days due to hangovers. Spent most of yesterday sleeping - what a waste of a Sunday [grr]