The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Springing Into Spring Like Super Spingy Springs On A Springy Day!

[Mouseface]

Hello everyone, I'm Mouse :)

Welcome to the Bus, Gerald. Of course it's an imaginary Bus, and we're all aware of that, but we've been on this Bus for a bloomin' long time now so this place kinda feels like home.

See, the thing is, we're a mix of drinkers, non drinkers, total abstainers, and also posters that are or have been, somewhere in between, around the block and back again!

There are no hard and fast rules here, just No judging, No bitching about others and most certainly No expectations of YOURSELF.

No-one can say what will or will not happen whilst you're posting here. You just have to take the ride, One Day At A Time.

There are two sayings that we have painted down either side of the Bus :-

1. • The Vulnerable Need Our Support, Not Our Judgement
2. • Alcohol Fosters Inertia

You've started to read this thread for a reason, and you'll either carry on and maybe Name Change (or not) and post, walk away, or realise that this is all about YOU, cry for a bit, and then come and take a seat :)

For those who would like a bit of our almost 4 year history, have a read of THIS TRULY INSPIRING THREAD

- AND THIS IS OUR PREVIOUS THREAD TO THIS ONE

We're not a quiche or a clicky group, four years is a long time and longer when you're pissed for some of it, so whilst the threads may look 'clicky', I can promise you, it's just that we all 'know' one another because we've been here for a bit but you'll soon get to know us all, who loves what (CHEEEEEEEESE), but we were all 'new posters' at one time, weren't we? :)

still here, day 4 now. Feeling really pissed off at the world and very irritable. No good sleep for me, as my DC are currently making a habit of screaming the house down in the wee hours and then getting up with the birds! I also look like crap (big cold sore) and feel like crap (just struggling with anxiety and a feeling of total overwhelm).

I know the answer is to hang in there and do the next right thing. It just sucks.

Nice to hear more positive stories though x

Good morning babes, sun is shining and rockin day 10. The only teeny weeny fly in the ointment is weight gain, I have lost my appetite and found a horses. I've never eaten much bread or chocolate but gee whizz I'm eating more than ever. I know we pick our battles but I really don't want to get down about my weight so I started SW yesterday and will try to make this a holistic health kick rather a depravation of any kind. Positive mental attitude!!! Love and strength to all xxx

Day 10 baby, that's brilliant. Liking your positive mental attitude . I started SW (or at least my version of it) again this morning, went for a walk before work and had a SW styled cooked breakfast.

Still drinking here although not nightly but once I start I can't stop.

Oooh baby and obrigada you can join me. I'm sticking to the healthy/fitness attitude too. Makes not drinking seem more like a positive choice than a sacrifice

Today I have already done 6,000 steps so will be going out in a minute to top up to 10,000. I'm starting to enjoy the routine of a late afternoon walk in the sunshine.

nef make sure you are eating well, maybe take some multi vitamins too. Sorry your dcs are waking early. How old are they?

He got presented with a silver medal last night!
So proud I could burst.
Wish to fuck I could do it. You would think he would be my inspiration but....nope!

Is there a seat for me? Never joined before but have decided that something has to change and could do with some support. Day 4 and feeling rough. Couldn't kid myself any longer after hardly making it out of bed all weekend and trying to put on a brave face for the kids and DH. DH knows I drink too much but doesn't know that I've had up to 2 bottles of wine most nights for ages. Some weeks I manage 2-3 AF nights, and in January I went a whopping 10 days straight. I never want to be hungover again (obviously) - but just taking ODAAT.

New user name - felt appropriate...

Welcome heffalumpsy

nefnaf please try bach's rescue remedy, my councillor recommended it for promoting calm and eliminating anxiety. It's purely herbal and it's helping me greatly. Whether it's placebo or not it seems to take the edge off. Welcome hefalumpsy day 4 is brilliant, your body is going through withdrawal from the huge amounts of sugar in the wine and the alcohol itself. In The next few days you will feel much better but try and take vitamin b1, it replenishes what we lose due to the alcohol. Lots of sugary snacks and lots of clean fresh foods and I promise things will get so much better, good luck and stay close xxxx

Hi all - sorry for long absence. Got back from wonderful holiday and then straight back to work, kids stuff etc etc - got out of the habit but have missed you all

Not read back more than a page or so, but Ma, great news about your brother, you must be so proud. It sounds like the type of story they make inspirational films about, but he really did it. Congratulations to him, that is some battle to overcome. I wish him every health and happiness in the future xxx

nef, heffalumpsy - good to meet you. Stay around, this bus is such a help

(Waves at baby, faire, guggs, obrigada, soc, Anne and rural. Wonders if anyone has seen I'm, Mouse or Why recently?)

Well, I have had a revelation of sorts - on holiday I actually relaxed, away from horrid job, properly relaxed and ... was able to drink moderately. Seriously, one beer with dinner!! One with lunch. A single daquiri in the bar before bed. I was like a different person without the stress.

Now this isn't always the case - have had holidays where I have drank like a fish quite honestly - but for a long time have been living with such massive stress levels that to have them taken away was a revelation.

Back at work now and stress levels creeping back up but trying to keep a lid on them - although sole colleague (once we had 12 staff, now just 2. Same amount to do) is due to go on 3 weeks leave soon and big rush of work due end of next week so early panicking. But made me realise how ILL it is making me, not just giving me headaches, panic attacks and sleepless nights but actually being a main driver for my drinking and overeating (and odd sneaky ciggie sometimes) as well. I should bloody sue them, never mind put up with their crap

On day 10 at the moment (high fives baby), but am achieving this by low-carbing, therefore not fixating on booze, it is just another element of my forbidden list. Lost 4lb last week. Got work do tomorrow though with set menu. Am driving so avoiding the booze, but now I am becoming one of those boring women who is scared of bread rolls.

Hoping I will fit into my dress tomorrow Black tie nonsense be damned!

Will try to read back properly soon - unless someone can give me a quick update???

Oh - holiday treats on dashboard (not that I can eat them at the moment). Turkish Delight and Baklava. Can you guess where I've been???

Awesome post looking. Well done on every level. xx

Bloody hell. Just realised it's Day 5 for me. No wonder I'm struggling today. So I declare today a 10 minute by 10 minute day. I will do it though.

hope love your post x I'm still here in the background got day one done yesterday it was bloody hard.

Happy Thursday everyone x

Back on day one today :(. - I am not drinking today !!!!

Morning babes, fab post looking lots of very valid points and I'm mighty glad your back, I'm just ahead on day 11 and I feel great apart from wanting to eat my own leg. This counting days thing is making me nervous, I feel as though I'm counting down the launch of the spaceship "challenger" and we all know how that ended. I must get to grips with SW, I want to be nice and slim with dewy skin and squishy hair though I may require a body, head and hair ttransplant!!!!!

welcome back 70 - don't worry about starting over, it's a new day, a new start. I'm on day 5 I think, is it bad that I'm losing track? It feels like a long time. I feel fresher today, got a good nights sleep and now I'm working and getting stuff done which is ace :) Just accepted a job for 16 hours a week, which is brilliant. Takes a whole load of pressure off for the next 6 months (fixed term contract) while I get my actual business out of the doldrums and turning over a profit again (dear god, please!!).

Feels great to have the clarity to deal with some of this shit today at last!!

Day 1 here.
looking baby you are both an inspiration. Awesome
Nice to see you posting Im well done on day one. Keep going x
soc you are doing brilliantly too.
Welcome heffalumpsy day 4 is great, lots of support here.x
Big waves to everyone else, l luffs you all. x

nefnaf you sound so upbeat, what a difference a few days makes, so glad your feeling more positive. 70 I work on the premise one day at a time so whether it's day 1 or day 100, every day AF is a small victory, I just keeping throwing shit at the wall and hope some of it sticks!!!! Xxxx

Thanks all :)

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Baby yes that makes sense about the sugar. I always crave sweet snacks on AF days, but when I'm drinking I get the munchies for savouries, especially cheese. Last few days I've been raiding the cupboards for biscuits! I do feel like a heffalump at the moment - but I hope to join you and looking on the path to better health and fitness - thank you for the inspiration!

Ma I'm in awe at your brother's story, that's amazing. And even though I don't know you it sounds to me like you ARE doing it, even if it's a few steps forward, a few steps back. Be proud of yourself too, for the small victories.

SoberSocFish and Nefnaf looks like we're all on day 5 - well done us, hang in there!

Ruralreaynard, Im and 70hours - as baby said, every AF day is a victory.

The hard one for me is going to be tomorrow - Friiiidayyyy, automatically associated with a glass of white wine even before dcs are in bed, followed by a couple more, and then a bottle of red with dinner with DH - who usually only has one glass and then nurses a whiskey for the rest of the evening while I have the rest of the bottle. He can enjoy one or a couple of drinks, I can't - one glass of wine automatically turns into at least a bottle, and these days usually two :( And if I get through tomorrow night then the next challenge will be the weekend... We're meeting my brother and his GF in town on Sunday, haven't seen him for ages (and only met her once as she's new in the picture) - will be very, very tempted to have at least a glass of wine... If only I could trust myself to stick with just one!

One glass only tonight after too much last night.

ma so glad to hear about Richard - can't believe it's been a whole year! So great to know he's still going strong.

joey! Good to see you. How's things?

heffa I know what you mean about the weekend, it's like my body has an inbuilt calendar which recognises the weekend. I have a party on sat night and I can't say I won't drink but it's one day at a time for all of us, remember having a few glasses of wine socially or with a meal is what millions of people do, the question is can we? Hi joey how are you girl? We missed you. Tonight I had a Thursday night twinge, I actually put on my trainers and my iPod and went for a walk, by the time I got home it was forgotten. One thing I know for sure, my mental health has improved enormously and not one hot flush since day 2, I like getting up in the morning, I like playing with my dd, I like seeing my house get a little cleaner and neater each day and most importantly I'm beginning to like myself!!! Who knew eh, hugs and strength to all xxxx

Hello babes. Friday afternoon here. Really big danger zone. Friend called and left a msge about Friday lunch and a glass of wine. Luckily I didn't get to it so just got the messagewhich I deleted. And now I'm doing what any sensible girl would do in tough times. I'm in a large bubble bath, reading and eating chocolate.

Planning to go to gym tonight. Considering I'm getting through a whole slab of choc solo it's probably a good idea. But hey tomorrow I won't have a hangover.

Soc xx

Go soc you can do it
70hours hope you got through and have that lovely waking up sober feeling. I managed day 1 by the skin of my teeth.
Big wave to joey baby ma heffa Im hope obrigada nef
guggs Isinde mouseand all the other brave babes posting or lurking.
Love this bus. x