The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Sweet, Summer Sobriety!

[Mouseface]

Hey, I'm Mouse

Welcome to the Battle Bus! We're a group of travelling drinkers of varying levels, those who are teetotal, and those who have tried so many times to stop, those are 'controlled' drinkers, but we NEVER give up and keep coming back for the support we share, and trying to get some kind of control over the Wicked Wine Bitch Witch!

It's not easy, boy, it's so not easy to stop or cut down some days. There are days when even the Bravest Babes fall into the Sidecar. And do you know what? That's okay.

There is NO judgey pants worn on this Bus and you don't have to be anyone other than YOU to join us

So, come and grab a seat, some Opal fruits, (it'll make sense eventually!)) and meet the rest of the Babes. Remember, you're not on your own, ever with us, you'll always have a Babe you can relate to.

Here's the last thread for you to catch up on if you like

And here's where the entire journey began.

Mouse xxx

warrior we get it for a start.
Your friends may well be suffering too, just you don't see it.

One trick and it's important, keep hydrated, it's vital and eat too. You have to get your head in a place that you can be totally aware of your drinking. It takes practice and a long time believe me but it's worth sticking with.

You've done great to go running, it's awesome but going forwards planned, strategic drinking is something to aim for.

It's like dieting, for the person who loves a drink but is not an actual alcoholic, the dieter makes menu choices even though they'd love to go right to the pudding menu. They enjoy the healthier meal, they join in without sabotaging the entire regime. It's possible with booze but for me a long break was essential to curb my habits.

Dieter- person on a health kick is better and as a runner you have the perfect 'reason' sometimes we need a reason sadly.

Yes I have a race in a few months. Maybe I'll abstain until then. I get hungover on just a glass or two. It's an energy thief.

It's an energy, sleep, money, time and looks thief, fucking booze 😣

Hello lovely ladies, taking a seat on the bus if that's ok!

Four days AF, following 14 days of not more than one drink a day. I've been controlling drinking (hah! not drinking more than twice a week) for a while but still at least once a week getting blind drunk/ terrible hangovers / blackouts and whatnot. And sometimes when I am home alone as well so can't even pretend it was sociable. Trying not to drown in the shame whilst keeping enough shame to stay on the wagon...

Single mum and keep getting The Fear that I will die of some alcohol related disease that I could have prevented and my kids will never forgive me. I've always worried that I will have no social life if I give up drinking but I went (and had two drinks) to a party last weekend for my friend's 37th birthday and there was a punch up, 10 broken glasses, someone fell down the stairs, someone cried... and I thought, well, if that's my social life, that or getting plastered alone in my house then weeping/calling people/dancing alone and falling over, then it's not really worth hanging on to.

Onwards and upwards!

Jump on Zora and welcome. Just join in (unless dave grohl fancies you too in which case bugger off)

Oooo what's the race icelandic? I have the new forest half in exactly two months. Af tonight and enjoying it.

Hi everyone can I join you please?
Am starting with AF weekdays and moderation at weekends.
Also trying to bring DH along for the ride. He has more of a problem than I do. And is really stressed out at the moment.

We were AF for 4 days last week. And it feels so much better!

On a bad day I might have1/2 - 1 bottle of wine whilst coooking & having dinner & DH has been known to come home from work, sink 2-4 a couple of beers then follow that up with wine (almost a whole bottle) with dinner. He then snores like a bastard and we are both really grumpy the next morning.

Just sick of it really. Feel like we are a crap example to DCs. It's worse when DH is drinking because of stress as it makes him quite argumentative & intolerant too 😞

Anyway we are both up for trying our best this week. I have found the soberistas site and would love any tips on how to keep AF.

So I'd love to know what are your fave AF drinks / mocktails??
I really like drinking sparking water and fresh lime, tonic water & lemon /lime - aka quite liked that sparking AF wine from Sainsbury's when I was PG.

Sorry for long post just wanted to say hello to you all 👋🏼

Welcome Moon well done on your great start. I love rose lemonade

It is the Bournmouth half. I dont drink every day, so it allows me to train, but when I do I just can't stop. I feel flat today, it is the mental hangover I hate. Anyone else get that?

I use to drink a lot more. But I get blackouts and can't recall events. I'm also worried about my liver! I have lost family to alcohol, one violently took his own life, and it just adds to my guilt that I drink.

Sounds but yummy will keep my eye out for that luxury

Hi ladies. May I join you on the bus?

I'm an alcoholic. I started going to AA a couple of weeks ago which I stupidly thought would magically sort everything out but I fell off the wagon big time last night. I made my boyfriend drive me to the shop last night so I could buy wine. I think his patience is at breaking point.

I want to not be like this but I am terrified of a life without alcohol. I know complete abstinence is the only answer for me (well that or drinking myself to death). Decades of attempting "controlled drinking" hasn't worked.

Of course Duke welcome and massive well done for going to AA. It's early days I guess as regards to last night, but it sounds like you're ready to face your issues.

Just join in as you like, we're very friendly here.

welcome to new babes, warrior moon and duke
Well done on those first difficult posts.

Hello could I join again? Joined a few weeks back then fell off pretty momentusly! Knew it would be a hard few weeks just didn't manage well to be honest. Disappointed in myself but I am where I am and today is day 1.

I think I am going to aim for 100 days af. Then who knows. Does anyone do any other groups? Aa is not for me just wondered if there is anything else people and found worked/helped?

Thanks Luxury and demented.

And hello Saywhen! May I ask what you don't like about AA? Is it the God stuff? I'm struggling with the God stuff.

Duke - yes it's the God stuff.... I am not sure what I am, not quiet atheist but it's too much for me. Do you go?

Also I would find on line easier. Practically with work and a family. But also I would be very fearful of bumping into someone I know. I feel so embarrassed about this I find it hugely hard to be honest about it even though to anyone who cares about me it must be becoming a more obvious problem....

I met this lady recently who is hugely successful. She developed something anyone even vaguely related to the field would know and most would respect. She did this whilst drinking and taking drugs. I was so impressed she had stopped and is now completly clean and could achieve this whilst being so dependent at this time.... (can't think of a better way to say.) Just don't feel like this about myself feel so embarrassed I've let it get so out of hand!! Sorry that was a bit of an essay in reply!!

By the way lux.... dave grohl?? Wow..... that is very impressive!

Yes I go to AA meetings . Only started recently and am going to 4-5 meetings a week. But tbf, currently no job, daughter all grown up so I have time to do so.

Everyone is so lovely. I find the 10 minutes before and after the meetings more beneficial than the meetings themselves.

Going to AA is NOT helping my attempts to quit smoking. All the cool kids are in the smoker's corner.

That sounds good. Part of me would like to meet local people who have difficulties with alcohol might feel less bad about it myself if you know what I mean! I run and that helps as I really hate the impact alcohol has on my running but I need to find more for myself.

I have a podcast which I think helps, need to just try a few more I guess!

It's such a diverse group of people. In my town there are generally about 2 meetings per day plus 1 meeting per day in the next town along.

There are a lot of us about. My sponsor is coming round for our first 1 to 1, so I need to get off my phone and get the hoover out!

Good luck with the sponsor Duke. Hope it goes well.

It was another poster that Dave checked out sadly, but I'm my head he loves only me!

Eeeek it's only Monday & I'm about to go out for drinks at the pub with friends that's been planned for ages. Planing to drink tonic water & lime & only go for a couple of hours. Wish me luck bus babes!! 🚌 💃🏻

Hi to all new babes... crunchy icelandic grumpy zorra when moon duke. I'm new here myself too.

Have made it to day 11 AF. A couple of days ago my emotions were all over the place - snappy, tearful - but they seem to have settled again (for now). Sleep is better.

Is the awful ex out now, lux?