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

its weird. if i run out of crisps or choclolate i think oh dear. ive run out of crisps/chocolate.
if i run out of wine i am running to the shop in my crocs and clothes i wouldnt normally be seen dead in to get there before closing time.
not tonight tho. im not doing it.

user many of us can relate to all of these things. There is no beating about the bush, there is a long road ahead. But it can be done. It can. There are Babes on here who have done it and changed their lives. Speak to faire to venus to lux. You CAN do this but fuck me its hard. Do you have dcs? If not a good strategy is to go to bed early. Bite the pillow till the cravings subside. Expect sleepless nights to start with. Get in sweets as sugar substitute..opal fruits are a bus favourite, or Haribo or fruit pastillles.

Yup and it's really ok to want wine you know. The cravings will pass, I learned this quite quickly, sometimes I really want fish and chips or curry. I'd really enjoy them at that moment but the feeling passes and the feeling isn't 'bad'
I'm on my phone and can't type as well as I want so maybe not explaining well but wanting something, however badly doesn't mean it's game over.

I'll try to explain better tomorrow but it's very liberating.

wine is my poison. i can take or leave spirits. i enjoy the odd cocktail. dp used to love a cocktail and making them until her realised im completely addicted. he doesnt bother drinking now at all.

ive just text him to say im having a drink tonight but thats it. that i know it has to change. ive got wine in tonight so im having it - but im not running out to buy more. (its a start)

tomorrow im going to buy sweets and grown up soft drinks. i was pregnant last year and i stopped altogether, but i lost my baby girl in the second tirmester. its not felt like it mattered if i drank or not since then but i know dp hates it. he hates who i become when i drink. i didnt think it altered me but then i look at some of the things ive done pissed and im mortified. at best im a bore and repeat myself. at worst ive done some dangerous ridiculous things.

last week we had a row. dp nd me. i was pissed. i rang my dd who is 20. even she told me to grow up, go to bed and sleep it off in another room she rng my friend who rang me to hvae a go. she said 'youre drunk as usual. ' then i got a long lecture about not involving my dd. i felt so ashamed.

kids are grown up and gone. i split with dh 3 years ago. ive always drunk. dh never mentioned it but we rarely saw each other really. been living with dp a year and it really bothers him. i need to stop. he is desperate for me to stop but said if i couldnt stop for my kids then i wont for him.
its true ive drunk a bottle for years. dd and ds joke about it but its clear they noticed.

You can conquer the wine witch I promise. I'll come back tomorrow with more of what helped me but if you've been following the threads please don't think oh Lux, yeah she stopped so easily. It may look like that but I had to focus on stopping for a long time before I even joined the thread.
I'll tell you more tomorrow as I can't type well on the phone but please, hang in there

I lurk a lot, haven't posted in ages, but I just wanted to pop out to say congratulations to ma. Bravo! You so deserve some good news after all the work uncertainty you've had. Hurrah!

I'm still AAing, sober a couple of years now, one day at a time. Life is messy but I feel like I'm really living it now instead of trying to numb all the pain with drink.

Hugs to all the brave babes, I still derive lots of consolation and cheer from following this thread. xx

dementedma go you! Congratulations!

Welcome myunsername I'm early days day 4 af. Wine is my poison too....

Good luck ma and mint!

Sucess for me I've had a really stressful day today work wise. Kept thinking about wine. Had to pop to the shop on the way home. Didn't get any. Step in the right direction for me!

Hello all.

Selfish post here. I'm in hospital with pneumonia and suspected sepis. This is the third time now, I was blue lighted form my GP on code red! We had sirens and everything!(Drama Queen ) !!! So my blood pressure was so low and my oxygen/SATS we're on the floor.

Metaphorically speaking.

I'm like a pin cushion and in the most horrible pain ever

So, this is where I am for the time being!

Love to all Mouse xxx

mouse i wish you very speedy recovery xxx

Mouse sounds horrid. Hope you are better quickly

Wow, you stick your head out the window for five minutes to catch the breeze, and when you come back it's all action!

Congrats on your freedom lux and on your job ma! Good luck for your interview mint and for a speedy recovery mouse. And welcome to hogarthian username and marfisa.

I'm pouting this morning as after 14 days AF, I hopped on the scales to find I've put on 3kg!?!? How is this possible? I haven't been comfort-eating, and have been more active than usual. Feeling robbed.

Oh Mouse Get well soon

Saywhen Well done on leaving the wine in the shop. Something to be proud of fo'sure.
myusernamewhichisthis You're with friends here. We'll support you all the way.

LilyMcClellan
You haven't been at my elderflower cordial have you? I made it with honey.

It'll happen Lily or your scales are faulty!

Oh lovely Mouse you do hope through it, please get well soon my love and try to check in with us for chat and distraction.
I hope you get plenty of rest xxx

Lily this is the same for me. I was hoping with being af the scales would start showing the benefits. Nothing yet even after 20 days last af attempt nothing. Wondering if it is more of a long term thing? Keep reminding myself regardless this is more important than what the scales say.

Day 5 af today. Back from run and feeling really good. Hope you all have a good day.

mint Who, me? Never!

Well, maybe a thimble or two.

saywhen I know, it's the not drinking that counts, but still a bit of a bummer, right?! I'm hoping that being due for my period is causing water retention or something.

Morning all.
A great nights sleep last night now the alcohol had completely left my system.
So that's me starting AF Day 5.
Apparently the weather is going to pick up here in Scotland over the next two weeks too. It's going to reach the dizzy tropical heights of 16-17°.
You know what this means, I'll probably get the job and miss it all! AIBU?

mouse sending strength and forbearance to you
Welcome to the new babes and well done on your brave posts.
I think we all feel such shame.
But we're here, we are all trying and sharing the highs and lows.
I do drink but much less than when I joined this thread, and have 3 or 4 AF days a week now. Which I wouldn't have thought possible.
I am better informed and feel empowered.
Still tend to drink too much when I start though and am examining that.
Keep posting, keep thinking.
Happy Friday everyone

As to water retention, drink more water during the day to flush it out, no tea, sugar and fizzy drinks. That will help. I lost a couple of pounds in January just doing that.
And yes, pre period will also add.

Good morning, all. Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome!
mouse, I hope you feel better soon.

I'm marching into day 2 armed with posh ginger cordial which I shall drink from my favourite glass once the witching hour kicks in. I hope you all have a lovely, peaceful day.

(I'm a little frightened of Horrid Baby Doll already).

morning all
well i drank a lot less last night than usual, and started to read 'this naked mind. '
i have no booze so i might treat this as my opportunity to stop. i need to go out later so might go grab some posh soft stuff.

Hogarthian
You have just reminded me that I have two bottles of Luscombes Firey Ginger Beer in the pantry. A little bit of home.

That's good mintobee. I've never tried it but I shall put it on my list.

One of the most ludicrous things ever is how much I wince at buying posh cordial. "How fucking much? For squash!" Yet would happily spend a tonne of money daily on wine. The lies we tell ourselves...