The Brave Babes Battle Bus - Go Sober For October?

[Mouseface]

Hello, 'tis me, Mouseface, welcome to the Bus, aka Gerarld.

We're a bus full of various Babes, from those who are as dry the Sahara, those who drink in moderation, those who binge drink and can go for weeks without a drop and then fall arse over tit (pardon the french!) straight off the bus and into the sidecar, and then we have Babes who try every single day to give up.

The thing is, we all do 'this' ONE DAY AT A TIME and with passion too. You have to WANT to stop with every fibre of your being.

And that's what this bus is about. We support each other. No matter how many times you fall of the Bus, we'll always be here to scoop you back up and listen.

So, come and join us. Lurk, or grab a seat, make sure you're comfy and enjoy the journey as we talk about the dreaded drink, plus everything from how expensive Tena Lady's are, to what's in the slow cooker!

We don't judge, this isn't a competition, it's our lives.

And if you'd like to read the last thread, HERE IT IS

Plus, if you'd like to see where the Bus started out, you can RIGHT HERE

Hope to see you soon xx

Margie - stick with it! I'm nearly in the end of AF100 days and have been to parties, and weddings and goodness knows what else with everyone else boozing! I had one particularly boozy weekend coming up - sounds similar to yours - in the summer so I got a load of AF beers and told a couple of people ahead of time what I was doing, that I wasn't going to break it and I needed them not to be tempting me. And it worked! First night was tough, ( just cos I was a bit tempted) but the next morning when everyone else was tired/grumpty/hungover and I felt pretty good even though I'd been up till 2am and I just thought of how I would have been that morning. Probably puking my guts up because I'm usually the worst of the lot, once I'm drunk the gloves are off and I'm caning it. Also - once everyone started getting tipsy they forgot all about me not drinking, and half didn't even notice because of the AF beers I was drinking, they look like the real thing.The upshot was I could have ducked out of the weekend but I didn't because I still wanted to be part of it and it was brilliant. And I didn't need all week to recover.
Don't get 'wobbly' when people ask - for now tell them you're training for something and cold turkey is easier for you than any temptation. I've told everyone I'm doing 100 days, leave me alone and they mostly have. And are now commenting on how well i've done, how well i'm looking. At the end of the 100 days I'll be telling them I feel so good that I'm continuing... I'm still going out to the pub, or on the girls nights, I'm still having a laugh. Truthfully there's been one or two occasions where I got a bit bored cos I wasn't drinking, so I went home but those have been few and far between.
My DP loves me like this, even though I didn't seem to have an obvs problem to her she can see the massive difference in me. And everything is just that bit better.
Stick with it! And well done.

Thanks so much Strawberries and Crisps. It blows my mind that people would take the time to help out when you don't even know me, honestly it means so much.

Crisps, I have thought a lot about admitting my problem to close family and friends, and I even drafted an email I was going to send to my nearest and dearest. And I still might. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I've got a problem, I just don't want people to try and tell me that I'm not that bad.

Strawberries, well done on your 100 days! It is so good to hear that you are feeling all the benefits and have been able to carry on with your social life as normal. Maybe the film that's playing in my head is actually not as bad as the reality once I go on my girl's weekend. I like your idea of pre-warning my friends before I go, I will definitely do that.

You both make me so determined to stick with it, and so convinced that I'm doing the right thing! Day 40.

Hi everybody, welcome to all new babes who I may not have said hello to yet.

Hey Margie similar to crisps I have been very honest with people and told them 'I feel I drink too much lately so I'm trying to cut down' no shame, no problem.

Because I'm proud of the way I have quit wine if not all booze completely I have no problem saying this but we're all different.
You are doing brilliantly though, goodness you are.

So, today I have turned even older,, there will be cake to celebrate but I will try not to drink but I can't promise I won't have a couple of beers but I only drink the weakest I can find as I don't like strong beer. Shortly I will go and do luxury getting ready stuff, nails, hair etc
I still wonder about Botox but friends tell me since I have been single the years have slipped away (no scrunched up stress face!)

I found out a former colleague (much younger than I) just died suddenly, not sure how yet, it's so very sad and makes me all the more determined to grab life, I was feeling low at the idea of getting older but now I see I am damn lucky.

So, my lovely, supportive Babes, I offer you a piece of cake and a mocktail and hope everyone is OK, whether drying, trying, struggling or lurking - keep on keeping on.

Oh, and I need a really good handcream for my wrinkly paws - any suggestions? I want something that is basically a skin iron in a tube!

Margie - to be honest that sort of thing was said a few times by people who I'd managed to control my drinking around. I would just say something like " thanks but I've wasted too many days being hungover so just taking a step back for a while " - you want to get it out there but not embarrass people IYSWIM? If people felt they couldn't enjoy themselves cos I wasn't drinking , I either avoided them or told them to think about their own relationship with alcohol depending on how well I knew them

Thanks Crisps, I really admire how you have dealt with the issue in front of your friends and family.

Happy birthday lovely Lux!!! I will go ahead and toast you with one of those mocktails while I'm turning up the 80s disco tunes on the bus's CD player. BTW I've always found Nutrogena to be the best hand cream. Good to know there's another Libran striving for balance on the bus . So sorry to hear about your former colleague - you're right, news like that really puts things in perspective. Big birthday hugs to you love.

Just checking in, havent read everything. Going to try a big cut down for sober october, booze is creeping up again.

Happy Birthday Lux
I've just been with one of my good friends as it's her bday today sorry to hear about your old colleague it really does give us a jolt when you hear news like that - life is so precious. Enjoy the rest of your day I bet you look a million dollars (giving up the wine makes our skin glow) x

Lux the Body Shop hemp handcream is really nice

I second the Body Shop Hemp one. Must hunt mine out now that the colder weather is here.

Happy birthday Lux and hope you have a great one. Sorry to hear about your old colleague. Sometimes I get a bit blue at the thought of getting older then catch myself on as I realise the alternative of how some aren't so lucky to have that.

I'm quickly checking in as the weekend approaches and the wine bitch voice gets stronger. My friend wants me to go out this weekend and party like it's 1999, reliving our youth clubbing in a warehouse! I'm very recently single so he's under some sort of illusion it will 'get me out there' to meet someone. Not the fact we will probably be 20+ years senior to most and judging by every night we go out exceedingly drunk as we are a terrible, terrible influence on each other.

I know I should decline and most likely will but a small part is stamping my feet at the sheer unfairness of passing up an excuse to get drunk. Sad isn't it?

I really am loving reading all the positivity and tips, thanks

Happy birthday lux great post 😎

ozzle any particular reason why you won't meet someone nice? Go and have fun. Maybe try to drink lots and lots of water rather than booze. Honestly, it sounds like a brilliant night out and I bet that you can stay dry or moderate if you make some plans in advance.

Sorry ozzdle I got your name wrong- my eye sight is rubbish. I'm wearing my bloody glasses and it's not making much difference.

Hello all, long time lurker :D
Starting over again today, after drinking far to much yesterday, mostly in secret (hubby joined me in sharing a bottle of wine in the evening unaware I had also had the best part of a bottle all to myself ). So I'm sat on the sofa, feeling like death warmed up, hoping this shaky paranoid feeling goes away soon. Why on earth do I do it? It's so not worth it! Especially when I know that another drink would temporarily make me feel better, so keeping the awful cycle going.
I will not be drinking today.
Hope all babes are having a much better day, tips on how to survive the next few days very much welcome! X

Sorry to hear that you've had a bad time with the WW notso. Maybe read back through the threads for good ideas. Chuck out any old left over wine so that you won't be tempted and buy yourself some good quality soft drinks or teas ready for tonight. Good luck!

And then I am going to apologise to ozzde for getting her name wrong AGAIN. Sorry will get eyes tested 😁

just quietly sneaking in and sitting at the back if that's ok with you......after the week I've had I may have to just observe the goings on in this thread before joining in!!!!

Hi Notso, I am sorry to hear you're suffering today, it's mad that we do it to ourselves isn't it? You're right, it is a truly awful cycle but you can break it!

I second what Guggs said, I have found having loads of lovely soft drinks in the fridge to be really helpful.

Thank you so much. It's lovely to know I'm not alone in this very miserable situation.
Will do with the soft drinks. The money I'll save not buying alcohol means I can push the boat out a little bit (san pelligrino (?sp) blood orange is my tipple of choice if I'm playing Des when hubby and I go out). This whole issue has cost me so much more than money however. I've fallen out with family, embarrassed DH on work events, given myself quite a few black eye, made DH lose a lot of trust in me and just generally been a complete tit. One of those "make the same decision, expect the same outcome" situation. Time for a change. I have zero, and I mean absolutely zero friends and even my work colleagues keep me at arms length because of my behaviour, so it's lovely to feel like I have people to talk to who aren't openly looking at me with horrified faces!!!

Hello babes. Checking in. Its Thirsty Thursday and I've always started my weekends on a Thursday. I'm due out tonight and been fretting about it since Sunday.
So I've read all the great advice below and have bought elderflower whatnot drinks and some Becks Blue to take to my friend's house. I am driving (honestly i never drive, usually I'd rather walk across town in the rain rather than miss a night of drinking) and will deliberately be an hour late to let them get started and aim to slide under the radar a bit.
All I want is to go to bed tonight sober.
Little acorns and all that.

Notonthrstairs good on you! Keep us posted.

notso you've made a good start- well done.

If you stick with it you will save money and that awful feeling of shame will go. I doubt that you"ve done anything terrible while drunk. Vast majority of people talk rubbish and fall asleep. Maybe vom first if you're a classy bird like me.

The guilt and shame are misplaced and will quickly go with a few days of sobriety. Good idea to offer to drive.

No worries gugg, it's about time for a nc very soon anyway It does sound like a brilliant night out but to be totally transparent I really don't believe at this stage of the game I would have the willpower for not drinking or moderation. I would have one or two then go to hell with it and before you know it one of us would give the war cry of 'shots!!'. Thinking about it today; I have function tests Monday morning and a job interview next week so not worth the risk. Want to be feeling clear headed and confident.

Hope you're faring ok now notso. Your today was my last Sunday, in a few days you'll feel much better

Welcome why and hope you keep posting.

I had a name change failure, I'm notonthestairs. Back from my night out. Feeling very conflicted. I didn't enjoy it, I felt on edge. I drank elderflower cordial but watched the wine bottle being passed around. I left early (for me). Nobody questioned my driving and no drinking so there was no pressure to join in but I really wanted to! I was the only sober one and it was harder than I had anticipated. I don't feel happier or like I've succeeded, I feel off kilter to be honest. Off to bed.

Well done Kicking it was bound to be odd. It's something I've noticed that most people actually don't notice what others eat and drink unless they do something to excess. Quite helpful actually.

I'm really unwell with a Rheumatoid flare up and had 2 glasses red wine last night to try to alleviate the pain and sleep but it didn't work. Hard to describe bit since I joined this group and determined to have a last chance at moderation I feel I'm drinking in a less obsessive way, more like I used to. Not being complacent as I know the traps are all there but that is comforting me.

Morning! Waves at all the Babes.
Lux
Happy belated birthday! Hope you had a lovely day.
KickingtheWW2017
Just think, today no hangover. That's worth the not drinking! It is hard though.
Ozzde
Good luck with the interview next week.

So this morning is the start of Day 6 AF for me. The weekends are hard, DP has already said he's looking forward to drinks tonight 😕 I'm starting to get my sleep patterns back and that along with Nip + Fab I'm starting to get clearer skin again. Last night was the first night I didn't have those horrible sweats aswell.

Great going Kicking. From sober periods before I know you do feel somewhat flat the first few times without drinking and watching everyone else do. One trick I learnt was have a lovely treat lined up for yourself as a congratulations when you get home. The no hangover the next morning is always worth it too.

Hope you feel better soon hold

Thanks Mint trying not to get nervous about the interview, not the end of the world if I don't get it. I'm having a bit of wibble about tonight too. Also 6 days and tonight is the night the dc go to ex so usually my drinking night.