The Brave Babes Battle Bus - New year, old battles, big resolve

[SweetLathyrus]

Hi, I'm SweetLathyrus, Sweet for short, and I've been on and off Gerald the Brave Babes Battle Bus for years, so this time it's me standing in for our wonderful Mouse to invite you on board.

The bus is a place of support, safety and occasional silliness for those of us struggling with our relationship with alcohol. Some of us are sober, some are trying to be, some are moderating and aren't ready to give up alcohol just yet.

So whatever your reason for questioning the whys and WTFs of your drinking, hop on board, make yourselves comfortable and join in.

If you want to see what it's like, here's the link to the last thread, the one that saw us through Christmas.

And if you want to know how it all started, here is the link to JWN's original, inspiring thread.

Join us on our journey, you won't regret it.

strawberry I read back to your story recently and I can only say that I found it inspirational. Really.

I recall that it felt scary and precarious for us at the time, so I can't begin to imagine how awful it was for you. But I read of someone who hit rick bottom hard and horribly and then bounced quickly. I was struck by the contrast between your desperation and how quickly you became clear-headed and determined as the fog of alcohol, hangover and shame receded.

You did well girl. You still do. You're a credit to yourself, your dc, and to this bus and all the other forms of support that you sought out and accepted.

And sweet you're a star for getting ready for the new thread.

ma thanks x
sweet yes I think you're right. Cross with myself but that was yesterday. Today is today! X

ginger - how are you?

twatbear Can't you just buy new summer clothes at the airport? Have a brilliant time. It's when it's really cold like this that I miss living in the West Indies.

Bizarrely I have a bit of a sore head from last nights moderate drinking. However, on reflection, I said DB and I "shared" a bottle of champagne. But he was driving so had probably one glass.

I have no alcohol in the house and it's pouring with rain and I have loads of work to do so I won't be going out.

Have a sober Saturday everyone and see you on the next thread.

Hi strawberry I am up to May 2011 on the old thread so will shortly be at your bit...hello.

Amazing work to have not drunk since then.

Well I'm packed and I've made a list of the bits that still need to go in. I usually go on holiday for at least 3 months of the year and pack on auto-pilot, but this year is a low holiday year due to client work.

I have passport, money, bikinis, flip-flops and suntan lotion so I'll be fine! x

rothbury - I'm at the coast now I've packed them all. Not explaining myself v well! Yes I could buy some more stuff at the airport but I probably won't have time (and I hate shopping). x

baking yes I smiled for nearly 30 years and was up to about 25 a day and felt hideous! I had given up when pregnant and when children were young but I never lasted much more than 9 months/a year and always went back to it, had also had a few one month, 3 month quit times but Shaun kept having "just the one" and before I knew it was right back up to 25 a day. This time though I felt really ill/wheezy was coughing all the time, could hardly speak in the mornings for coughing - it was embarrassing and I just knew it really was the time to finally quit. I used champix in the end as a few friends had used it very successfully and it was a miracle! Gave up three years ago and feel completely different about it. I know I can never ever have just one again and so far I haven't. I still love the smell of it weirdly and if friends are smoking I go and have a chat with them and stand downwind of the smoke but never feel like I want one as I know where that will lead.

smoked not smiled!!!

And god knows who Shaun is....

Right, No one bags a seat until this page is full.

[[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3144885-Brave-Babes-Battle-Bus-Next-Stop-Fabulous-February?watched=1New Thread]]

Bugger, that didn't work properly

New Thread

Try this.

Sorry this is going to be a bit self-indulgent . . .

I feel like poo. Really, really, really sad and I really don't know why (do know it's not pmt).

I really struggled at the gym, couldn't keep up with the aerobic bits of total conditioning, so I felt like I wasn't getting enough out of the class; then in pilates I just wanted to cry, I've done at least one class a week since October, most weeks two, but I don't feel any progress, I still can't curl up fully, I can't roll back down without flopping the last bit. I look fat and blobby and now I just want to fill my face with sugar.

And to top it all, DH's attempt at comforting words were , "Never mind, only twelve days until you can have a glass of wine to cheer you up."

Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks. BOLLOCKS to it ALL.

I'm ok @rothbury - funnily enough, having caved after 5 days has made me realise how crap it makes me feel the next day - going to stock up on bitter lemon tonight because I've got to work on Sunday and want a clear head x

ginger I think the less you do it the worse you feel the next day. It is poison after all! It's just that when we're on it all the time we are super tolerant. Big hug. x

sweet it's probably just a bad day - have a big hug and get an early night if you can. x

Thanks @Twattage13 x

Aww sweet sorry to hear you are feeling like shit 😢.

I think it's quite common to have days like this when you are detoxing/withdrawing. I felt like this last Sunday and Monday and it was horrible be kind to yourself.

Hello all, for anyone feeling crap today.

Day 12 here, not feeling the boing yet, feel flat, fat and lethargic. Hopefully the boing is just around the corner.

sweet my ‘D’H has just said something similar, along the lines of “you’re really miserable, I’ll be glad when you stop this nonsense and start drinking again”. So helpful.

Aw Sweet - sorry you are having a bad day. Don't worry about the gym - anyone who could once lift their body weight plus 2kg will be able to gain fitness back due to muscle memory but sometimes even for the fittest person it can be a struggle (times of the month, not slept well, bit of a virus etc). DS is a runner and can be having a great season and then suddenly run crap for no reason - his coach just says 'it happens' and shrugs it off. Maybe do a different sort of exercise for a bit to mix it up and then go back to pilates?

Strawberry great to see you and congratulations! You bus superstar you

Ginger I hear you on the after effects of caving in. Still working when not at the gym (about to start again now!) and so not been tempted but already my friends are lining up to say 'ooh Dry January is nearly over you can come out with us soon, let's set something up' and I'm not sure I want to... but don't want to say no. So hard.

Teenage DS phoned me last night at around 12.30pm absolutely incoherent with drink, and I ended up going out in coat and pyjamas to collect him from a friends house. Lost his trainers, vomited all night, almost lost his iphone (I found it in the street). Absolutely mortified today (and very hungover). I can't get mad with him as have (obvs) been there many times (and not just as a teenager) and understand how one minute you can be OK and the next alcohol just turns on you, but I do hope he doesn't have our family 'tendencies' (I come from an Irish family, a fairly normalising attitude to extreme drunkenness and a fair few massive drinkers in our mix). DD is very puritanical and has been vocal about how disgusted she is which doesn't help! It makes me think why the hell does anyone do it? But then (although it is extremely rare I get in that state) I do know that if I go out and have wine next month I will have more than I intend to and get 'the fear' the next day. And of course lose the fitness gains I work so hard for.

Twattage enjoy your holiday!

Rothbury, Ma, Venus, Baking, Lou and anyone up thread that I've not namechecked - hope you are having a good weekend

Off to bag a seat on the new thread...

Ooh Slings cross-posted. Hello!

Sweet lovely sorry to hear you're feeling so shitty today. Do you think it may be because you're expecting to see results sooner than they're happening? Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, maybe have a word with the instructor when you're next there and let them know how you're feeling and ask for their help with the curls etc. Don't let it get you down for some reason it didn't release your dolhpins today, I'm sure it will next time You're doing so well on the AF front, keep it up babe - you will see results, it's been a long hard week and eat as many sugary things as you want - it's tons better for you than glasses of red

hello hope

Trying to fill this.....

..........up!