Brave Babes (Hygge) Battle Bus: Snowed in and Drinking Hot Chocolate instead of wine

[SweetLathyrus]

Hi, I'm SweetLathyrus, Sweet for short, and I've been on and off Gerald the Brave Babes Battle Bus since 2014. Over the years, lots of us have maintained the thread, most of all the lovely Mouse, who has been here since the early days, and still scurries onboard when she can.

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. Driers and Triers, all welcome.

2018 has been a busy year so far, lots of new travellers as well as old faces; if you want to read back on the journey through Dry or Dryer Jan and Feb so far, here's the link to the last thread

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

We've donned the snow chains, topped up the antifreeze, and turned the heaters up to loud, so even though it's cold outside, our welcome is always warm, so hop on and join us.

Coquette Have you got your pjs on too? I find having pjs on helps me feel the chance to go out is gone. I had my pjs on at 5.30 today. That's early even by my standards!

@bakingcupcakes yep pjs on! I'm feeling ok now, just remembering how great it was to wake up this morning with a day off and no hangover so looking forward to that again tomorrow

@DearCoquetteThe weather's meant to be good again tomorrow too. I definitely don't want to be feeling like shit all day. God knows how many nice sunny days I've lost to drinking over the years!

coquette - get the teeth brushed and be starting to wind down to bed now. If you need to, go brush them again! You can do it.

xxx

Cross posted - baking hope you're okay and have kept away from both the cigs and the booze? x

DearCoquette go you for not giving in to the craving!

I am 6 months now af.
I go out very occasionally and last night actually had a really good sober night out with others drinking.

If anyone is reading thinking they can't carry on with their current drinking and moderating isn't working keep trying day 1. I'm not sure how many times I tried but I can honestly say I am so relieved to not drink and a lot happier.

I have always had an alcohol problem- never drank like' everyone else'. So this is such a relief.

I read this thread for a long time before Initially posting trying to get it together to stop.

Thank you all for this thread x

So I've done a Friday and Saturday night, go me!! Although I've woken up with shocking stomach ache (when will I learn that jalapeños hate me? ) Happy Sunday everyone and thank you once again for all your support

So, I've made it this far, but the witching hour is almost upon me. Distraction is the order of the minute, it is so hard, bloody DH bought white Rjoca, I know it's a passing fancy, and feeling less bloated and a good nights rest will be my reward, but D'Argh!

Well done Coquette, and "Hello", by the way!

SayWhen, you are doing brilliantly, I'm not going to give up giving up.

Twattage, hope your walk was good, plenty of sunscreen and hydration (of a watery kind).

I've spent the day going right through my washing basket - three loads dried outside and one there now. Walked SweetDog before it got hot - his second walk will have to wait until 7 or 8 for the pavements to cool. Dropped DS at a friends for the night, and DH and I have just sat in companionable silence in the garden for most of the afternoon. It should be enough, shouldn't it?

I made it! Today has been AF

My insides are churning and gurgly, - anyone else attribute every minor symptom to over-consumption of wine?

Yes sweet funnily enough I still get most of those symptoms just don't worry about them now.
Go you on the af today! X

Morning all - boing!

Current view - the sun is rising over the fields around our house and the farmer has put his rare breed cows in as of Saturday. They are currently all queued up looking over our fence!

Am going to drink my coffee then I'm off to the beach for a run.

Sorry for radio silence - stepped into sidecar on Sat but been back on it 100% since yesterday morning. Brilliant feeling not to have to rush back to London today as we have the cat with us, although we will have to go back this evening, the husband needs to be in the office tomorrow (I don't - boo).

Walk was brilliant on Sat - amazing views and v chilled. Ended up on about 25k steps as a result!

Yesterday we had a bbq in the PM (parentals came over) but I was asleep by 8.30pm and in my pjs by about 6! Was knackered after a long day on Sat.

say - amazing work on the 6 months. That's brill.

sweet and coquette - hope all went well yesterday.

I am feeling a little er blocked this morning - decided to have a carb free day yesterday and I'm not sure that was the best idea! I hope it's not going to interrupt my run...1/4 down on last week. It's not much, but it's something.

Have a good day all. xxx

Good morning everyone! It's a stunning day again today. I want to go outside before it gets hot. I managed to burn a little yesterday. Only my shoulder/arm but bit unexpected. I wasn't wearing cream (hate it) but I didn't sit in it either. I think it happened in the car going to the supermarket.

I had alcohol free kopparberg in the garden yesterday. It was good for a change but really sweet. I'm a bit desperate to smoke something. Had my pjs on at 6pm so I couldn't go the shop. I know it's just the weather and all in my head but it's hard.

Well done everyone who's managed to resist this weekend. Those who haven't just keep trying. It clicks eventually. Although to some extent I feel jealous and like I'm being robbed every time the sun comes out and I realise I'm AF and a non smoker! Stupid as not having a hangover and being tied to cig breaks is awesome!

Twattage It sounds like you've had an amazing weekend. You sound really positive and happy too.

Sweet Hooray for day 1! Enjoy your lack of hangover today. It's a good feeling.

Coquette Doing the Friday&Saturday AF on a sunny bank holiday is an achievement. You should be proud. How was last night?

Say I'm glad you're still going. Your posts really inspired me when I was starting out.

Anyway, I've agreed DS can have pancakes for breakfast I must be mad- there'll be sticky everywhere so he's super excited. No idea what we're doing later.

Morning - back from my run on the beach (well the prom). It was very hot even at 8am and I had to walk 3 mins of my 5k as I had that sicky, sweaty head thing going on after the 3.5k mark.

Slower than last week by 1 minute 20 but if I'd run it all, I'd have been somewhat quicker pace-wise. I've dipped my toes in the sea for the third day running :). It's too cold for swimming at the mo but definitely warmer than a couple of weeks' ago when I first put them in.

baking - you seem more pissed off about the cigarettes than the booze! Can you not try to see it as a filthy, dirty habit which doesn't go with sitting in the sun feeling healthy?

Here's a quick photo of my view at 6am out the bedroom window, the cows had run off again by the time I got my phone out. Not a great photo as it was taken straight into the sun.

Right I'm going to read the paper for a couple of hours and then I'm out for a sunbathe from 11-2...have a lovely day all.

xxx

Gorgeous, Twattage, don't burn today - I'm not good at sitting still, especially in the sun - funny because give me a blazing fire and I'll sit and stare all day!

Baking don't let the stickiness put you off, think about how much better those pancakes are going to taste without tobacco dulling your taste!

I definitely benefitted last night from better sleep, so I'm determined to see this through. I put a sun-dress on this morning and realised how much weight I've put on. I need to get clean from the inside out, so here goes day two. I've got my fizzy water next to me already, a fridge full of fruit for the sugar cravings and you lovely lot for support.

Morning all.

That view is beautiful! Well done twattage for running in this weather. I did a long run on Saturday and it wasn't pretty. There were tears and everything but I'd set myself a target and had to reach it as I have an organised run in June to complete. My feet are covered in blisters and my joints ache but I keep telling myself it's worth it

Have had a sober bank holiday and despite the aching legs and sunburn am feeling positive. Off out this morning to buy new trainers as my old ones have had it! At least the money saved on alcohol will offset the cost!

Well done coquette, baking, sweet and say on the af bank holiday. Enjoy the sunshine lovelies

Clearview, that is determination personified! I hope you're not feeling too sore.

Sitting in the garden (mostly marking) with a healthy salad wrap (also wholemeal), a bowl of strawberries and a cold bottle of Becks Blue. Even after just one day there are improvements - better focus, clearer (and non-smelly - sorry tmi) urine. Softer skin, although I know from experience, the redness will take a lot longer to go, and better food choices.

It's definitely easier today than yesterday, but I'm beginning to get tired, it's heading towards 5pm, my own personal witching hour, so I need to be watchful.

I hope you're all enjoying the sun and making all your ice cold drinks, AF ones (you won't regret it tomorrow, though you may resent it today )

Well done everyone for staying AF (and if you didn't there's always tomorrow!))
I'm day 15. There was one point on Saturday where i was desperate for a cold glass of white but had a diet coke instead.

Embarassingly I'm putting weight on as I'm eating so much sugar

Woohoo! My app reckons I've broken the £100 mark on money saved and have spent 90% on sweets

Hello Mavis, it's amazing how the totals add up isn't it? I'm making sure that I have drinks in the fridge so that they are more appealing when the urge for a cold glass of vino strikes. It's always taken about a month for the weight-loss to kick in - today I feel particularly bloated and lumpy.

Sweet I'm finding the thought of treat money very motivating! Agree with you about the alternatives....bottle green cordial and fever tree tonic is a particular favourite (sometimes together!)
With you on the bloat. Hopefully it's just the weather!

I like Blossom cottage Morello Cherry cordial, and Belvoir Raspberry and lemon. Fizzy water and lots of ice - I think the fizzy water might be part of the bloaty problem today!

Night all. It's been a quiet weekend on the bus, I hope that's because you've all had lovely times to distract you.

Twattage I've found not smoking really hard this weekend. Worse than not drinking. It switches round though. I also think if I'd bought cigs, the next step would've been a g&t and then it'd all go tits up.

Clearview That's dedication to a cause! I'd never be able to run those kind of distances.

Mavis I really wish I'd been tracking money saved properly. I bet it's really satisfying it hitting triple figures.

Sweet It is quiet around here lately. Nice to see you back regularly though.

I'm going to bed. Late tonight. Think it's because the sooner I go to bed the sooner I have to get up for work.