Brave Babes Battle Bus: Sunshine, Roses and Mocktails All Round

[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.

Summer offers all kinds of challenges for those of us trying to change our relationship to alcohol, pub gardens, summer holidays, school holidays, and apparently there's a big football tournament too. If you want to read where the bus has been so far this year 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

The Bus is a bit of a Mumsnet institution, but it has an open door policy, no cliques, no judgement, and the welcome is always warm. So hop on and join us.

Well done everyone. Day 3 here.

Hey babes, just checking in. Always good to see old and new faces on the bus.

Do any of you abstainers give up sugar/carbs at the same time as going AF?

Well done everyone 🌟

Hi, Bubbles, I have two answers to your question and both are purely from my own experience. Other babes will have many words from their own personal wisdom. It’s been a bloody hard struggle to come to terms with the fact that I, personally, can’t moderate my drinking and I have a big problem with my relationship to alcohol. My choice feels to be either drink and accept that I would probably slide towards dependence and damage health and relationships in so doing; accept I can’t drink at all and that means letting go of what has been a genuiney good relationship at times. Dammit, I like drinking! So, no, I didn’t give up anything else at the same time. I have noticed that my general self-care efforts since I went AF have just been about staying that way. Eating well? The gym? Meh! And part two of my answer? I have noticed that in the first few months of abstinence I craved certain sweet foods and that puzzled me as I don’t really have a sweet tooth. It does make sense. Alcohol contains a lot of sugar and you are suddenly depriving your body of its supply. Hope that makes some sense? I’m beginning to stabilise to a new normal now and the sweet tooth seems to be settling of its own accord. I think I’m suggesting it’s a big deal going AF so be kind to yourself.

Hi bubbles. I have done a couple of low carb boot camps and you are not supposed to have any alcohol in those first 2 weeks. I think the first time I carried on drinking wine every night and the second time I abstained. The second time, not drinking was my priority so when I wobbled I was more likely to cheat with dark choc. I think, as crafty said, all that sugar we are used to getting from wine makes us crave sweet treats. Good luck if you are doing both, I am sure it can be done....eggs, eggs and more eggs!

I am still af here but since Halloween I have been eating a constant stream of mini treats. Mini treats don’t have room for any calories though-fact

Have a good day babes!

Ok - eggs!???!!! 😳😳😳

eggs seemed to make up a big proportion of my low carb snacks and breakfasts!! Perhaps not the same for you.

Wow

I'm researching!!

Morning all
Hi Bubbles I agree with some of the other babes that it does make it harder to stick to low carb/sugar when going AF. We deserve some sort of treat don’t we?
I am trying to lose weight and AF definitely makes a difference but I do allow myself treats.
I am just increasing my exercise because I seem to have so much more time and inclination to do it when not drinking. It’s a great feeling to wake up in the morning and actually feel like doing stuff rather than feeling rough and trying to find excuses to get out of doing things.
Hope all you babes are doing well especially those doing the Dry November. Those single months when I did AF really did give me a boost.
Anyway work today then yoga tonight. Hope everyone has a good day

Happy hump day babes! How are you all doing?

A week into Nov already and the mention of Christmas is becoming more frequent [santa]. It makes it hard not to project about drinking but I am trying to ignore any of those thoughts and focus on today. Today I won’t be drinking.

Thanks everyone!

I'm starting 31 days AF today ☺️😬

I’ve now had so many day 1’s my life is like bloody Groundhog Day! I guess it’s a case of don’t give up giving up

Bubbles I will be attempting 31 days with you. I have to say when I have been AF for a few weeks or even several days I can’t fit enough choc, crisps, cakes etc in my mouth fast enough to satisfy myself!

Beaches we had so few Halloween callers our tub of sweets was still pretty full. I have been slowly working my way through it. I’m glad to hear mini treats don’t have room for calories.

Crafty glad to hear your sweet tooth is lessening, I will have hope that it won’t be a continuous state. Well done sending the drink bank!

Wantmore glass there any chance your BF will try AF so you can do it together? It would be hard not to drink if he is sitting having a drink I’m sure.

Baked* you seem to be brilliant at reining yourself in if you do have a couple of drinks. I wish I could do that.

HiScabby & Obrigada hope dry Nov is going well for you both.

Hi, all, good vibes to all doing dry November or moderating successfully. I had a severe ‘fuck it’ moment tomight. I reeeeally wanted to give in and have a drink.... or ten. All the thoughts of ‘why the hell not?’ kept shouting loudly. But the Babes keep me going. I also chant the mantra of never regretting the drink you didn’t have. And tomorrow is another day.

Hello All. This is my first post on this thread so am not really sure how to approach things, although reading some of your posts gives me hope that I can turn things around.

I don't drink every day, but when I do drink I can never have just one or two.

A friend of mine had a birthday get together yesterday afternoon. I didn't want to go but really wanted to support her as she'd had recent problems and I thought that an hour or two wouldn't hurt. Nine hours later I was still there, and still drinking.

To be honest, the drinking's only part of the problem. When I'm sober, I have no interest at all in drugs, but when I've had too much alcohol, I'll take pretty much anything that's offered. I know this is putting me in a precarious position, but by the time I get to that point I just don't give a crap. It's like I'm in self destruct mode.

@bringbackthestripes - we'll do the 31 days together ☺️

Hi @Flawed lots of us can't moderate so have to drink nothing as we won't stop if we start.

Speaking of, I have had a few days off the bus indulging and have allowed myself to as I'm premenstrual and emotionally low, always a time I start drinking too frequently. Surprisingly I have managed to make a bottle of wine last more than one evening, twice! An improvement but I am going to pull myself out of it and not drink for a bit, so today is day 1 again.

Love to you all babes

Hi Flawed I can never have one or two, you will certainly be in good company on here.

Googly it’s great (&cheaper) that a bottle is lasting more than one night. Even better than you can now decide to be AF rather than slipping back into old ways.

bubbles I’m already thinking “but our Christmas night out is in 22 days” not great that I’m already setting myself up to fail. Will take it one day at a time

Hi, Flawed I’m another who can’t moderate, so for me it has to be abstinence. I think a lot of us Babes struggle with having no ‘off switch’ once we start.

Will take it one day at a time

I'm with you there @bringbackthestripes ~ it's the only way

Hello! Occasional lurker, think I might have posted last year but was probably drunk so not sure 

Day 47 AF today!! Second time I've got this far and I know it's the point when I get bored, and when the unicorn-parade-magic-new-figure-etc dreams haven't materialised and I lose momentum. So hopping on the bus and hoping to make it through!

Thank you all for your responses. I've stayed in the house for the last few days so that I'm not tempted to go out and drink anything.

This has meant cancelling a few things but my health is more important. I also have a heart condition, so drink and drugs are not the best idea.

Hello, I'm new and looking for latest bus, is this the one, it seems to be a bit quiet.

Zorra day 47 is amazing!

Missd yes this is the latest one, hop on!

Well I managed to resist a Friday night booze fest, given my crappy day in work I am quite pleased however I exchanged chugging glass after glass for chocolate after chocolate.

Thanks bringbackthestripes I misread the dates and thought the last post was August! I'm so stressed at the moment my brain is a bit frazzled. I shall get comfy and just sit quietly for a bit.