UPF.... WTF - I knew it was addictive but didn't realise...

I don’t know why everyone is so offended at your post, fucks sake. Most of them would probably rather buy ozempic than look at their diets.

UPF in general cause inflammation, so you probably haven’t put any weight on your just puffy. But I know what you mean. I have to keep socialising to a minimum for this exact reason. We are self catering in a villa this year to make eating easier too.

The reason so many people are overweight / obese is addiction. They make it like that on purpose.

Love my muscles

Just ignore the haters op. At least you're in tune with your body and proud of it. I wish i was more like you !

Women are so horrible to each other, as if it weren't bad enough having men belittle us every sodding day because we aren't thin enough, pretty enough, tall enough, etc etc etc.

Same! I also eat like you do and nowt wrong with being proud for giving yourself a healthy body !

I know exactly what you mean, op, and I don’t think it sounds like you are blaming your guests- you’re just giving the context.

iME you can get it back quickly- you’ll be feeling normal again within a few days of healthy eating and exercise. Unhealthy living is a vicious circle- eating crap makes you want to eat crap- so the sooner you stop the better. Booze in particular.

I've heard very good things about her workouts. I don't enjoy working out alone at home. Fortunately I'm able to go to various clubs or swim sessions or get out on my bike or my feet alone or with others.
I spend my working day sitting on my arse alone in my garden office so my sport is also a very social thing for me.
People often remark that they can tell I haven't talked to anyone all day!

But it’s not bullshit for lots of people.

IMO there is no safe level of consumption when it comes to UPFs.

Muscles are lovely; even more so on women as we have to work harder for them and we don't tend to use 'help' to get them. I've been boxing (only with trainer) for 3 years and I prod my biceps every day (not in company), to remind myself to book in again.

Exercise- in my case - has been hard won. I hated it in school (bullying gym teachers/showers, etc.) and steered off it for most of my adult life but now I'm in my 50s and I wish I'd had the guts to start it up 30+ years ago.

So do you think it’s impossible to eat in moderation or that even moderate eating of upf is very bad? I am thinking about how to address this issue for me.

For what it's worth OP, I totally get what you're saying regarding UPFs and how easily it is for healthy habits to drop off when your normal routine is disrupted. The good thing is that you have built up your lifestyle over many years so it will be easy enough for you to get back into it once normal routine resumes. It's a shame that as a society, we've lost sight of what our bodies are inherently designed to do and to be fuelled by. People who want to eat nutritious food which is as unprocessed as possible are being called 'orthorexic', rather than acknowledging that actually the system that we live in has completely normalised and often celebrates UPFs as an everyday dietary choice.
Well done for wanting to build and preserve muscle mass as much as you can. There's a lot of people thinking it's just for aesthetic reasons without understanding just how important it is for women to build muscle, whatever age they are.

Some really nasty comments on here.

I'm completely with you op. I’m 66 and try to give UPFs a swerve for my long-term well-being. They’re insidious and I believe they’re doing an awful lot of damage to people’s health which may not become apparent for some years yet. The more I read the research, the more it concerns me. I definitely think there’s a link between the explosion of UPFs and the increase in long-term health issues we see generally now. I’m not a saint, I do cave in now and then, but I try to be mindful as I can feel the difference within myself.

Good luck in getting back into your routine when your visitors have gone.

I wonder if there is anyone who managed an ‘everything in moderation’ approach to upf?

I like junk food. But I do have willpower. I have never smoked, drunk alcohol or taken drugs. I can eat one snickers and then not eat other junk for the rest of the day if that’s what I really want to do. I don’t think I addicted as such but maybe that’s me being in denial?

Just wondered if there is merit in eating less upf rather than giving it up completely. Surely there is?! 🙏

Well I agree, crap food is addictive if you go down that path. I have to consciously avoid it. I live healthy food so it's fine, but a "slip" can be hard to draw aline under

I read somewhere that scorning UPF’s was becoming a feminist issue.

Women back in the kitchen doing everything.

I’m totally with you on this. The older you are the quicker you lose muscle tone and the longer it takes to get it back.
I don’t eat junk food because I don’t buy it and having Celiac’s disease discounts the vast majority of temptation when out. But, good grief the amount of crap my sister hauls into the house when she visits is unreal, and yeah it doesn’t take long to succumb to daily treats and an expanding waistline.

Completely agree OP.

I am either on or off the wagon because of the way it takes hold. Said to my DH only yesterday that I need to treat it like smoking, only complete abstinence is the way forward.

it terrifies me how so many people don’t see it and believe this moderation bullshit. No wonder the food companies are getting away with it.

I think my muscles are lovely. I've worked hard to get them (with a good dollop of genes which help).

OP, think of it as a food holiday and get back to the grind once they've gone home (if they haven't already).

Totally with you OP.

OP, don't go, this is your thread. You probably have touched nerves because many of us haven't got it right with UPFs yet, and maybe never will?

I wanted to mention something. I bought a GLO salmon salad from Waitrose the other day, looked great, under 400 calories and it was really delicious. When I'd finished it I idly perused the ingredients thinking that I could make it myself and I saw GLUCOSE SYRUP on it, quite high up. I'm not sure if this is the same as CORN SYRUP but that is something that I've sworn against.

I've attached the nutrition if anybody's interested but this bloody stuff is insidious and it has no business in a salad, surely? Wasn't a massive salad - 244g.

Can I ask what diet this was. I have chronic migraines and Botox for migraines isn’t helping.

Ok I promise I'm not being bitchy but you probably have a very poor metabolism (but great energy or discipline)! Despite my username I'm skinny with a trash diet (however I am trying to be healthier, not for appearances but to not die from snack overdositis), but even for a normal person I don't know how anyone would just swell up in 10 days?