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

I am currently doing a bit of an emergency holiday diet , low carb no upf. Kicking the sugar was really difficult at first but once you’re not eating it it’s amazing how little you crave it. 10 days in I noticed huge differences to my body and general health so I can totally see how 10 days on the junk would have a big effect.
I absolutely do not have the willpower to resist once I have the sugar in me, it has to be all or nothing. A little sugar leaves me craving a grab bag of chocolate.
And I hold nissin demae noodles responsible for about 10kg of weight gain 🙈irresistible.

It’s probably mostly water weight and will fall off quickly once you’re back to your normal.

Why do I feel like you're about to try and sell me something....

@CrispieCake I swear I'm not being sanctimonious...but I need to point out that their lives might be more fun right now yet definitely won't be more fun when they are also 70, and suffering from much poorer health than OP due to their fun choices.

Not to mention there most likely won't be an NHS by then, to assist them with often self-created health conditions (or at least, health conditions significantly worsened by personal choices).

It is so hard to take the emotion out of food choices, I totally get it. Even the language around it is "funsize", "sweet treat", "a little pick me up" or "I'm being good/naughty" etc.

Slightly off the topic from OP's diminished muscles...

Looked up examples of UPF as we all know chicken nuggets, sandwich ham, hotdogs etc are, but was surprised that cereals including weetabix, bread, tinned soup, plant based milks, butter alternatives, flavoured yogurt, stock cubes, condiments.

It's a huge list!

I think this may be an age thing- under 40, I could write off a couple of weeks holiday and get back to normal extremely quickly, over 40, it's a nightmare, weight clings on and I certainly notice feeling bloated or not my best.

Muscle tone- again, comes off faster than it goes on, although it should mostly all be there OP if you start again.

I wonder if you enjoyed letting go a little bit? I do definitely do better on a healthy lifestyle eating plan when I have a few treats (they are treats to me, I can't agree a carrot is a treat), the odd pudding, a pizza on the weekend. Too healthy and I just end up craving the things I'm missing out on- a small amount of them seems to go a long way.

I don't find it at all surprising that aged 70 your gains disappear more rapidly and it's harder to reverse them, it's a bit shit, the only good thing is if you had them once, you can get them again!

Gotta be honest, their lives sound more fun.

It's true - when I was super fit (sob) and eating well (and 20 years younger) I could see the results in a couple of days if I was eating less well or exercising less. I prefer it now obviously, when I don't torture myself over eating chips or being lazy but at the time it was what was important to me (performing and squeezing into tight fitting dresses). When you're at that level you can tell.

Her diet and health is better than her guests!

That's not saying she's a better person, but it's ok to acknowledge she's a healthier person.

She's also 70. She should be damned proud of herself!!!

Heck she's inspired me and I'm 45.

Also in my 70s and usually fit. I have 2 young border collies that I walk every day in the hills - good strenuous walks, steep climbs, generally around at least 5 miles, often more.
For the last week my car's been in for repairs so no dog walk - navigating a dangerous road means we have to get to the walk start points by car. Anyway, there's been exercise for the dogs, but not my usual structured muscle-burning lung-busting walk. I feel like shit. And I know that when I start the regular walk again, my fitness level will mean I struggle until I can build it up again.

And when you're in your 70s and work hard for them, it's ok to congratulate yourself on your lovely muscles.

There is nothing wrong with a poster getting upset that her friends are hurting her

Hurting her, physically harming her because whatever lies you tell yourself about food and lifestyle , we all know what a healthy lifestyle looks like

I think people are missing the fact that at 70 you're going to notice these changes much more quickly than at 30 or 40.
Heck in my 50s I feel as though I'm seeing a decline every bloody week.

Why so many snarky replies? 🤷🏻‍♀️
It's just needlessly rude and unkind.
How hard is it to empathise with someone for a minute?

OP sounds like you have a fantastic regime and I full understand that getting thrown off it is troubling. You'll get back to where you were I'm sure.

But yes, sugar is very quickly and horribly addictive - I'm a victim! Only when you're free of it do you understand how insidious it is - but it takes very little to fall down the slippery slope again 😂

I had about 6 months of excellent clean eating a couple of years ago - I felt and looked so well! (50s). Then Christmas happened...never recovered!

I hope your guests know you've posted on line about their lazy, muscle-rotting, sugar addicted ways. With friends like you, who needs enemies hey..

Maybe a big fart will help?

She might just be bloated which can come on very quickly

And I say that as somebody who eats very little processed food, but honestly I just don’t believe the original post

this sounds like a totally unlikely story, within a week you’ve put on so much weight and can feel a difference and yet you live such a disciplined regime normally.

It's not jealousy at all. It's the sanctimonious self absorption and the implication that she's so much better than her visitors.

UPF are poison. I never eat them. Not even in moderation. They make me feel sick and ill.
They are highly addictive. You will have to go cold turkey. At 70 you can't afford to eat this stuff. You won't shrug it off like you did when you were younger.

OP as I get older I find it scary how quickly I can lose fitness and tone, and how much harder it is to gain it back again. Trash food also affects me more now I'm older than I did when I was younger, and I find it harder to shrug off the lethargy it causes.
I value my muscles because I was diagnosed with osteopenia and I'm also developing arthritis. My best defence against both is to stay active. Keeping active is my way of staying independent into old age. Muscle tone is a happy byproduct.
What I eat and how I stay fit should be under my control. So I will avoid upf because I find it too addictive to eat in moderation.
The short sighted idiots who haven't twigged this won't be laughing when they develop type 2 diabetes or can't leave the house under their own steam. Of course there are no guarantees but at least we are doing what we can. I really don't see what's so hilarious about that.

Rats exposed to high salt sugar and fat foods will choose them over cocaine even when they are addicted to cocaine.

Me too, when I'm in the gym I kiss my biceps in front of the mirror😎

Even if it was, anyone with good muscle definition at 70 can show off as much as they want. They deserve it!

Why are so many people triggered like that? A toned body takes a lot of work, no one is stopping all the bitter posters on this thread to do it. The jealousy is unreal.