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

[PaminaMozart]

... how quickly things can fall apart!

I'm a self-confessed health nut. Love exercise, lots of walking, and my diet is normally supper healthy. Lots of vegetables, lean protein, a smattering of complex carbs, healthy fats and dairy/mostly yoghurt.

It has stood me in good stead. At 70 I am really fit and my health-MOT suggests a biological age of 53 or thereabouts.

BUT...... for the past 10 days I have had relatives staying with me who seem addicted to UPF, carbs and sugary 'treats'. They sleep till 10, so I've given my usual morning workouts a miss so as not to disturb them. No point cooking stuff they won't eat. Or we eat out at places with limited/no healthy options.

Slowly but surely I've fallen into a pattern of eating what they eat, drinking wine daily (as opposed to a glass once or twice a week), and taking the bus instead of walking.

And, even after such a short time I have gained weight, my belly is definitely more prominent, and my lovely muscles seem sadly diminished.

A salutary lesson. Use it or loose it. I wonder how long it'll take me to get back to where I was...?!!

To add - about the addictive part: I never missed all the UPF and sugar........ but now I'm actually craving it...

Reaaallly? 🤣

Nothing wrong with UPFs - everything in moderation.

This thread does seem very much scare mongering though.

Humble bragging much?

What the hell is a UPF?

Yea and it wont be doing you any favours at your age

It's a shame your habits haven't rubbed off on to them

Ultra Processed Food ...

Ultra processed food

Have you been living under a rock? I feel like the topic is everywhere atm

Oh poppycock, what a prickle you find yourself in. One must get Jeeves back on the healthy trail, whatever will the tennis club think of you!

if you felt that strongly it would not have crossed your mouth. If you still feel that strongly it won’t be hard to kick.

It’s because your body isn’t used to eating those foods that you’ve had such a bad reaction to it.

That or you’ve indulged more than your willing to admit on this thread!

In 10 days you've lost your muscles?
Don't be ridiculous.

And losing your muscles has nothing to do with what you ate but that you stopped doing exercise.

What a strange thread.

I had to look up what UPF was. Ultra Processed Food for those of you who didn't know.

You can get up and go for a very brisk walk while they sleep.

Eat one or two crisps just to be polite then leave the rest.
Drink one very small glass of wine, sip it slowly.

You can't blame others for 'making' you eat and drink stuff you don't want.

It doesn't have to be All or Nothing.

You don't have to be a total people-pleaser in order to not put them out.

You’re probably just retaining loads of water from the extra salt and your belly will shrink back to normal in no time.

10 days is simply not enough time to change your body type or weight. You might be more bloated, but that's about it.

Maybe you need more willpower? 😉 Nobody is forcing you to drink wine with them every night. Cook your own food, and tell them they are free to eat what you cook or sort themselves out.

I must be 😂 genuinely never heard of it

you are not any better than them but sound like you think you are

i can understand in a way, you get used to the treats.
you can give them up though

Of course 10 days of over-eating crap food are more than enough to make you put on weight.

YABU not to use your time before 10 to do some kind of exercise, even power walking outdoors and lifting a few weights won't make them up.

It's MN. You speak about healthy food and exercise, it touches a nerve with a lot of posters. Don't expect much sympathy on here 😂

Why are people being so nasty? I'm merely pointing out how addictive this stuff is and how quickly things can fall apart! I genuinely thought that a couple of weeks of falling in with their ways would be fine - and easier all round - so was surprised that I got 'addicted' to UPF and sugar so quickly.

No worries - I'll get back on the wagon as soon b as they're gone, but I fear it'll take me a heck of a lot longer to get back to where I was than it took to gain the weight and low the muscle mass.

Mumsnet isn't your diary...

It's probably carbs, sugar and alcohol much more than 'UPFs' as such. You can have homemade carby things that aren't considered 'UPFs', or something that's very processed like Fulfil protein bars which may not be ideal but I bet wouldn't affect your metabolism and weight in the same way. Actually if you're visiting again maybe take some high protein things like that and nuts so you can eat a bit less of their carby junk. And go for a walk in the morning, maybe do some low impact load bearing exercises that can be done quietly?

How much longer are they staying? It's literally only been 10 days. It's not going to take too long to get back to where you were. And others have pointed out some useful suggestions of how you can start getting back there now. You don't need to wait for them to leave.

You sound unhealthily obsessed with health and fitness though.

I misread ... if they're visiting you then surely you can keep your normal healthy foods in stock, have simple things like soup of salad for lunch even if you're cooking them something they like?

I eat like shit generally (and feel shit for it most of the time) - I don't think there's anything wrong with being proud if you eat very well regularly! Good for you! It's not a bad thing to be proud of/boast about at all.
It will be a shock to your system if you usually eat so well OP, it will probably affect you more than people who eat/drink like that daily because your body isn't used to it.

Mimsnet orthorexia again.