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...?!!

@NotbloodyGivingupYet - this thread might be of interest to you:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5084252-to-hope-that-the-exercise-i-do-now-will-help-mobility-when-im-older

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

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.

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

She might just be bloated which can come on very quickly

Maybe a big fart will help?

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..

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

Gotta be honest, their lives sound more fun.

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!

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!

@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.

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

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

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.

This is peak mumsnet.

Today I had one of those massive 150g packets of salt and vinegar walkers and ate all of them. Unfortunately they have burned the sides of my mouth. I’ve also eaten chocolate, white bread, and ate loads of carbs for dinner.

taking care of yourself is not self absorption.

The implication? That is your take on it. She IS much better than her visitors though. Said visitors should be grateful for meals provided by the host, I imagine we are talking about close relative, but how rude to expect your usual food.

I do this when I travel to the UK. I eat crap there but you soon go back to normal so don't worry.

Good for you OP. I eat and exercise so that I arrive at 60 in great shape, 70 really good shape, 80 good shape and 90, well I hope that at last I'll be in world class shape as everyone else has given up or gone.

Use it or lose it. Not exercising for a DAY starts muscle atrophy. That's why bed rest is not a thing anymore, and why anyone sat at a desk needs to think about what they are doing to themselves. Michael Mosely (RIP) was so right in much of the work he did in this space

Ignore the haters

This happened to me. I had a bout of emotional eating after a bereavement and I was shocked at how quickly I gained weight and I didn't feel I was eating that much - it's incredible how it all adds up. You could eat thousands of calories a day just eating "normal" meals and snacks.

I applaud your healthy lifestyle before and I am shocked that instead of finding it inspiring people are carping at you. I suppose many are addicted to UPF and the thought of giving it up makes us angry with people like you who seemed to have it licked. But I don't think we can have the slim figures many of us 9want if we don't give it up. They say everything in moderation but, like you, I find that eating that stuff triggers cravings so I can't eat it in moderation.

I have decided to ditch the sugar and UPFs and am on day 15 without sugar (not completely sugar free as I am eating fruit at breakfast). I have to say that I already feel much better for it and have already lost half a stone.

At your age? 😂 saucer of unpasteurised, raw milk for you!