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...?!!

Actually, we don't know if she's healthier. She may be fitter, but even that is a moot point. It's shocking to me the lifestyles some people get away with and still stay healthy. And then you get people who seem thin and healthy on the outside but they sadly have a ton of problems including diabetes.

There is everything wrong with UPF.

It's more likely it's bloating and water retention, rather than actual fat gain and muscle loss. You'll be able to bounce back pretty quickly if you're very active and have a good diet usually.

Why?

Healthy food is still good delicious food.

Why is eating healthy and exercising not fun?

This is incredibly dramatic - I don't get it.

You had guests for 10 days who like UPF and now you're addicted?

Your home your rules?

I grew up in a normal, reasonably healthy family and my parents and us have never really bothered with UPF in my lifetime. I tend to shop at Waitrose and UPF would literally double my food shop.

Surely this isn't hard work!

Did they force feed her ?

Eventually though for most the body is affected.

Being active, eating whole foods, and maintaining a healthy weight and muscle mass is healthy.

It doesn't mean she'll never have health issues, but a diet of upfs and no exercise is unhealthy.

That's just science. It might not give someone diabetes but there are many other factors.

Yes of course UPF and crap carbs/sugar are addictive. Well, that's probably the wrong word, but the more you eat the more you crave. The reason why normally restrained eaters go a bit mad in that 'Christmas week'. I don't find it improbable that you've gained weight in a short time or else we wouldn't gain so much over Xmas/holidays. Once your guest goes home, you can get back in the saddle. I find that high GI foods make my moods worse, I feel much calmer eating decent foods, never mind weight gain.

You should be well proud of your lifestyle!👏
It's much harder to be fit and eat well (while resisting temptations and deal with personal life adversities) than being overweight and barely be able to run for 2 mins!

The nasty ones are just jealous!

Thank goodness they are not heroin addicts with you being so susceptible to peer pressure!

You are my hero OP, people will try to shame you and call it concern. I quite like a bit of CG not done her WOs in ages. I like to cook from scratch but I also love some UPFs crisps, chocolate but I try to make them as low on the UPF scale as possible.
I like to eat out and splurge I want to carry my shopping when I am 80 and the years o have left I want to be good ones, strong ones not just being alive ones. I think diet and exercise will help that. Yes I could suddenly have a debilitating disease but I am doing everything I can to love well and want to be you when I grow up (48 here 😉)

Peer pressure is a big thing

As is trying to be nice an accommodate your guests and make them feel welcome and at home

I know you are all paragons who never do anything that you wouldn't see is totally your own choice just surprised you don't realise how unusual and exceptional and truely amazing you really are

Why so many snarky replies? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Because she’s talking to people who are exactly like her relations.

Why does Op living a healthy lifestyle upset you?

She indulged and was shocked at what a difference it makes on her body.

A 70 year old with the biological age of a 53 year old, I would imagine she is indeed healthier than her guests

You can tell from the comments who has read 'the book' and who hasn't.

I love a Crunchie and a packet of Monster Munch as much as the next woman, but knowing the tricks played with our food to literally make us addicted to utter shite, many ingredients of which can't even be described as food, and which literally shortens our lives really pissed me off.

I've been overweight most of my life and I now realise I've been a literal slave to UPFs for decades. I fell for all of the tricks.

It's terrifying that we just hand our kids over to McDonalds and Haribo and don't even know what we're doing.

Making the switch is so hard though - it's in EVERYTHING!!

Yep.

Denial. Science shows us OP is healthier than most with her lifestyle.

I've completely let my diet choices go downhill the last few years and have no doubt at 70 OP is healthier than me.

Add me to the list of people who want to be like OP when I grow up.

She should be proud!

@PaminaMozart

They sleep till 10, so I've given my usual morning workouts a miss so as not to disturb them.

So why not leave them sleeping and do your workouts whilst they're still in bed? If exercising at home there are quiet exercises you can do at home (even in your own bedroom) such as resistance exercises with exercise bands or hoops, weights, yoga plus stretching, lunges, ViPR, bosu ball, etc. Or leave them a note to say you've gone for a brisk walk/jog in the shirt instances it actually isn't raining..,

Also I perfectly understand how you feel about cravings. I'm about to put some chocolate ice-cream sticks I bought in a weak moment in a bowl of hot water to remove the temptation. I had one earlier and although I snaffled it very quickly it really wasn't as enjoyable as I remembered and it's made me slightly sick. I'm buying watermelon tomorrow.. 🌹

🙄

Hmm, is this true though? We're an incredibly fat nation and there are more obese women than men worldwide.

If you are female you really should try and work on getting some muscle. We need it as we age.

Eat less marshmallows and you can have lovely muscles too. 😂

What a bloody vile thing to say. Some of the posts on here are revolting.

Really? Their life sounds appalling. You really want to be fat and unfit? It's easy. Pick up your phone and order another takeaway meal. And another tomorrow.

Well, they say 'hell hath no fury like a fat woman scorned'. 🤣

Reading this thread I'm inclined to agree!