Quitting UPF

[Oysterbabe]

I'm reading Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food...and Why Can’t We Stop? By Chris van Tulleken

I've always struggled with my weight. I've had long spells of being a healthy weight but I've been 2-3 stone overweight for a few years now and I just can't stick to anything. I feel like I'm always eating and never satisfied. I think the amount of UPF I eat has gradually increased. It's mostly convenience, I work and have small children. Toast or cereal for breakfast is just very fast and easy, I'll often pick up a supermarket meal deal for lunch, I live on Pepsi max etc.

So this is my latest thing to try, no counting anything, just reducing UPF as much as possible. The book is quit convincing in the damage it does to our health and I am reaching the point where it's starting to just seem a bit gross. Has anyone given this approach a try? My hope is that eating mostly minimally processed foods will naturally lead to a reduction of calories.

I had a week off from this as I was on holiday without much control over the ingredients but I'm back and determined.
I'm enjoying considering what I'm putting in my body more closely. It's a bit of a minefield. For example Tesco have 8 different options for tinned kidney beans. 5 of them contain firming agents, the other 3 are just kidney beans, salt and water. Dried is probably the best and cheapest option but requires a bit more organisation. Luckily I have a pressure cooker so can cook them in a hour and no soaking.
My system is definitely happier for not being filled with UP bread. I've long suspected some kind of intolerance to it, because it makes me so bloated.
Thanks to the tiktok account posted on this thread, I have discovered that the lightly salted kettle chips are not UPF 😊

Discovered that Lidl lightly salted crisps aren't UPF either. I've found a few 70-85% chocolate bars that are OK. Nice to add a few treat foods that I can have from time to time while staying on track.

Made my own “spread” with butter, olive oil, and salt. Was bloody delicious on toasted sourdough!

I’m going to try the spread - thanks for that and the crisps. I went out for dinner last week and didn’t eat pudding as I thought about what was likely to be in it. I just don’t fancy the food like I used to.

Does Anyone have a recommendation for where to buy kefir grains?

I gave them up and it has transformed me. I used to be tired all the time. In fact I had blood tests done for the exhaustion I was having. To the point where I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other.

I had serious hip pain and inflammation over my body. My brain was foggy and I was having sugar spikes three times a day. I feel like a new women now. I had something the other day as I didn’t have any other options and felt terrible for three days after.
they make these foods full of sugar and they make them so they are addictive so u will buy more. Never again will u go back to eating that crap and feeling as bad as I was. Turns out I don’t have ibs. I just was eating crap food. Life changing.

I'm still getting on really well with this. I haven't weighed myself in weeks and might not for a while yet. I've completely lost the desire to eat junk and am in a really good routine. Natural yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, homemade soup and non-UFP bread for lunch, something simple and home cooked for dinner, an apple if I feel hungry.
All good.

That’s great.

I’ve lost 10lbs now BUT I have had some moments where I’ve been hungry and tired.

our habits have definitely improved for the better though. I’m not letting good be the enemy of perfect.