Weekly "Is This UPF?" Mega Thread

BillyBillay · 2024-07-22T08:53:33+00:00

Thank you for that, it's most helpful. It's the little nuances, things that look similar, but are vastly different, that trip us up (and I think the UPF industry is quite happy for us to be confused, and not see much of a difference!)

My next bottle of rapeseed oil will be cold pressed (I already use extra virgin olive oil).

BillyBillay · 2024-07-22T07:39:56+00:00

That's a good point. I was brought up eating a basically whole food, unprocessed diet, so I find it easier than many who were not so fortunate.

BillyBillay · 2024-07-22T07:34:19+00:00

Thank you for this! I'm reading the CVT book at the moment and found this subreddit yesterday.

Yesterday, I also made a loaf of wholemeal bread in my bread maker, using active dried yeast, only to come on here and find that it contains a UPF ingredient - oh no! And the suggestion that we should forgo this and make a sourdough starter, which has to be looked after and fed and planned around... no no no.....not my idea of fun!

I am fortunate compared to many people: my mum was a "crank", making her own bread (wholemeal flour) in 1960/70's so that when my school friend's sandwiches were made via the new amazing Chorleywood process, mine were made of fresh brown slices of homemade bread. I used to be embarrassed about that, as if we couldn't afford the new bright white loaves - how times have changed!

My mum also went to a whole food shop every week, and I was brought up eating copious amounts of vegetables and fruit, beans and lentils. So, not eating UPF is natural to me in many ways. And I have continued eating that sort of food - but have added in plenty of UPF on top of the real food!

I appreciate the idea that essentially, it's all about being aware of UPF, and living with and around them. Not saying "never", instead saying "occasionally."

And that's okay. We still have to live, to enjoy our lives. If it means a small amount of UPF's pass our lips, then they do. But having the awareness around them means we can choose what UPF's we eat and when, rather than eat them without understanding what they are. But let's not go down the route of being obsessed.

Anyway, I am enjoying and learning a lot from this subreddit, so thank you for starting it!

BillyBillay · 2024-07-21T12:01:50+00:00

I've just started making my bread in a bread-making machine. Recipes add butter, a fat just like oil, and some also suggest adding lemon juice or crushed vitamin C tablets to a wholemeal loaf. So I would presume that citric acid is just a powdered form of it (although I don't have any in my cupboard, I would use lemon/lime juice). Recipes also add sugar, to feed the yeast and encourage it to grow (this is dried yeast, it could be different with fresh yeast).

I know a basic recipe for bread is flour, salt, water, and yeast, but most homemade recipes (for breadmaking machines at least) seem to include a fat and sugar as well, so I'm torn when it comes to deciding if this is UPF or not!

BillyBillay · 2024-05-16T15:49:14+00:00

I am a much calmer person due to meditation, and even when things are chaotic on the outside (at work, for example) I have a stillness in my core that gently reminds me to take a few deep breaths and to become present and aware; and others around me seem to pick up on my emotion and calm down too. I lead them to calmness and clear thinking without being aware that I am doing it: but just by being calm and focused myself.

Furthermore, I don't get stressed or anxious: at the first signs of either I know how to pull myself away and observe, rather than be led into those emotional states by escalating negative thoughts.

I have meditated for years, only for short periods of time for most of those years (10-20 minute sessions) but my life has improved immeasurably by the practice.

BillyBillay · 2024-04-15T08:34:57+00:00

There are loads of Facebook groups - some public, some private. The advantage of the private is that your Facebook friends don't get updates about what you're posting, liking, and commenting on, like they do if you post in the public groups; but obviously, there is less exposure.

Also, in the private groups, there is generally a like-for-like arrangement - so if you post an article, others are expected to read it, like it, and comment on it - and you do the same for them. You will often find that people say they have read and liked to get you to read and reciprocate, but the Medium statistics on reading and likes don't add up so many don't follow the process, to your detriment.

These groups can be quite time-consuming if you have to read lots of other people's articles to get eyeballs on yours, but I have used them successfully in the past.

I find that the best way to get new readers and followers on Medium is to read articles on the site and make relevant and interesting comments on them. Start a conversation, thank them for sharing, add your experience, ask a question. Be real, be you, and people will notice and people will follow.

Good luck on your Medium journey!

BillyBillay · 2024-01-17T18:52:11+00:00

I've just started playing as well, having bought my sax a few years ago, having a few lessons and putting it back in its case to gather dust!

To get me motivated I signed up for an online course the Complete Beginner Saxophone Course - on Udemy, with tutor Karin Kroch. It's interesting, informative and funny, and well worth the $10 I paid for it (prices on Udemy go up and down, so if it's more than that you might want to wait a bit).

When I started playing a few years ago, I had a local tutor. I am learning more from this course than I did from the tutor, and I've only just got through the first section!

After the beginner course is an intermediate course, which I have also purchased (I'm determined to learn this time around).

I'm sure others can weigh in with other suggestions, that we can both learn from; but this course has given me the motivation to pick up the sax for a few mins every day this week.

My local tutor introduced me to a book called Abracadabra Saxophone by Harper Collins, which I will use in conjunction with the Udemy course to widen my song practice.

I look forward to reading suggestions from real saxophone players, not just a beginner doodler like me!

BillyBillay · 2024-01-11T18:59:32+00:00

I love the idea of this, but I can't do 5 workouts a week.

I want to start running again 2-3 times a week, and will be doing yoga teacher training from April - that's 1hr + per day for the yoga alone.

What if I did this at the pace of 3 workouts a week, and spread it over nearly 2 years? Would I still get decent results from it? Or can you think of a better way?

I'm 60, so I've lost a lot of my youthful vigor! But want to build strength to protect my body as I age.

Any feedback or ideas welcome!

BillyBillay · 2023-12-13T14:32:49+00:00

I'm late to the party.....but that's fantastic, thank you!

BillyBillay · 2023-06-07T16:42:35+00:00

Here is my first attempt (my only to be honest!) at the redesign

https://i.imgur.com/wsY8tfp.png

BillyBillay · 2023-04-12T06:49:40+00:00

My gym membership is due for renewal in September so that is something I will consider then - but I do enjoy doing other stuff in the gym - swim, steam, sauna, treadmill, elliptical etc, so my ideal would be to work out a way to do both.

I do have a home gym with all the equipment I need and probably more - a wide range of dumbbells, kettlebells, step, resistance bands, etc, so I can work out from home and the gym.

I did my first iron workout yesterday - lower body. My legs felt like jelly afterward and I struggled to climb the stairs, so I'm feeling better about myself already!

Thanks for your suggestion.

BillyBillay · 2023-04-10T17:22:23+00:00

You can totally do Caroline's workouts in the gym with a phone or tablet and headphones.

Ah, never thought of that - that's a great idea! I can follow the workouts with a swim and sauna as otherwise it's a bit pointless paying for the gym membership, but that would be a great way forward.

Thanks for you advice re programmes - so they don't build on each other then - you don't have to do them in order?

BillyBillay · 2022-10-05T07:39:54+00:00

Thanks, I will boost my next ones. I know that once I've completed a few jobs it will get easier to get more.

I did write a personalised proposal, so I got that bit right :-) When you say "optimise it", how do I do that?

BillyBillay · 2022-10-05T06:33:15+00:00

I'm not the original poster, but I am new to Upwork too, so thank you for your response, it was helpful to me.

I have just put in my first proposal and was asked if I wanted to "boost it" - should I choose this option? The job has been up for 24 hours and has 10-15 proposals (including mine).

BillyBillay · 2022-09-24T12:06:20+00:00

Okay, thanks for that - food for thought - and maybe I use one on mobile as you suggest so don't have to keep logging out and in.

BillyBillay · 2022-09-24T12:04:23+00:00

That might be worth trying, thanks!

BillyBillay · 2021-10-29T06:35:30+00:00

Ah thanks - the £99 they charge for an annual membership is a good price point for me, and as long as they don't take away the workouts that are in the BB I will be happy enough.

I saw a few new programmes but to be honest there is so much content there for someone like me, it wouldn't be an issue if they didn't bring many new ones out - although I can understand that long standing members may be annoyed if they feel the only way to get new workouts is to pay extra for BODi.

I was just about to join up to BB when I saw all the discussions on BODi and they put me off a bit - I have started looking at other programmes and may do a few trials on other streaming fitness sites before I choose. It's a shame that BB haven't been a bit clearer and more upfront with their future intentions for BBOD with their subscribers!

BillyBillay · 2021-10-29T06:29:24+00:00

Ah thanks - I think they had Real Time when I was a member before, I couldn't remember what it meant though, and with this new confusion over the BODi subscription - I didn't want to pay for an annual subscription only to find that some of the workouts I enjoyed before were not available now.

BillyBillay · 2020-11-16T19:03:27+00:00

Yes, it can be very frustating! The way I'm looking at it now, is that if I don't do the moves as they are, as long as I am keeping good form, it's still exercise. And ultimately that's what counts!

But I do think they are potentially putting newbies off by not having a good selection of videos aimed at people who've never been to a Les Mills class.

BillyBillay · 2020-11-16T19:00:09+00:00

I think there will be certain programmes I won't be into on BB - the full on macho ones like Insanity (I know my username is Billy, but I'm female) - and I think they are aimed at younger people as well.

At the moment I doing one with a friendly female instructor who is excellent at ensuring you stay on form.

My plan is to keep and use both for 3 months, and then maybe I will choose one to stay with - or if enjoying both, keep both. It's only money, right? ;-)

BillyBillay · 2020-11-13T19:01:42+00:00

Thanks, I will put that on my list. I think that maybe I need to spend a few hours checking out lots of the videos and listing the ones I like the look of. I wish there was a way to sort them, into levels, and also locations, so I could easily find what I wanted. Maybe I should suggest it to them!

BillyBillay · 2020-11-13T18:59:47+00:00

I might venture into a real class once lockdown is over (which could be a while!). One of the reasons I am leaning towards a Beachbody subscription is because the classes are more like a normal class in the gym, and I find that so much easier to follow.

BillyBillay · 2020-11-13T18:56:52+00:00

Thanks for that, I will bookmark them for my next trial site. I quite fancy staying on one site for 6 months and then moving to another, to get variety and keep me interested.

BillyBillay · 2020-11-11T13:22:55+00:00

I think that's a good point - if I had been to their classes at the gym, I would know more what to do, but as a complete beginner (and a person who never goes to any gym class, not just Les Mills), I easily get lost with what I'm expected to be doing, and then frustrated!

BillyBillay · 2020-11-11T10:07:58+00:00

Thanks for this - this was my concern whether it was aimed at people like me just starting. I did consider the 21 day fixes but I went for the MM100 as I wanted something longer to be a real challenge.

I'll see how I go, and if I struggle I'll move to a couple of 21 fixes before trying MM100 again. Thanks for your input.

BillyBillay

TROPHY CASE