DEAR ABBY: My sister-in-law is in the process of losing weight. We're all very proud of her.
The problem is, whenever we are around her, she goes on and on about what she did or did not eat that day. She also gives us disapproving looks or makes unwelcome comments about what we are eating.
We have tried to gently change the subject, but it always goes back to food. Is there anything we can do or say to stop this without hurting her feelings? -- HUNGRY FOR ADVICE IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS
DEAR HUNGRY FOR ADVICE: When someone is dieting, her (or his) life is centered on food -- food that is allowed, food that is forbidden, etc. In fact, in many cases when people diet, they become more focused on and more obsessed with food than folks who are bingeing.
As long as your sister-in-law is dieting, she probably won't change. Only when she accepts that her new eating habits have become her lifestyle will food stop being uppermost in her thoughts.
Because her constant harping makes you uncomfortable, gently recommend that she join a weight-loss support group. There she will receive positive feedback from others who are experiencing her journey -- and with luck you'll be subjected to fewer of the details.