The withering glance 🙄

Mum’s the word.

Lots of you wrote in to share your favorite ways of shutting down diet talk. Thank you all! I had many good laughs.

Here are some of your ideas:

Ruth says, It’s the withering glance for me! I find that kind of talk soooo self-righteous and just more than I can bear. [If you're really worried about someone] then let’s have a private, caring conversation, maybe toss in some legit research. [Ed. note: research is always good!]

Rebekah says: Favorite retort: SILENCE. [Ed. note: Respect! This is extremely advanced. Some of us have to work up to that.]

Beth says: "I'm so sick of talking about diets. Let's change the subject!" [Ed. note: Direct and irreproachable. Nice!]

Flo says: "What you are saying is very interesting! On my side, i am just trying to love myself as I am!” [Ed. note: Also irreproachable. There is no insulting comeback possible now.]

Debbie says: In response to ANY invasive or inappropriate question on any topic I smile sweetly and ask "Oh, are you taking a survey?" Shuts 'em up every time! [Ed. note: BOOM.]

Susan says: When people talk about how they lost 3-4-6 pounds in a few days on some pseudo science fad diet I love to silently calculate how many calories they would have to eliminate to make that happen. Usually impossible. Same when people say they gained 3-4-5 pounds in a single weekend. I try to think of it as entertaining listening. [Ed. note: If you're really feeling bold you might whip out your calculator, and if asked what you're doing, just smile.]

May none of us be plagued with diet conversation at the table ever again 🙏

Finally, it seems impossible, but summer will be upon us soon. (In coastal New England, probably about two weeks after spring arrives, which it hasn't yet.) Anyway.

Before we all get into a different rhythm and head off to the beach with our steamy and/or chilling novels, I want to give you the opportunity - not to get a "beach body" because you have that if you have a body that can get to the beach - but to get some peace of mind with food and eating and weight, because you've got the means for making easy, permanent and meaningful changes.

So my Become a Normal Eater by Bedtime workshop is going to take place again in May, and registration will open up soon. If you're on my mailing list, you'll get a nice subscriber's discount, so look out for that. And if you’re not, you should probably avail yourself asap by signing up.

Image: Prosperous Calvinist Family, anonymous, 1627, Rijksmuseum. Used with permission.