We have all dealt with that one family member who thinks your body is a public project for them to manage, but one pregnant mom on Reddit just gave us the masterclass in shutting down unwanted advice. Imagine being “super pregnant” with your second child, chasing a toddler around, and mentally preparing for the marathon that is breastfeeding. Now imagine your husband’s brother—a chronic yo-yo dieter—decides this is the perfect time to lobby you for his latest weight loss obsession. If you have ever wanted to tell a relative to mind their own business while you finish your sandwich, this story is going to be your new favorite thing.
The Original Poster (OP) is 26 and already has a three-year-old. She didn’t have the easiest time breastfeeding the first time around, so she is fully focused on making it work with baby number two. For those who don’t know, breastfeeding requires a massive amount of extra calories just to keep your body functioning. Enter the Brother-In-Law (BIL). This guy is apparently obsessed with every fad diet under the sun and has a nasty habit of trying to recruit everyone else into his misery.
Even though the husband has repeatedly told his brother to stop pestering his wife about her weight, the BIL is “sneaky.” He waits for the husband to leave the room before pouncing with his unsolicited advice. It is a total “main character” move to think that a woman who is literally growing a human being wants to hear about cutting out entire food groups to “snap back” after labor. Most of us are just trying to find a comfortable sleeping position, but this guy wants to talk about calorie deficits.
The situation reached a boiling point when the BIL and his sister were visiting. The husband went to the bathroom, and the BIL immediately started his interrogation. He asked if she had researched how to lose the baby weight and even offered to “research” her diet plans for her to see if they were “good” for her. Because obviously, a guy who can’t stick to a diet himself is the ultimate authority on what a nursing mother needs. It is such a haughty move to suggest that a pregnant woman, her husband, and her actual doctors have no idea what they are doing.
The OP tried to be polite, telling him she wasn’t worried and neither was her medical team. But when he kept pressing, she decided to go for the jugular with a classic dad joke. She laughed and told him she was going to be on the “see-food” diet. As in, “I see food and I eat it.” She pointed out that breastfeeding burns a ton of calories and she plans on being hungry all the time. Honestly? Absolute legend.
The BIL was “visibly uncomfortable” by her response, probably because he realized his target wasn’t going to play along with his body-shaming games. Meanwhile, the Sister-In-Law (SIL) was in the corner giggling, which tells you everything you need to know about how the rest of the family views this guy’s “expert” advice. When the husband finally emerged from his bathroom break, the BIL made a quick exit to “walk the dog.” We call that the “sprint of shame.”
The emotional commentary here is a mix of “good for her” and “what is wrong with this man?” It is a total bullsh!t move to corner a pregnant woman and ask about her weight loss plans while her husband is literally taking a sh!t. It shows a complete lack of respect for her boundaries and her physical state. The OP is wondering if she’s the ahole for being sarcastic, but honestly, she was far more polite than most people would be in that situation.
Let’s be real for a second: if you are so insecure about your own body that you have to project that onto a pregnant woman, you deserve a little bit of sarcasm. The BIL wasn’t trying to be helpful; he was trying to feel superior by making her feel self-conscious. It is the ultimate “boundary stomp” to try and “research” a diet for a woman who is about to go through the most physically demanding experience a human can endure.
The husband, to his credit, found the whole thing hilarious and planned to talk to his brother again. It’s great that he has her back, but the BIL clearly needs a firmer lesson in “not your body, not your business.” The OP says she feels bad for him because of his insecurities, but being insecure doesn’t give you a free pass to be an ahole to your family members.
This story is a great reminder that you don’t owe anyone an explanation for what you eat or how your body looks, especially during and after pregnancy. The “see-food” diet isn’t just a funny joke; it’s a valid plan for someone who is literally fueling another life. If the BIL is so worried about research, he should research how to stay in his own lane.
So, is she the ahole? Not even a little bit. She handled a rude, sneaky interrogation with humor and grace. The BIL learned that his “yo-yo” tactics aren’t going to work on a mom who knows her worth and her calorie needs. We hope the OP enjoys every single snack on her “see-food” diet once that baby arrives!
What would you do if your BIL tried to put you on a diet while you were pregnant? Is sarcasm the best way to handle a “sneaky” relative, or should the husband be doing more to shut this down? Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever had to deal with a fitness “expert” who couldn’t take a hint!