to think that if you want to lose weight you need to stop eating all the time?

[OrmIrian]

There are some women in my office who are always talking about losing weight. Always. And at the same time they never seem to stop snacking. But it?s all low-fat, low-cal snacks, branded stuff like Weight watchers, Go-Ahead and their ilk. Never an apple. Or some carrots. Or anything that is actively good for you, just stuff that isn?t fattening. And then lunch will be more low-fat over-priced crap. Or a lettuce leaf with reduced fat cottage cheese. And then ten mins later a low-fat yoghurt. Are they really really that hungry that they need to stoke the fires all the time? Any if so why not just eat a normal meal with more calories and taste and then STOP SNACKING?

Or alternatively walk to work sometimes .

It's OK I am being sooo unreasonable even I want to tell myself off but for some reason it winds me up...

fabsmum - what you are describing is "collective self-denial"

"collective self-denial"

I tell you - it's hard marrying into a family like this and keeping your trap shut.....

My SIL comments all the time on how 'tiny' my children are, when in fact they're completely normal. They can't get their heads around the fact that there are 8 year olds who wear clothes aged 8 - 9, so they buy her dresses for Christmas and birthdays which are three sizes too big then comment on how skinny she is!

fabsmum - all lots of families operate on collective self-denial about some aspects of their behaviour (not necessarily food). My partner and I come from very different families and it has opened both our eyes to the family denial that is going on. My family-out-of-law has horrid food issues too.

It does sound as if you have a very severe case of it and as if your DH is torn between a rational approach to food and still being emotionally a full member of his blood family, who will reject him, in order to maintain their own self-preserving behaviours, if he starts behaving around food with them the way he behaves with you.

Very difficult. You probably just have to grin and bear it when you see your in-laws. But how difficult for you.