AITA for Telling My Bil I'll Be on a See‑Food Diet
TL;DR – I’m pregnant, my husband’s brother keeps offering unsolicited diet advice, and I told him I’ll just eat sea‑food. Everyone says “NTA”, but the comments are a hot‑dish of snark.
The Family Dinner That Turned Into a “Diet Show”
Picture this: a super‑pregnant mom (26) with a toddler who can now walk and talk, a supportive husband (29), and the ever‑present “BIL” (Brother In Law) who thinks he’s a nutrition guru but whose only specialty is the art of sneaking a diet lecture into a bathroom break.
It all starts innocently enough. Bil and his sister (34) are at the couple’s house, and the husband—who’s currently on a mission to the restroom—suddenly disappears for a few minutes. In the vacuum left behind, Bil steps in like a dietary ninja.
“Have you done any research on how to lose weight after a baby?”
I’m already picturing him with a clipboard and a “Weight Loss 101” handbook. I take a deep breath, because we’re not in a yoga class.
“I don’t have any plans for that.”
He keeps going. He explains a diet that apparently involves cutting out everything and that the baby’s weight will “just fall right off.” I’m like, “I’m not worried about my weight. My doctors, my husband, and I are all good. You can keep your diet notes to yourself.”
Bil presses on while the husband is “taking a shit.” He asks, “Do you have any diets in mind? I’d love to research them for you.” I laugh, because at this point, the only diet that makes sense is the one that involves seafood—because breastfeeding burns more calories than a treadmill marathon.
“I’ll be on the see‑food diet. I’ll see food and I’ll eat it.”
Bil looks visibly uncomfortable. The sister giggles. The husband finally emerges, and Bil decides it’s time for a dog walk. The husband, now a bit amused, tells me the story. “It’s funny,” he says, “but I’m going to talk to my brother.”
Now I’m left wondering: Am I the asshole for making a joke about a sea‑food diet? Do I owe Bil an apology for being sarcastic? Or did I just defend my own sanity from a diet‑obsessed intruder?
The Comments (No Usernames, Just Straight‑Up Feedback)
NTA
This is really annoying! It’s perfectly fine for people to be rude to you, but you do it in return and it’s a problem! It should be the law where someone says something rude and you by law have to tell them to fuck off.
Nope. BIL needs to keep his weird food stuff to himself, in his own head. How many people have nicely suggested/asked that he stop? Has he stopped?
Be rude!! Being nice hasn't changed anything except he doesn’t do it in front of his brother. Some people just don’t get it until they’re either put on the spot & embarrassed all to hell or people finally tell them they will stfu or they will have to leave the premises. Maybe tell him no contact till he realizes he's being an asshole. And do this EVERY TIME he starts again.
NTA if my brother pressed my wife like that I’d probably remind him that I’m his big brother if you catch my drift.
NTA, keep it up. Honestly, sounds like BIL has an eating disorder/body dysmorphia.
Bottom Line
You’re not the asshole. You’re a mom who’s ready to feed herself—and her baby—with anything that keeps her nourished. The only thing you should be wary of is a brother who thinks he’s a diet whisperer. Keep your sea‑food diet on lock, and maybe give Bil a gentle nudge that his unsolicited nutrition seminars belong in the not‑for‑public‑view category.
Happy breastfeeding, and may your stomach never feel the weight of unsolicited diets again!