My walking friend keeps saying I've earned dessert. Can I ask her to stop commenting on my food?
Food"We've done enough steps for that," my friend said when I ordered a slice of cake after our Saturday walk. I laughed, though I hadn't asked for permission.
Now the comments happen nearly every time we eat together: I've earned the pastry, she hasn't earned hers, we should split something because the walk was shorter. She means it as encouragement. I find myself choosing whatever won't start another conversation about our bodies or our activity.
We aren't following a shared eating plan, and I'm not asking what either of us should eat. I want the walks and the café stops to feel easy again. Would you tell her directly that you'd rather leave exercise out of our food choices, or respond lightly each time? I'm afraid a serious talk will make her self-conscious, but the jokes are already making me self-conscious.