Mom keeps mocking my healthy lifestyle

Every time I talk to my mom, she makes some passive comment about my workouts or what I eat, and I’m starting to lose my patience with it.

I’ve been taking care of myself more seriously the past year or so. I work out regularly, eat clean most of the time, and honestly feel better than I have in years. But almost every time I see my mom—or even just talk to her on the phone—she makes these little comments that feel like jabs. They’re not mean, exactly, but they’re snide in that “I’m just joking” kind of way that makes it hard to call out.

If I mention what I had for dinner, she’ll jump in before I can finish and say, “Let me guess, chicken again?” Or if she asks what I did this weekend and I say I went to the gym, she’ll roll her eyes and say something like, “Of course you did.” And it’s the tone that gets to me. It’s like she’s annoyed by it, or thinks it’s silly or obsessive.

I don’t go on and on about fitness when I’m with her. I don’t lecture her about what she eats. But when she asks, I just answer honestly. And somehow, it still turns into these little digs. It’s like she’s trying to turn something positive in my life into something negative.

I’ve tried brushing it off, but it’s starting to get under my skin. I don’t expect her to care about training or healthy food the way I do—but I also don’t think I should have to feel defensive for trying to take care of myself.

Am I being overly sensitive, or would this bother you too? How would you handle it?