Girlfriend keeps putting me down and taking jabs at my weight

DEAR DEIDRE: EVER since my sister-in-law got a new boyfriend, my ­girlfriend has been putting me down non-stop and humiliating me in front of her family and friends. She’s started calling me “Tubs”, grabbing hold of my love handles and cupping my moobs. I’m 27, she’s 26, her sister is 24 and the new bloke […]

DEAR DEIDRE: EVER since my sister-in-law got a new boyfriend, my ­girlfriend has been putting me down non-stop and humiliating me in front of her family and friends.

She’s started calling me “Tubs”, grabbing hold of my love handles and cupping my moobs.

I’m 27, she’s 26, her sister is 24 and the new bloke 29.

He is a good-looking guy and works out at least three times a week.

She never seemed to mind about my excess timber before, but since this new guy has turned up, she only ever criticises.

It started with a bit of­ ­gentle ­encouragement to get down the gym, which is absolutely not my thing.

Then things escalated to a point where she would openly ridicule me in front of her family.

I’ve laughed it off but it’s really starting to get to me.

The joke is she isn’t exactly at her fighting weight and doesn’t do any exercise at all.

DEIDRE SAYS: If you are laughing off her comments she may not realise how hurtful her behaviour is.

It’s time to sit her down and let her know how she is upsetting you and that you want it to stop.

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It sounds as if she may be feeling she needs to keep up with her sister, through her boyfriend’s looks, so remind her that you have your good qualities and you find it undermining to be constantly ridiculed.

If she won’t respect you, I’m afraid that you’ll need to consider whether you want to be in the relationship at all.