u/Savings_Science_1352

For years, I was the "skinny one." I had my son at 21 and my daughter 18 months later, and I stayed slim through it all. People actually used to tell me I needed to eat more. But around 25, the weight just started piling on—specifically on my stomach and back. My arms and legs look exactly the same, but my midsection has changed completely.

I was in denial for years, but I’m 30 now and finally admitting I have a problem. I work full-time from home, and the boredom snacking is out of control. If I’m not busy for a second, I’m in the kitchen. It’s reached a point where people constantly ask if I’m pregnant, which is soul-destroying.

Has anyone else dealt with "hormonal" or "stress" weight gain that only hits the stomach? More importantly, how do you stop the habit of snacking when you're stuck at home all day? I really need help breaking this cycle.

My husband and I recently moved into what was supposed to be our forever home, but since we’ve arrived, I’ve had constant issues with women on our street overstepping boundaries.

The first neighbor was obsessed with my husband. She would literally wait in her garden for him to come outside just to find an opportunity to talk to him. It got so stressful that I eventually had to tell him he couldn't engage with her anymore. He wasn't initiating it, but he’s a polite guy, so if she asked a question, he’d answer. Thankfully, she has since moved to another city, but now a new issue has popped up.

Another woman living further down the street has started acting way too comfortable. Our kids play together, which was fine at first, but now she’s making herself "at home" in our house. The other day, she just made her way inside while my husband was sitting there. She stayed for ages, venting about her life and slating her own husband.

I find it so odd—I would never dream of behaving like that with a friend’s husband. It feels like she’s constantly hovering and won't leave us alone. I’m frustrated because this is our long-term home, and I don’t want to start a war with the neighbors, but I also need my privacy and my marriage respected.

Has anyone else dealt with neighbors who have no concept of boundaries? How do I get her to back off without making it incredibly awkward every time we walk out the front door?