6. "I hate to see you depriving yourself."

Variation: "It must be so hard." "You're so brave to do this."

Why it's unhelpful: Reminding a dieter of his daily struggle doesn't tell him anything he doesn't already know.

Better: Skip the empathy altogether. People often fall into these conversations at big events, like weddings or parties, where guests tend to indulge, because they transfer their own guilt or worry to the dieter. Resist the temptation to talk about the food. Stick to discussing the weather or the bride.