(Strip Number 859, Original Publication Date, 30 May 1985)
Panel 1: As they walk to the porch of her house, Anne tells Elly to take it from her and not broadcast the fact that she's dieting.
Panel 2: She starts the process of Elly tuning her out by comparing it to quitting smoking and how that's an open invitation for harassment by know-nothing know-it-all big sisters who haven't an ounce of sympathy for Phil.
Panel 3: She then tells Elly to take her little successes one step at a time.
Panel 4: Her self-deprecating comment about how she keeps tripping over the first step baffles Elly.
Summary: There are three reasons why Anne's attempt to give advice backfired. First, she tried to get Elly to see things from a smoker's viewpoint. Second, she didn't realize that Elly wants to be thin and loved and loveable and beautiful right the Hell now. Third, Elly can't wrap her brain around self-deprecating humor. We learned that when she yelled at John for making the same stupid mistake he did and not getting Ted's point about his humble little cottage.