OK, you have started your weight loss program, and you are doing fine.

You have lost several pounds, and are well on your way to your ideal weight. People are beginning to notice your more svelte appearance. You have much more energy. If you are a gal, guys may be starting to whistle. If you are a guy, gals may be starting to whistle. You feel like you can take on anything. You are encouraged by all this, and have every intention to keep it up until you reach your goal.

Then, one day, you find a box of chocolate-covered toffee on your pillow, or a lemon cream pie in the fridge. You didn’t buy it, so who did? Your Significant Other says it is a little gift for you because you are looking so great.

You don’t want to ruin your progress, so you resist the temptation to indulge. Or perhaps have a small amount. Great! But then it happens again. This time it is an invitation to a fancy dinner. You were avoiding eating out because printed calorie counts at many eateries are nonexistent, and the waitstaff is worse than useless at finding out how many calories are in a portion of their deep-fried pastafazool. So you do your best to order something good while staying within your calorie budget.

What’s going on? You don’t remember your partner being this indulgent with you before. It is possible that he or she may be envious of your weight loss success. Perhaps they have tried to lose weight before, and failed. This can get deep. Maybe on some level they prefer you a bit plump. Or the other person may fear that if you become more attractive, you will get attention from the opposite gender — and then he or she will have to fix their own flaws to compete for your attention.

In any case, if you feel that you are being sabotaged by a loved one, talk with them. Find out what is going on. The one thing you must not do is let any of this interfere with your plans to become as attractive and healthy as you can be. Keep on going, stay with the program, and you will work wonders.