Q: I want to lose weight but my partner won’t work out or eat healthy. What do I do?

A: I applaud you for wanting to do something special for yourself.

Note that I said you are doing this for yourself. Sometimes, we have to go after things alone. It can be very comforting to have a significant other, a friend or relative to go on trips with us, go to events with us, and go to the gym with us. However, sometimes you are going to have go all by yourself.

A long time ago, I told God I would go even if I had to go by myself, and I can’t tell you how many times I had to leave friends and family to follow my dreams, to rise above my current situation and achieve goals I didn’t even know I could achieve.

Please note that I am not writing about whether your partner is willing to work out with you or not and whether he or she is willing to eat healthy with you or not.

Simply put, you two are individuals, and they are individual choices. Yes, couples do influence one another — negatively and positively — but let’s get back to rising above the situation.

We live in a world where the ideal situation is not always an option. We would like the world to stop so we can eat healthy and exercise without stress and work, but, unfortunately, it does not.

I believe you can do whatever you set your mind on accomplishing. Get rid of the fear that you can’t do this alone. It’s harder, but you can do it! Get rid of blaming others. Other people contribute to our stress, but make a commitment to learn how to handle stress better! Stop saying you are too busy. You are never too busy to love yourself!

You asked: “What do I do?” You just do it! Get bold, take responsibility for your choices, and get started on loving the life you lead.

Dr. Carletta N. Perry offers therapeutic life, relationship and career coaching. Catch her television show, “It’s Life Changing with Dr. Carletta Perry,” Sundays at 11:30 p.m. on WSKY/SKY-4 and on YouTube. Email her at contact@drcarlettaperry.com.