It is that time of year. Everyone expects everyone else to be jolly and eat like there is no tomorrow. Lots of cookies, cakes, fudge, pies, and more all over the place. So, what do you do if you are working on losing weight in the middle of all of this?

Well, the traditional answer is abstain from eating any of the yummy sweets. Will that work? Well, yeah, for the short term. Will it make you happy? That depends on how much you value your weight loss over your pleasure. Doing without can be very miserable and lonely. Most people gain some weight this time of year because they are enjoying all the treats. If you don’t enjoy the treats, you will lose weight. If you are one of those rare creatures who actually dislikes sugar and chocolate, you’ll be perfectly happy. If you are a typical person, you won’t. If you’re not happy, you can’t keep doing the same thing. You’ll burn out and quit, trying to recapture your happiness.

What to do? How to succeed and be happy and keep it up for the long term? I have a suggestion or 2 that I hope will help.

First, cope ahead. If you know you’re going to be somewhere that temptation will be running rampant, do things to help reduce the temptation and maintain your health. Eat a healthy snack or meal, so you’re not going to be ready to eat everything in sight. Practice behaviors that allow you to avoid or reduce the amount of treats. If you know a food pusher is going to be there, rehearse how you will speak to them and politely stand up for yourself. Practice moving around the room with a glass of water in your hand so that you are never too near the treats for too long. Keep drinking that water so you are participating, and keeping yourself from getting hungry.

Or, accept that you are going to eat the treats, but practice restraint. Have Grandma’s special pie, just don’t eat the whole thing. Take a few bites of the foods on offer, then stop. Remember, the first few bites taste the best. So don’t keep eating to chase that elusive quality. You won’t find it. This way, you don’t upset anyone, you participate, you don’t punish yourself, and you can keep doing this for the rest of your life. It is possible to have treats and lose weight. Doing this will shed the pounds of pressure, guilt, and loneliness that often come with not participating with everyone else. I know, I know. An adult should be disciplined and mature enough not to give in to peer pressure, but are we really? I’m not. I’ll be having some of the good stuff. I’ll be participating in the party or meal. I’ll let myself enjoy things. And I’ll be mindful when I eat, so that I have control over the amount and content on my plate. In a manner of speaking, I’ll have my cake and eat it, too.