Have you guys made it out of the candy coma yet? That bowl of Halloween candy can tempt folks even with the strongest willpower. Halloween kicks off a seeming marathon of holidays that can be difficult to navigate while on a health or weight loss journey. Candy, booze, butter-loaded side-dishes, cookies, and fudge. It may seem like the whole world is teaming up to sabotage all your hard work! But I promise, there are ways to make it to the new year without falling off the wagon (and still enjoy yourself).

Drink light

Try to limit calorie-laden drinks like beer and spiked egg nog. Instead, try using club soda, tonic water or coconut water as a mixer for your favorite hard alcohol. Also, red wine is a great choice at only 88 calories per glass. If you do want to dip your glass into the nog, make sure to enjoy a nice tall glass of water afterward to keep yourself from getting dehydrated and help wash out the sugar rush.

Pick your poison

Do you wait all year to eat your Mom’s world-famous chocolate chip cookies? Then go for it! But balance that out by skipping some of the not-so world famous desserts that might be available. Skip those dried out sugar cookies in the office kitchen. Avoid the slice of mediocre pumpkin pie. Save yourself (and your calories) for the foods you really love.

Do what you can

The holidays are hands-down, one of the most hectic times of year for most people. Often gym sessions are one of the first things to fall away when schedules get packed. Instead of beating yourself up about it, do what you can. Twenty minutes on the elliptical here and a 15 minute walk there might not seem like much, but it’s enough to keep you on track and ready to pick up your hardcore workouts when life gets back to normal in January.

Cut yourself some slack

Guilt can be a nasty little emotion. You eat one too many servings of mashed potatoes and, in a flash, you find yourself in a tailspin of negativity. Negative thoughts can lead to emotional eating and suddenly what just a little hiccup has turned into a train wreck. Right now, make the decision that this holiday season will be 100% guilt-free. Indulge a little too much? Skipped your workout? That’s alright. Give yourself a break. Enjoy your family and friends and most importantly, learn to forgive yourself. That’s the best gift you can give yourself.

What are your tips for staying on track during the holidays?