Over this holiday season, my second since going Paleo, I will be faced with an onslaught of treats and goodies that are full of sugar and grains. Last year, I was adamant about not having any of them at all because I was making super progress and I didn’t want to do anything to sabotage that. At the time, it was a new journey for me, and I was nervous about the social interactions that go along with not eating treats at the holidays. I was worried about insulting anyone by not eating. At the center of our cultural gatherings are foods that are prepared through the care and effort of others for the enjoyment of others. To not partake is an insult, right?

Well, not so much. I learned last year that if the people really do care about you and love you, they will not only understand, but actually respect your stance and help you avoid the bad stuff. People who care and love you want you to succeed more than they want you to eat that pastry or cookie. They want you to be healthy more than they want you to eat the candied yams. Someone else will eat it all, anyway. You can guarantee that.

This year, I am remaining steadfast in my commitment to my health and fitness by staying Paleo, running, and avoiding foods that are bad for me. I will continue to refrain from eating foods rich in sugars and grains, and I will eat only those foods that are Paleo. To all the offers for non-Paleo foods I will be receiving this holiday season, I will smile and say, “No, thank you, but I sincerely appreciate the offer and the effort in making this.” In the rare event that someone pushes the issue, I will explain to them that my body is no longer able to process the grains, dairy, and sugar without having a painful reaction, and I chose to avoid that. The bloating and digestion distress just isn’t worth it.

Stick to your guns. If you’re doing Paleo or just getting rid of carbs, it’s okay to say no. What you’re really doing is saying yes to being healthy and making a change in your lifestyle that will bring you more holiday seasons to say no at.