The 80/20 Rule For Eating...

Return2Fit
Return2Fit Posts: 226 Member
edited August 2016 in Food and Nutrition
I just can't diet to perfection like I want.
I'll do great for a season, then slip back into old habits. I found something that works given my limited discipline.
When it comes to eating, think of it this way: eat healthy 80% of the time and reserve the remaining 20% for those foods you love but might not be so healthy.
B)
Life is about balance, and the 80/20 rule goes like this:
80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
For me that 20% "cause" is my base nature I can appease from time to time to obtain my 80% result which is health and fitness.
This may seem obvious to some, but for me, it's a game changer.
Some days I just need that twinkie...

Replies

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    When you say you can't diet, what do you mean? To me, dieting means eating less than maintenance, period. There's nothing about dieting that precludes a twinkie if you want one.
  • Return2Fit
    Return2Fit Posts: 226 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    When you say you can't diet, what do you mean? To me, dieting means eating less than maintenance, period. There's nothing about dieting that precludes a twinkie if you want one.

    I mean diets that demand perfection. I used to get so intense with writing up a rigid food intake routine.
    It lead to failure time and again.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Ah, I agree that perfection is generally not helpful to demand of one's self. That's one beauty of counting calories and approaches like flexible dieting.
  • jblomerth
    jblomerth Posts: 1 Member
    My biggest struggle is weekends! I can make it Sunday night through Friday lunch but after that, all bets are off! I am working on trying to find ways to enjoy the weekend without completely derailing the work I did during the week.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I think many people have this problem. They think a perfect diet means eating perfect all the time (meaning eating only foods that are associated with promoting good health), when in fact there is zero evidence that eating that way is healthier than eating a balanced diet that includes some foods that are not generally considered "healthy".
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    jllawrence wrote: »
    My biggest struggle is weekends! I can make it Sunday night through Friday lunch but after that, all bets are off! I am working on trying to find ways to enjoy the weekend without completely derailing the work I did during the week.

    This used to be a real problem for me. Now I eat pretty light throughout the week so I can indulge more (not pig out!) on the weekends.

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