Finding Balance with Flexible Eating | An 80/20 Approach
Whether you’re new to the concept of macros or have been a flexible dieter for quite some time, we still often get the question “should I be eating ‘clean’?”
Many of you might still be skeptical, wondering “how can donuts help me lose weight? That’s impossible!”
Forget what you’ve been told about good food and bad food. Stop listening to all those gimmicks and gurus out there. If you hit your macros, you CAN truly eat what you want and lose weight – I lost 30 lbs. hitting my macros with a diet consisting primarily of Cinnamon Toast Crunch! ? Sure, I lost weight and looked great but I didn’t feel so hot, especially when I stopped being able to go to the bathroom!
We recommend that you eat a majority of things that are nutritious. Keep in mind, micronutrients are also important – no one wants scurvy! With that being said you must eat what you enjoy and find a balance that works for you.
We’ve found that in order for us to feel our best and still feel satisfied by our food choices at the end of the day, that an 80/20 approach works well. Simply put, 80% of the foods you eat should come from good quality, unprocessed, vitamin and mineral dense foods. Foods we would all agree are “good” for our bodies. Meats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Foods that rot, foods that if you sent back in a time machine to your great-great-great-great grandparents, they would probably recognize them!
The other 20% of your foods can then come from the foods you love, the foods that are “good” for our minds and overall satisfaction. The foods (or drinks!) that most diets would tell you to avoid. Why you ask? Because we all know what happens if you deprive yourself.
Too many coaches are preaching “eat whatever you want so long as it fits your macros.” Truth is, that works, you can lose weight as long as you’re hitting your numbers, but we want this to become a lifestyle and become something you can do forever that promotes long-term health and wellness.
Good quality foods give us more vitamins and minerals, leave us feeling satisfied longer, contain more fiber, keep our immunse system boosted and help support a healthy digestive system.
Think about that 20% as what keeps you coming back to the 80%. Does a bowl of ice cream do the trick? A slice of pizza? Maybe a glass of wine? Do it, enjoy it, and take solace knowing you are setting your body and mind up for success.
As Oscar Wilde said, “everything in moderation, including moderation.”
*If you prefer to give this a go with a whole-foods focused then check out our paleo-style Caveman clean meal plan.
**Hear more about living 80/20 from Jason on the Own Your Eating Podcast.