The health world is flooded with all kinds of diets these days, but I’ve never been interested in a gluten-free, Paleo, or otherwise restrictive meal plan. While I want to be healthy and eat foods that will nourish my body, I learned a long time ago that cutting foods out of my life entirely doesn’t work. I tried Atkins in high school and lasted about one week before I had some spaghetti. I tried juicing last year after Thanksgiving but poured all the purple beet juice down the drain by 2 pm. Diets that limit the foods I can eat just aren’t for me. That being said, I have found one thing that does help me achieve my health goals: the 80/20 lifestyle.
Following a dietary and fitness plan that's 80/20 means eating clean and exercising 80% of the time and allowing yourself to indulge and rest the other 20%. It’s a lifestyle of balance, enjoyment, and maintainability. Here are just a few reasons I love living 80/20.
It’s not a diet—it’s a lifestyle.
This isn’t something I’m only doing for a specific time period. I’m not trying to lose ten pounds before vacation. There’s no end date because I want to create a life that is not only healthy, but also allows me to enjoy exciting things. My health goals feel attainable this way, and I don’t become discouraged or down on myself simply because I ate a piece of pie at Thanksgiving. If that’s not a diet and fitness plan worth following, then I don’t know that there is one.
I can treat myself.
Thanks to the 80/20 mindset, I can eat all of the foods I enjoy in moderation and for special occasions. I don’t have to live in fear of weddings, cookouts, or birthday parties. I never feel guilty for having a few cocktails on girls’ night. All I have to do is think about what I’m eating ahead of time so that I save the 20% splurge for the good stuff. When I know that I have something, like a birthday or family dinner, then I stay on track for the meals during the days leading up to it so I can enjoy the night. There’s nothing celebratory about a salad.
It provides a measurable way to track myself.
I like to set monthly health and fitness goals to keep an eye on how well I’m working to see results. Some months involve different goals, like trying a new yoga class, but I always include the goal to exercise 80% of the days in the month. This gives me a visual representation of how many workouts I need to complete to live an active life. I also set the number of splurges meals I’m allowed to eat (four per week). Doing this helps me control myself during those brutal afternoon cravings at the office.
It’s manageable.
My biggest pitfall has always been managing a diet. I’m not the kind of person who can thrive off of limitations. Plus, I like food. I enjoy cooking and testing new recipes and trying out new restaurants. So a “no” diet is not going to happen. The ratio of 80% healthy and 20% less healthy is maintainable for me and my life.
