Recently I signed up to receive daily e-mail updates from Hungry Girl (if you haven’t already you should check out her site – it’s a lot of fun!). Yesterday’s HG missive included her explanation of a strategy that I seem to have unknowingly adopted – the approach that has been largely responsible for my weight loss success over the past number of months – the 80/20 rule.
Hungry Girl explains the 80/20 rule (scroll down to the second question).
Go ahead and read it – I’ll wait!
Though I wasn’t aware at the time that it had a name, the 80/20 rule brought me through Christmas and New Year festivities, dinners with friends, Sunday brunches with my husband, special events involving special food, and a girls’ restaurant-of-the-month group. I have fully participated in and thoroughly enjoyed myself at all of these events over the past eight months, not once feeling deprived, or that I was missing out on anything… yet through it all I have managed to lose 46 lbs.
The 80/20 rule works!
My weight loss may seem slow to some… but in my mind, adopting the 80/20 concept offers me the best of all worlds: the opportunity to live a good, healthy, fun life, enjoying and appreciating special occasions and treats without allowing them to derail my day-to-day efforts towards health and wellness. It’s such a simple concept, and I’m not sure why it took such a long time for the practice to click into place in my own life… nevertheless, I’m glad I’m here, and plan to carry on learning and growing in this direction.
To a person who has never struggled with weight and food issues, the 80/20 rule may seem like a no-brainer. If that’s the case, you are very fortunate indeed! For me, and I daresay for many others who battle these issues, loosening the hold perfection and “all or nothing” thinking has on you can be powerful and life-changing.
Please share your thoughts!
Cheryl49 July 19, 2012 at 6:35 pm
That’s how I lost the 40 pounds I got off. Now I just need to strengthen my resolve and get back to the 80/20 rule instead of the current 50/50 one I’m on right now. I don’t care how slowly the pounds come off so long as the scale is moving in the right direction. Slower is better in weight loss anyway because it means you’re learning something while you’re losing. :)
DawnStorey July 20, 2012 at 12:59 pm
That’s excellent, Cheryl – congratulations on the 40 lbs! I like your attitude – very quick weight loss so often doesn’t stay off, and you’re right – you do learn more when it takes longer.
themhalf July 19, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Yes! This is how I strive to live. We use this rule in the training world as well. Thanks for bringing it up, Dawn, and congrats on your progress!
DawnStorey July 20, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Thank you! I really like this way of approaching health and fitness.
Diana Pinto July 21, 2012 at 4:57 am
I liked the 80/20 rule.It’s motivating and simple to implement in our lives.As you said we get to enjoy the best of both the worlds.Great post!!
DawnStorey July 21, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Thank you, Diana! I think the 80/20 rule can be applied to all sorts of areas of life.