The 90/10 Rule: Could a little bit of bad be the thing that keeps you good?

If you’ve ever worked in a business environment, you’ve heard about the 80/20 rule. Essentially, that 20% of something is always responsible for 80% of the results. It’s actually pretty interesting to think how many ways this rule can be applied.

BUT, that’s not what we’re talking about here. And I only took you down that little digression because I don’t want you to confuse it with what I am here to talk about, which is The 90/10 Rule. J

How many of us has been on a diet in our lifetime? You know a really depressing statistic? Only roughly 2% of those who go on diets stick with them long-term. That’s a way more miserable statistic than the percentage that successfully quit smoking or drugs, believe it or not. Why? Why is it so hard to stick to a diet?

Because diets tend to deny us whatever it is we love most. And whatever it is we love most, because we can’t have it, is on our minds then 24/7. It permeates to a point where we absolutely cannot stand it anymore, and we “cheat.” (This isn’t just psychological, by the way. It’s physiological. For more on that point, you absolutely must read Dr. Robert Lustig’s new book, Fat Chance.) And then we say, oh screw it, I’ve cheated already so why not cheat some more. And then and then and then. At least that was my experience through my teenage years and 20’s before I wised up!

One of the reasons for this seemingly never-ending cycle for a lot of folks is that their diet food tastes like “diet food.” And eating well really shouldn’t taste bad. Quite the contrary. But I’d argue a bigger contributing factor is that diets are far too restrictive. “I can’t have that” is a terrible thing to have to say to yourself all the time.  And it has the tendency to backfire with a vengeance!

So the 90/10 diet rule is this: eat the good stuff 90% of the time. And then eat whatever you want 10% of the time. So having what you love isn’t a cheat, it’s a treat. A little bit of bad to keep you mostly good. How’s that for a diet recipe? Try it!

Your body is your home! Make it the best place it can be.