Cleanish Squad: 80/20 Rule

This rule changed my life

Author

Lacey Baier
December 18, 2023

Hi Cleanish Squad! đź‘‹

People often ask me how I eat clean ALL the time.

I get questions, like...

So, wait, you NEVER eat pizza? Or fries?? Or sugar???

In reality, though, this is not the case. I need pizza, donuts, and Butterbeer in my life.  That would be a nonstarter.  

And, honestly, it's virtually impossible to be something 100% of the time, no matter what you're following.

Enter The 80/20 Rule -- a concept that transformed the way I approach food, fitness, work, finances, parenting, and...well...my life. 

And I bet it will for you, too. 

Some quick history for context: The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle (after economist Vilfredo Paretois), asserts that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of the causes for any given event. 

So...what does that mean for us?

Well, when you practice the 80/20 Rule, you focus on your goals 80% of the time, which allows you the freedom to go out socially, enjoy a meal with friends or family, sneak a holiday sweet treat or grab that Voodoo Donut late at night after a day at Universal Studios the other 20% ;)

...but most importantly, it makes the whole cleanish lifestyle thing feel doable for the long run because you're consistently hitting your goals the majority of the time. 

If you can make the choices that align with your goals 80% of the time, those other blips in the remaining 20% won't really matter.

How To Apply The 80/20 Rule To The Holidays

I used to OBSESS over every single calorie at special occasions—avoiding pumpkin pie and stuffing at Thanksgiving, Halloween candy, Christmas cookies around the holidays, dessert at parties. I thought that if I did indulge, my entire diet would go up in smoke, and I’d immediately lose control and gain all the weight back.

In reality, this just isn't the case.

Gradually, I started giving myself a little more flexibility in those situations—knowing that once the party/vacation/holiday was over, I’d naturally go back to eating healthy. I can’t tell you how much happier and less bitter this has made me over the years.

It's what is meant by being a "lifestyle," not a "diet."

So while it’s a good idea to aim to eat healthy 100% of the time by not buying unhealthy foods, cooking at home when you can, and choosing smart when you’re eating out, you should expect to go off course at times. And this is ok.

It means you don’t have to be perfect 100% of the time.

If you're like me and you're an all-or-nothing kinda person, this might sound a little crazy, but I hope you trust me and can use this concept to help guide you on your journey.

Love the concept of the 80/20 Rule? Check out my other related YouTube videos to help continue your learning đź“ą

Some of my favorite things this week 🙂

Ingredients

  • 1 egg

  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

  • 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1 medium banana, mashed

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

  • 1 1/2 cups spelt flour

  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Want more support and motivation? Check out my digital programs 👇 

YOU REACHED THE END!  GO YOU :) 

What did you think of this week's email?  What are your thoughts on the 80/20 Rule? Let me know by replying to this email - like it? love it? hate it?Â