Diet not working? Reach your ideal weight with the 80/20 rule

Yes, you can relax and indulge yourself with a rich diet, but one that brings you pleasure such as these chocolate pavlovas. — Filepic

The 80/20 rule is a magic formula that allows you to find a balance between healthy eating and treat foods.

Here's a look at how this method promises to help you reach your ideal weight without depriving yourself.

No more diets, which, in the end, usually make you gain back the weight you lost anyway.

The 80/20 method aims to help you rebalance your diet long term. It is not really even a diet, but a new set of eating habits to adopt.

The main objective is to lose weight and especially to stabilise your weight, with no more yo-yo dieting or piling on the pounds as soon as you start eating normally again.

The rule is simple.

It involves making sure that 80% of your meals are healthy, balanced recipes, while the remaining 20% can be "pleasure foods."

With this approach, you are entitled, for example, to two "cheat meals" per week.

This method is based on the Pareto principle.

According to this rule, described by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, about 80% of consequences are produced by just 20% of causes.

Such observations can also be seen in the world of work, in economics and in food.

The method requires eating a balanced diet 80% of the time.

As such, fruit, vegetables, vegetable proteins, legumes, meat or fish will make up 80% of your meals.

You must eat a variety of foods, in appropriate quantities, and avoid overly processed foods as much as possible.

For the remaining 20% of meals, you can relax and indulge yourself with a rich diet, but one that brings you pleasure. From burgers to chips, chocolate and pizza, there are no forbidden foods as long as the quantities remain reasonable.

To boost the effects of this new regime, add in some exercise, such as walking, running or yoga. – AFP Relxnews