80% good

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight is chasing perfection. They plan to cook every meal at home, rely on chicken breast, broccoli, and rice, swear off pizza, fries, and sweets, and commit to exercising every day.

While this motivation is admirable, it’s often a recipe for burnout. A strict, all-or-nothing approach can feel overwhelming, leading to frustration and eventually giving up. It’s simply not sustainable in the long run.

A sustainable approach

Instead of chasing perfection, adopt the "80% good is good enough" mindset. Focus on making healthy choices most of the time, while allowing yourself some flexibility. Aim to eat low-calorie dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins 80% of the time, and enjoy your favorite treats in moderation the other 20%.

No food should be completely off-limits. It’s okay to have high-calorie foods now and then—just be mindful of portion sizes.

When below the green line

A great time to indulge in some tasty, high-calorie dense foods is when your weight drops below your plan (the green line on your Noyoyo chart). These days are an opportunity to enjoy yourself a bit more while staying on track.

It’s a marathon

Weight loss is not about quick fixes or extreme diets. It's a marathon, not a sprint. The key is to find a balanced, sustainable way of eating and exercising that you can maintain over time. Small, consistent changes are far more effective than drastic measures that are impossible to stick with long-term.

Any reduction in the intake of high-calorie foods is progress. For example, if you used to eat a chocolate bar every day and drink soda, but now you’ve swapped the chocolate for an apple while still drinking soda, that’s still a step in the right direction.