Fitness Guru Tried 80/20 Rule and Here's What Her Day Looks Like

Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting dietary advice? Whether it's plant-based, Mediterranean, DASH, MIND, high-protein, or sustainable diets, the choices can be daunting. Anna Engelschall, a popular YouTuber with over 2.2 million followers, shares her journey of overcoming self-image struggles and finding balance in her eating habits. She introduces us to the 80/20 method, a principle that allows for both health-conscious choices and indulgence.

Understanding the 80/20 Method

The 80/20 Method is a balanced approach to dieting that involves eating nutritious foods 80% of the time and allowing yourself to indulge in your favorite treats for the remaining 20%. This method aims to prevent feelings of deprivation and burnout, making it easier to stick to a healthy eating plan in the long term.

According to Krutika Nanavati, RDN, "Flexibility prevents deprivation and burnout, fostering long-term adherence. Enjoying occasional treats can provide mental relief and reduce cravings." This approach allows for controlled indulgence, which can help avoid binging behaviors and provide mental relief.

Morning Routine: Savory Breakfast

Anna begins her day with a savory breakfast, a habit inspired by the glucose goddess. "When it comes to breakfast, I prefer savory breakfast, so I'm not a sweet breakfast person anymore," she explains in the video. Her meal consists of a homemade bagel topped with eggs and avocado, sprinkled with salt flakes and black sesame seeds.

Protein Power: Fueling the Day

Anna in the video emphasizes the importance of including protein in her breakfast, stating, "I really try to have a tiny little bit of protein every single time within my meals." She shares a personal touch, mentioning, "I put all of them in the freezer, so I made a bunch of them like these mini bagels and I only have one left."

Plant-Based Choices: Personalized Nutrition

Anna in the video reveals her preference for plant-based milk in her coffee, but encourages viewers to choose what works best for them: "You do what's the right thing for you, what's the best thing for you and not what other people or other influencers are saying you do you."

Lunchtime: Exploring Healthy Cafés

For lunch, Anna visits a healthy café in Berlin, choosing two different salads: a tahini vegetable salad and a butternut squash salad with extra feta cheese. She shares her enthusiasm for the café, stating, "I like this place here. I really like it. It's really cute. They also have a lot of breakfast options, like you can get a lot of egg things here like with eggs."

Beyond Calorie Counting: A New Approach

Anna in the video reflects on her approach to nutrition, saying, "I know it's such a fitness thing and I always get asked from you guys if I count my calories, if that's something that's important to me, but honestly I stopped doing that because I want to come here. I want to eat lunch here and I don't want to think about any kind of numbers."

Afternoon Indulgence: Guilt-Free Treats

After lunch, Anna treats herself to a refreshing sorbet. "I was craving something sweet. I was craving something ice cold," she shares. This choice aligns with her 80/20 principle, allowing for enjoyment without strict limitations. The flexible 20% of the 80/20 Method allows for such controlled indulgences, which can help reduce cravings and provide mental relief.

Sorbet Experience: Trying New Flavors

She describes her sorbet experience in the video, "This is lime and this is passion fruit. So I was craving something sweet. I was craving something ice cold. It's pretty warm now. I see so many people with spoonful promo cups, but I never went there. So today I went there for the first time and the ice cream is really yummy order, sot it tastes really fresh."

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Dinner Prep: Asian-Inspired Bowl

For dinner, Anna prepares a homemade Asian-inspired bowl. She combines rice, tofu cooked in tahini sauce, kimchi, avocado, and seaweed chips. "I love rice. I'm a rice kind of girl," Anna admits.

Cooking Challenges: Learning in the Kitchen

Anna shares her cooking process in the video, including a mishap with the tofu: "Why is it so intense? I think it's better to add the tahini first and then wait a bit and then add the tofu. Now I feel like the tofu is almost ready, but the tahini is not ready at all."

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Creative Additions: Spontaneous Meal Upgrades

She also adds a spontaneous touch to her meal: "I spontaneously decided to add a little bit of avocado. I think it goes so well with this bowl." Anna demonstrates how to assemble the perfect bite, wrapping the ingredients in a seaweed chip.

Evening Ritual: The Nighttime Yogurt Bowl

Anna ends her day with a yogurt bowl, a nightly ritual she enjoys. She adds protein powder, frozen berries, granola, and a touch of salted caramel protein cream. "This is heaven in like a yogurt bowl," she exclaims.

Yogurt Bowl Secrets: Anna's Special Touch

Describing her process, Anna says, "I am adding a little bit of cookie dough, protein powder to my already prepared yogurt. Just one teaspoon, big teaspoon and a big teaspoon and a normal teaspoon. It really turns out so creamy every single time."

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The 80/20 Philosophy: Balancing Health and Enjoyment

Throughout the video, Anna emphasizes the importance of balance and enjoyment in eating. "I want you to be free when it comes to food. I want you to feel free and I want you to feel relaxed and I want you to eat whatever makes you feel your happiest and healthiest," she says. This aligns with the 80/20 Method's approach of preventing feelings of deprivation and burnout.

Social Benefits of Flexible Eating

According to Nanavati, the 80/20 Method offers social benefits as well. The flexible 20% of your schedule allows you to enjoy shared meals with others without feeling guilty. This balanced approach to dieting puts weight loss well within reach for many people, making it a simple weight loss solution that people swear by.

Personalized Approach: Finding What Works for You

Anna, in the video, encourages her viewers to find what works best for them individually, stating, "We all are so unique. We all are so different, and what works for me might work for you, but maybe it doesn't." This echoes the flexibility inherent in the 80/20 Method.

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Conclusion: Celebrating Food and Community

Anna's approach to food demonstrates that healthy eating doesn't have to be restrictive or complicated. By following the 80/20 rule, she maintains a balanced diet while still enjoying treats and indulgences. Her message is clear: "Food is something that we should enjoy and celebrate, and we should experiment and make memories with it." And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.