What My Dog Can Teach You About Weight Loss – The 20% Solution

“Whoa, Jake has gained a lot of weight since his last visit,” said my vet back in June, about my German Shepherd. “I know I don’t need to tell you about the dangers of being overweight, right?”

Nope! I’m very much aware of those risk factors — whether it’s for humans or dogs. Jake is a small German Shepherd, and 74lbs was too much for his small frame. He was pudgy. If he put on any more weight, it could turn into a very real problem.

My vet suggested a very simple method that worked wonders for Jake. He’s now a sleek 67lbs. Could this method help you lose weight, too? Is it too controversial for humans?

The 20% Solution

Some people hate crunching numbers. (Personally, I love it — it’s one of the reasons why I created a fitness site with a heavy emphasis on calorie counting.) But, let’s face it: sometimes you don’t have the time to figure out a calorie deficit and then start counting calories. Or you don’t want to follow a diet plan because you just don’t have enough time in the day to sit down and figure it all out.

If you want a simple solution to reduce your calories try what my vet suggested for Jake: reduce your food by 20%. It’s that simple.

20%. That’s 1/5th of what you’re eating. Whatever’s on your plate, put back 20% of the food. If you’re at a restaurant, push 20% of the food to the side and ask for a doggie bag (or just leave it on the plate. Better the plate than your hips, right?). Don’t want to give up the soda? Pour 20% of the can down the drain each time you pop open a can; you won’t notice the difference.

Eating a burger? Toss out the bun. Or get a knife and cut off 1/5th of the burger and toss it. Fries? Toss 1/5th of them in the garbage or destroy them by pouring water over them. (I know, sacrilegious, right? But those fries aren’t doing a thing FOR you.)

Don’t Toss the Veggies or Fruits

The only exception to the 20% solution would be fibrous vegetables that aren’t swimming in some kind of sauce or raw fruits. Fruits and vegetables are chock full of nutrients — and the fiber will make you feel full. Don’t toss the healthy stuff!

One Disadvantage
Now, I realize this method isn’t ideal. It doesn’t take into account the nutritional value of what you’re eating. It’d be a million times better to eat healthy foods and reduce calories by replacing junk food with healthy foods. Some people might think I’m crazy to even suggest such a solution. But I’m trying to be realistic and find some kind of solution for those of you who need a simple solution they can start doing right away, without crunching numbers or making big changes to your way of eating.

If you’re having a hard time ditching the junk food or don’t want to give up certain foods or life is just too busy right now to really do things properly, the 20% solution could be what you need to help you reduce calories and lose weight. And who knows, maybe once you start losing weight, you’ll be encouraged to experiment a little and see what you can do by eating even more healthy!

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