One should avoid an "all or nothing" approach to dieting, as it leads to burnout and a lack of energy.

noli's read

Dr. Michael Israetel highlights a fundamental principle of weight management here: sustainability. Nutrition research confirms that overly restrictive or rigid diets are often correlated with a high dropout rate and a negative impact on daily energy (meta-analysis, PubMed). The takeaway is that dietary flexibility promotes better long-term adherence, a key element of fat loss. The idea that burnout is a frequent byproduct of an overly harsh approach is supported by studies on aggressive caloric deficit and mental fatigue (RCT). This is not an exaggeration, but a common clinical observation in sports science. There is no evidence that a diet must be painful to be effective; on the contrary, moderate approaches better preserve metabolism and well-being.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.