Perfectionism sounds like high standards but functions as avoidance. Research by Smith shows maladaptive perfectionism correlates with eating disorders and paradoxically poorer outcomes. When “perfect” is the only acceptable result, any obstacle becomes reason to quit. Ate one cookie? Day ruined, eat ten. This all-or-nothing thinking guarantees failure. The antidote: decouple effort from outcome and measure success by consistency.
This companion covers perfectionism psychology, how it manifests in eating, why all-or-nothing produces nothing, and antidotes. (4 min read)