Forget the gurus. Things have changed.

Kevin Levrone’s comeback has come and gone (though we may still see more of him on stage this year). After over a decade of inactivity, the “Maryland Machine” made one last run at the one that got away from him, Mr. Olympia. Often called the “uncrowned” king Levrone plans on shortening that title to just king.

When you’ve competed in over 67 professional contest and won over 23 shows, you pick up a thing or two. In a recent Instagram post Levrone shares what he’s learned about dieting and how it has affected his current training, and it’s not what you think.

Now that I’m learning the true art of flexible dieting I understand what balance and moderation is all about. Eating clean is a thing of the past for me now, I wish I knew how to do when I was competing. Now I mainly opt for 70/80% of whole nutrient dense foods as my primary source of foods and 20% I’ll fit in some of my favorite treats. Here I’m eating a good healthy filet Mignon with some fibrous nutrient dense veggies with mash and I’ve also got some left over macros which I can fit some of the tasty deserts into my daily intake without compromising my results. Doing this I’m able to get the results I want, stay sane, not binge or want to cheat in anyway, as everyday I’m able to include anything to my liking. @greek_spartan the new way of what flexible dieting is all about … it’s a life savior and can’t wait to share all my progress and results with all of you as I go along on my new journey. #flexibledieting #iifym #teamscience #levrozone

A photo posted by Kevin Levrone (@kevinlevrone) on Apr 30, 2016 at 6:08am PDT

That’s right, according to Kevin Levrone “eating clean is a thing of the past.” His new nutrition regiment “Flexible Dieting” says 80/20 is the golden ratio to get results, suppress binging, and stay sane during show preparation. A far cry from the old school way of bulking and cutting, Levrone makes sure to get his dense nutrients from things like fish and vegetables while having a little fun with a moderate portion of cheesecake.

Kevin Levrone’s physique on stage couldn’t compare to the other guys who have been active for years… so does this claim hold up? Besides being a genetic freak, Levrone is a seasoned vet who knows his body and just what it needs. Not taking on a training coach, it seems Levrone is much more comfortable with full reigns, tweaking his body and diet to his individual needs. A popular commentary on his return was that his body form just wasn’t where it needed to be to compete with today’s monsters.  Will the “Flexible Diet” be what he needs to take him over the edge in 2017? Only time will tell.

What do you guys think  of the 80/20 rule? Should less nutrient dense foods be a staple in a bodybuilder’s diet, or are cheat meals called that for a reason?