Fat loss goals may not be linear, and the dopamine system should not be solely tethered to exact numbers.

“Some goals, such as fat loss, are very quantifiable. And yet, they might not be linear. It's hard to know-- the assumption is if you ingest x fewer calories than are required per day, then you'll lose x amount of weight, some percentage from body fat. I think that cues up the idea that we need to build some flexibility into our thinking about these intermediate goals in order to just make sure that dopamine system isn't tethered to exact numbers because after all a reduction in 2% body fat, for instance, is really a desire to achieve a different sort of overall body composition or recomposition.”