If you use the 80/20 rule of diet you should have no problem eating your favorite foods often enough and still keep on the leaner side.

That is the trick to the whole thing really.  Finding a process that works for you long term. What is the point of losing weight and going thru the struggle if you are only going to put it back on.  And then what? Do it all over again? Hardly seems like the thing to do. But I think most of us are stuck in that loop. 

That is why i like the 80/20 rule.  The only detail people seem to forget is that they actually have to keep a healthy diet that 80% of the time.