I totally agree that you don't have to be 100% to get huge benefits (unless you have other health problems, of course). The first 9 or so months that I was paleo, we were eating pizza every couple of weeks, for pete's sake!!

Until I did this Whole30, I honestly didn't think I could be 100% paleo either. I regularly used raw honey, dark chocolate, wine, etc. I thought that giving it ALL up would be pure hell and I didn't want to live my life that way (and for me, paleo was about permanent lifestyle changes...not a 'diet').

What I HAVE found is that if I want to lose fat and really be 'fat-adapted' (which is a really awesome way to be partially for the reasons westtexas mentioned and partially because I no longer have to carry food with me wherever I go...including no longer packing a massive lunch bag for work), I cannot let all the little things sneak in. Generally, 80/20 doesn't work for me. I've seen a lot of evidence towards this and if you've ever been in a weight loss challenge with a man, you'll be able to relate. Mark Sisson and many other men in the paleo world can be fit, lean and cut on 80/20. Most women cannot. In fact, the only three women I know in the paleo world who are as lean as the men (from a feminine perspective) are Sarah Fragoso, Nell Stephenson and Melissa Hartwig. All three eat a cleaner than 80/20 diet. I think that's the reality of it, women are not as good at being 'fat-adapted' and we have to work a little harder to live that way. I'm sure it stems from the natural state of things where as child-bearing beings, women are naturally supposed to carry more fat than men.

If you want the health benefits of paleo, 80/20 is fines. If you want the fat loss, you probably have to be cleaner. My hope is that I can get to where I want to be and then live 80/20...but we'll see. 90/10 is fine with me too.

Anyway, I had sushi on Friday (with rice) and it was delicious and I had no ill effects. So now I know that I can eat sushi every once in awhile and I fully intend to!