“Everything in moderation” is attractive advice, but also a trap. It amounts to saying we shouldn’t have too much of anything, which is true by definition: that’s why we call it “too much.” But the word “moderation” is vague, and its vagueness makes it a friendly, big-tent kind of concept: however much you eat, you can find a way of convincing yourself that you eat in moderation.
Source: “Everything in Moderation” Is a Terrible Rule to Eat By
It’s not really a “rule,” it’s a platitude. Platitudes have been around since forever and they’ve promoted stupidity through the ages.
Moderation is fine as long as you quantify that moderation. If you’re using a food/calories/macro tracker like MyFitnessPal, then put everything you do in moderation in there as well so that you can see exactly how it’s going to have an impact on your goals. And again, it comes down to individual goals. You want that six pack, but still have 20%+ BF? You’re going to have to quantify moderation. Feel like what you’re doing is “good enough” and you aren’t obsessive about progress? Then keep doing your thing.