Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I’ve tried dieting many times, but I always yo-yo right back. How can I keep the weight off for good?
Yes, that is very common. When weight is lost too rapidly, the body often senses a crisis. We start by stabilizing the digestive system for the first week, then during weeks two to four we restore Spleen function to support Qi and Blood circulation. From the second month, we gradually shift your metabolic rhythm to match your constitution. Rather than dropping weight suddenly, the key is giving your body enough time to adapt.
Most patients caught in a yo-yo cycle have forced their bodies into what feels like a famine state through extreme calorie restriction or excessive exercise. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is understood as a combined pattern of Spleen deficiency (脾虛) and Phlegm-Dampness (痰飮). When the Spleen weakens, fluid metabolism becomes disrupted and the body develops a tendency to store unused energy. That is why we approach this in timed phases.
• Days 1–7 (Week 1): We first calm the digestive tract. Burdensome foods are reduced, and warm-natured medicinals such as dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and Atractylodes (Atractylodis Rhizoma) gently awaken Spleen function. During this period the scale may barely move—or even rise slightly—as digestion improves, so please do not be alarmed.
• Weeks 2–4 (Month 1): We formally tonify Spleen Qi and resolve Phlegm-Dampness. Qi-boosting herbs such as Ginseng (Ginseng Radix) and Astragalus (Astragali Radix) restore Qi-Blood circulation, while Alisma (Alismatis Rhizoma) and dried Citrus peel (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) drain excess fluid and phlegm. Most patients begin feeling lighter around this time, and weight starts to decrease gradually—about 0.5 kg per week is our target.
• Weeks 5–8 (Month 2 onward): We transition to constitutional refinement. Herbal formulas are tailored to the individual; for instance, a Soeumin (Lesser Yin) type generally needs gentler warming tonification than a Taeeumin (Greater Yin) type. By this stage appetite regulation becomes natural, and you will sense that your body no longer gains weight easily even when you are not starving. The key mindset shift is from “dieting” to “transforming the body.”
Of course, this process yields lasting results only when paired with practical dietary corrections. Instead of extreme restriction, we adjust meal timing and the protein-to-carbohydrate ratio. The secret to avoiding rebound is not forcing the body, but allowing it to find its own natural pace.