Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I work five days a week and it's so hard to find time for exercise. How can I lose weight?
I completely understand; during my residency, I sacrificed everything except sleep. Forcing yourself to go to the gym can cause stress, which often leads to binge eating. Instead of an unrealistic plan, focus on increasing your 'total daily movement.' Try these: walk one stop early during your commute, take a 10-minute walk after lunch, stretch every hour, and use the stairs instead of the elevator.
The key to weight loss for office workers is 'environment,' not 'willpower.' Trying to hit the gym after a draining workday can feel like torture. I remember my own struggles of setting overly ambitious goals, only to fail after a few days and fall into a cycle of self-blame.
From a Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perspective, prolonged sitting hinders the circulation of Qi and Blood, creating an environment prone to the accumulation of Dam-eum (痰飮, phlegm-fluid), which are metabolic waste products. When Dam-eum accumulates, metabolism slows down, making it easier to gain weight even with minimal food intake. If you have a Spleen Deficiency (脾虛), meaning weakened digestive and transformative functions, it is more important to gently awaken your energy through light movement rather than jumping into high-intensity exercise.
Furthermore, extreme work stress leads to stagnation in blood flow, causing Eohyeol (瘀血, blood stasis), which often manifests as edema or a feeling of heaviness in the body. In such cases, simple stretching to open up the body is more effective for weight management than excessive sweating, as it helps restore the smooth flow of Qi and Blood.
Don't strive for perfection. I suggest choosing just one item from the checklist and trying it for a week. If you still feel excessively heavy or lacking in energy, please visit the clinic. We can discuss a customized prescription to boost your metabolism based on your current physical condition.