Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I want to do an intensive diet for about a month. How should I get started?
I don't recommend starving yourself or jumping straight to strong medications. I've personally struggled with exhaustion after pushing too hard. First, it is essential to identify the root cause of why your body is gaining weight to establish a sustainable plan that prevents the yo-yo effect.
When setting a one-month goal, it is natural to feel rushed, but forcing weight loss while ignoring your constitution can lead to rapid burnout. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), weight gain is viewed not simply as a result of overeating, but as a dysfunction in the body's circulation system.
Please check which of the following categories best describes your current state:
✓ [Circulation Stagnation Type]: Do you feel heavy and experience frequent swelling?
→ This may be due to the accumulation of Eohyeol (瘀血, blood stasis) or Dameum (痰飮, phlegm-fluid), which slows down your overall metabolism.
✓ [Digestive Dysfunction Type]: Do you feel bloated after small meals and tire easily?
→ This is viewed as Bi-heo (脾虛, Spleen Deficiency). When Spleen function is weak, the body fails to absorb nutrients properly, leading to the accumulation of waste.
✓ [Stress-Induced Type]: Do you experience binge eating at night or have trouble sleeping?
→ This is often a state of Gan-gi-ul-gyeol (肝氣鬱結, Liver Qi Stagnation), where stagnant energy creates a sense of 'psychological hunger.'
Through my own studies and trial and error, I've learned that the answer lies in finding a pace that suits your specific body type. Rather than focusing on aggressive weight loss, it is crucial to identify where your body's circulation is blocked. For an accurate diagnosis, I recommend visiting the clinic for a pulse diagnosis and professional consultation.