Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I have to eat at the company cafeteria every day. Is it still possible to lose weight in this kind of environment?
Yes, it is absolutely possible. The key to weight loss lies less in 'what you eat' and more in 'how your body processes it.' Even with fixed cafeteria menus, you can successfully manage your weight by adjusting portion sizes based on your constitution and digestive health, and by utilizing herbal medicine to support your metabolism. Don't stress over creating a perfect meal plan, as that stress can actually hinder your progress.
Company cafeteria meals are often the biggest challenge for office workers because you lack control over the menu. However, in many cases, the 'balanced meals' provided by cafeterias can actually serve as a solid foundation for weight loss. The real issue is usually 'metabolic efficiency.'
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this is often viewed as Spleen Deficiency (脾虛). When the function of the Spleen is weakened, the body fails to convert food into energy efficiently, leading to accumulation and weight gain. When this is combined with 'Dam-eum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention) and 'Eo-hyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis)—which are stagnant waste products in the body—you may feel bloated and heavy even after eating small amounts.
Rather than prescribing a restrictive diet like 'only eating chicken breast,' I focus on using herbal medicine to increase your basal metabolic rate. This creates a physiological environment where your body can efficiently burn the calories from standard cafeteria meals.
Maintaining a perfect diet while working is nearly impossible. However, by adopting a small habit—such as changing your eating order to vegetables, then protein, then carbohydrates—and combining it with a prescription tailored to your specific constitution, management becomes much easier. I recommend visiting the clinic first to assess your current digestive state and the degree of edema (swelling).