Q. I'm trying to lose weight, but why does it feel like I'm the only one who can't lose any weight and is stuck in a severe plateau?

Many people try to break a plateau by drastically cutting calories or increasing exercise—such as eating only chicken breast—only to find that their weight remains unchanged despite minimal intake. This often happens because the body enters a 'survival mode' when energy intake is too low, causing thyroid hormones and metabolic functions to decline. This creates a vicious cycle where muscle mass is lost and the basal metabolic rate drops further. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this stagnation is viewed through the concepts of Dam-eum (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention) and Eo-hyeol (瘀血, blood stasis). Dam-eum refers to the accumulation of metabolic waste and fluids, while Eo-hyeol refers to stagnant blood flow. When these 'residues' obstruct the metabolic pathways, the body cannot efficiently burn energy, regardless of how little you eat. Furthermore, if you suffer from Bi-heo (脾虛, Spleen Deficiency), your body's ability to transport and absorb nutrients diminishes. This leaves you feeling exhausted and lethargic while your weight remains stagnant. Breaking a plateau is not about eating less, but about flushing out these toxins and strengthening the Spleen function to 'flip the switch' back on your metabolism. I encourage you to visit the clinic so we can examine your current metabolic state and identify exactly where the blockages are occurring.