Q. Why do I feel lethargic, suffer from insomnia, and experience various side effects whenever I go on a diet?

Many people experience dizziness, irritability, and fatigue during extreme dieting, but these are not signs of 'lack of willpower'—they are SOS signals from your body. From a modern medical perspective, ultra-low-calorie diets stimulate the hypothalamus, which can trigger sleep disorders and depression. Furthermore, certain diet pills overstimulate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to heart palpitations and insomnia. In Traditional Korean Medicine, these symptoms are viewed as a deficiency of 'Gi' (vital energy) and 'Hyeol' (blood), coupled with the stagnation of metabolic waste. When you starve yourself while suffering from 'Bi-heo' (Spleen deficiency/weakened digestive function), the body's internal 'energy factory' ceases to function properly. This leads to the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (phlegm-fluid/abnormal fluid retention) and 'Eo-hyeol' (blood stasis), causing the body to feel heavy and bloated. Ultimately, the problem isn't just that you are 'eating less,' but that your metabolic efficiency has plummeted. To achieve sustainable weight loss, you must first replenish depleted areas and clear metabolic blockages to build a body capable of enduring the weight loss process. It is essential to first identify the specific signals your body is sending.