I use a calorie calculator to plan my meals, but why does the weight loss speed vary for everyone and why do plateaus occur?
Calorie calculators provide theoretical figures, but actual weight loss varies due to individual differences in digestion, absorption, and metabolic efficiency. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this is often attributed to Spleen Deficiency (脾虛) and Phlegm-rheum (痰飮). When the Spleen's function is weak, it fails to circulate energy, causing metabolic waste to accumulate even with a low calorie intake. It is more important to assess whether your body's metabolic system is functioning correctly than to focus solely on numerical data.
While the principle of consuming fewer calories than you burn is a standard guideline, the human body is a complex system that doesn't always follow simple arithmetic. While Western medicine often points to hormonal imbalances or a low basal metabolic rate, TKM looks deeper into Spleen Deficiency (脾虛). The Spleen is responsible for 'transport and transformation,' the process of turning food into energy and distributing it. When this function is impaired, the body cannot utilize energy properly, leading to the accumulation of 'Phlegm-rheum' (痰飮) or 'Blood Stasis' (瘀血). These internal wastes hinder metabolism, making it difficult to lose weight regardless of how much you restrict calories. Furthermore, if you starve yourself while the circulation of Qi and Blood (氣血) is blocked, the body perceives a crisis and enters survival mode, stubbornly holding onto energy stores. Instead of obsessing over numbers, you must restore the fundamental metabolic environment. At Baengnokdam, we focus on precisely identifying and correcting these invisible metabolic flows to help your body burn energy efficiently again.
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