When exactly is the right time to start a postpartum diet? I'm also curious why managing weight is said to be so difficult during this period.

Postpartum physiological changes are incredibly dynamic and complex. From a Western medical perspective, the hormone relaxin leaves joints loose, and the body must eliminate the excess fluids and waste accumulated during pregnancy. If this process is inefficient, lingering edema can feel as though it is converting into permanent fat. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this state is described as 'Qi and Blood Deficiency' (氣血虛) accompanied by 'Blood Stasis' (瘀血). Qi and Blood Deficiency refers to a lack of vital energy and blood, while Blood Stasis refers to stagnant, 'impure' blood. To put it simply, your body has accumulated 'waste' (stasis) but lacks the internal energy (Qi) necessary to clear it out. Many patients, feeling rushed, resort to extreme caloric restriction. This often leads to 'Spleen Deficiency' (脾虛). When the Spleen's function is impaired, the body cannot properly absorb or transport nutrients, causing the basal metabolic rate to plummet. This is exactly why many find themselves wondering, 'Why am I not losing weight despite eating so little?' Rather than fasting, the priority should be replenishing depleted Qi and Blood to normalize metabolism. The safest and fastest route to recovery is to first ensure your body's resilience has returned and then begin a customized management plan tailored to your specific constitution.