Doctor, I've been eating only trend-popular 'diet kimbap' and other low-calorie foods, so why am I not losing weight? I’m worried that my body might be broken.
Simply cutting calories doesn't always guarantee weight loss. When nutrition is imbalanced, the body enters an 'emergency mode' to conserve energy, lowering your basal metabolic rate and making it easier for waste to accumulate. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this state is called 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' (Biheo). When the body lacks the vitality to burn energy, metabolic byproducts known as 'Phlegm-fluid' (Dameum) build up internally.
I understand your frustration completely; it is incredibly disheartening to manage your diet strictly and still see no change on the scale. While low-carb options like 'diet kimbap' are excellent for preventing blood sugar spikes, they may not be effective if your body’s 'engine'—your basal metabolism—is already compromised.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this phenomenon is often rooted in 'Spleen Qi Deficiency' (Biheo). The Spleen is responsible for the 'Transportation and Transformation' (Yun-hwa) of nutrients. When this function weakens, the food you consume isn't converted into energy but instead turns into 'Phlegm-fluid' (Dameum), a form of sticky metabolic waste. If left unchecked, this can lead to 'Blood Stasis' (Eohyeol), which further hinders circulation. This creates a 'double whammy' effect where you feel lethargic from eating less, yet your body stays swollen and refuses to shed weight. Rather than focusing solely on what to cut out, you should examine whether your body has the strength to burn energy. I recommend a professional diagnosis to see where your energy is leaking or where metabolic waste has stagnated.
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