Q. I've been strictly controlling my diet, so why do I keep hitting a plateau and stop losing weight?

Many people experience a cycle where initial weight loss is rapid, followed by a sudden stop accompanied by fatigue and lethargy. From a physiological perspective, when caloric intake drops too sharply, the body declares a state of emergency. To survive, it drastically lowers the basal metabolic rate and clings to every calorie, creating a dilemma where you cannot lose weight even while eating very little. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this state is identified as Spleen Deficiency (脾虛). When the function of the Spleen is weakened, the body fails to transport nutrients properly, leading to the accumulation of metabolic waste known as Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮). This 'stagnant waste' obstructs blood circulation and further slows down metabolism. If this is coupled with Blood Stasis (瘀血)—where the blood becomes thick and sluggish—the body feels heavier and the metabolic rate drops even further. To overcome a plateau, the key is not to starve yourself further, but to restore Spleen function and 'flip the switch' on your metabolism. The core solution is to upgrade your body's internal 'engine' performance. We recommend a comprehensive evaluation to determine your current metabolic state and tailor a treatment to revive your system.