Q. Doctor, what exactly are 'diet-forbidden days'? Why is it so hard to lose weight on those days?

In the past, while studying weight loss, I also realized that the body is far more complex than the simple 'eat less, lose more' equation. Many patients experience a cycle of pushing themselves until they feel dizzy and exhausted, only to eventually collapse. Medically, hormones like progesterone increase the body's tendency to retain water, causing the number on the scale to rise and the body to feel heavy. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this is viewed as 'Dameum' (痰飮, phlegm-fluid retention), a state where metabolic waste is not properly excreted and becomes stagnant, hindering overall circulation. When stress is added to this mix, it causes 'Giche' (氣滯, Qi stagnation), where the flow of energy is blocked. This often leads to 'Biheo' (脾虛, Spleen deficiency), a weakened digestive state. In this condition, the body fails to absorb nutrients properly while continuing to swell, leaving patients frustrated as to why they aren't losing weight. Rather than thinking of 'forbidden days' as days when weight loss is impossible, think of them as moments when your body has pressed a 'pause button' for self-protection. Instead of pushing too hard during this phase, it is more effective to focus on removing stagnant Dameum and promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood. This approach ensures a smoother and more natural transition to the next stage of weight loss.