Q. I've been eating chicken breast rice bowls thinking it's a healthy diet, but why am I not losing weight as expected?

I truly empathize with your frustration; I once went through a similar struggle, eating nothing but chicken breast rice bowls to get in shape. The human body is far more complex than a simple 'chicken equals weight loss' equation. From a Western medical perspective, the primary culprit is the 'blood sugar spike.' White rice, the base of most bowls, has a high Glycemic Index (GI). When combined with sugary sauces, your blood sugar skyrockets, triggering a surge of insulin. Insulin acts as a 'fat-storage hormone,' hindering fat breakdown and promoting storage. Essentially, while trying to supplement protein, you may have accidentally flipped the fat-storage switch. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this phenomenon is linked to Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo). The Spleen serves as the 'power plant' responsible for energy metabolism. Overloading it with refined carbs and sugar causes a 'system overload,' leading to unburned nutrients turning into sticky metabolic waste called Phlegm-fluid (Dam-eum). This accumulated Phlegm-fluid obstructs the circulation of Qi and Blood, eventually leading to Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, stagnant and turbid blood). Once circulation stagnates, your metabolic rate plummets, creating a constitution that gains weight easily even with moderate intake. Instead of focusing solely on calories, it is vital to restore your metabolic function. I suggest reducing the rice portion and switching to brown rice and fiber-rich vegetables. I will be here to guide you through this metabolic recovery process.