Q. I eat sandwiches often as part of my diet, but why am I not losing as much weight as I expected?

Many people believe that simply hitting a calorie target with salads or sandwiches is enough, but this can often leave the body feeling heavy or fatigued if the nutrients aren't being processed correctly. From a physiological perspective, even whole-grain breads can raise blood sugar levels, triggering insulin to switch the body into 'storage mode' rather than 'burn mode.' Additionally, sodium from sauces and processed meats can cause water retention and bloating. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this state is often viewed as 'Dameum' (痰飮), a type of metabolic waste or phlegm-fluid accumulation that occurs when fluid metabolism is impaired. Furthermore, if you suffer from 'Bi-heo' (脾虛)—a deficiency in the Spleen's function—your ability to digest and absorb nutrients decreases. In this state, even healthy foods cannot be efficiently converted into energy and instead become toxins that make the body feel heavy. Ultimately, the key is not just 'what you eat,' but whether your body has the capacity to digest and convert those foods into energy. Assessing your current digestive health and metabolic capacity is the most efficient way to tailor a diet that actually works.