Q. I want to go on a short-term diet for about a month. How should I get started?

When people feel rushed to lose weight, they often start by fasting or over-exercising. However, this causes the body to enter a 'crisis mode,' making it more reluctant to expend energy. Many patients experience a lack of energy and dizziness when they simply starve themselves, leading to quick burnout.

In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this state is often seen as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo), where the Spleen's function is weakened, impairing the body's ability to digest, absorb, and transport nutrients. When metabolism stagnates, waste products called Phlegm-Dampness accumulation (Dam-jeok) build up in the body, making it easier for you to gain weight.

• Consultation and Examination: Assessing your current constitution, energy levels, and the degree of edema (swelling).
• Customized Herbal Prescriptions: Promoting the circulation of Qi and Blood to increase the basal metabolic rate and manage feelings of hunger.
• Dietary Guidelines: Selecting ingredients that suit your constitution to support metabolism rather than absolute fasting.
• Lifestyle Correction: Balancing hormones by regulating sleep and physical activity levels.

Rather than obsessing over the short one-month window, if you view this as a starting point to resolve the constitutional issues of your body, you will experience a much healthier and more sustainable transformation.