What should I do if I eat high-calorie foods, like hamburgers, while on a diet?
The most important thing is not to be too hard on yourself. Even experts have days when their appetite takes over. Simply make your next meal lighter and drink plenty of warm water. In Traditional Korean Medicine, we focus on resolving the stagnation caused by a sudden intake of high-calorie foods. Don't feel guilty; just start fresh from where you are.
To be honest, I also have moments where I overindulge under the guise of a 'cheat meal.' After such a meal, you often feel bloated and heavy. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this state is viewed as 'Dameum' (痰飮), a condition where metabolic waste and phlegm-like fluids accumulate and stagnate in the body instead of being excreted.
If you panic and fast immediately, your body enters a 'state of emergency' and tries to store even more from your next meal. Instead, I recommend the following:
1. Warm Water or Tea: This is the simplest way to flush out stagnant 'Dameum' and revive your circulation.
2. Vegetable-Focused Next Meal: Your digestive system needs rest. Those with 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), or a weak Spleen function, often experience a sharp drop in digestive capacity after consuming sudden amounts of greasy food.
3. Light Walking: Gentle movement helps resolve 'Eohyeol' (瘀血, blood stasis/stagnant blood) and ensures the smooth flow of Qi and Blood.
4. Consult a Professional: If you cannot control your appetite, it is not a matter of willpower. It is likely that your body's metabolic balance has been disrupted.
One instance of overeating does not ruin your entire diet. However, if this becomes a pattern, your metabolic 'switch' may turn off. I encourage you to visit the clinic so we can analyze your current bodily condition together.
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