Q. I've been eating nothing but chicken breast to lose weight. What kind of diet plan does a Korean medicine clinic recommend?

Many people start their weight loss journey with extreme enthusiasm, eating only chicken breast and sweet potatoes, only to find themselves exhausted and dizzy shortly after. In TKM, this type of restrictive dieting is viewed as causing 'Spleen Deficiency' (Bi-heo, 脾虛). The Spleen is the key organ responsible for transforming food into energy; when it is consistently fed only specific nutrients, its function stagnates. At Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, we guide your dietary transition through the following stages: 1. Digestive Assessment: We first evaluate whether your gastrointestinal tract is actually capable of absorbing high amounts of protein efficiently. 2. Clearing Phlegm-Fluid (Dameum, 痰飮): We focus on removing accumulated waste products and stagnant fluids in the body to awaken your metabolism. 3. Constitutional Food Matching: We incorporate vegetables and grains based on your Sasang Constitution—for example, using cooling foods for So-yang types and warming foods for So-eum types. 4. Managing Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol, 瘀血): Poor blood circulation can hinder weight loss. We use herbal prescriptions to improve blood flow and maximize metabolic efficiency. 5. Gradual Transition to Balanced Meals: We move away from extreme restrictions toward a sustainable lifestyle habit you can maintain long-term. The core principle is moving 'at a pace your body can handle.' The answer isn't found in unconditional endurance, but in restoring the body's internal balance, which is the fastest way to prevent the yo-yo effect.