When I first started Korean Medicine diet treatment, I also wondered, 'What exactly happens and how?' So let me explain step by step in chronological order. **Stage 1: Diagnosis and Adaptation (1–2 weeks)** First, we perform body composition analysis along with Korean Medicine examination (pulse, tongue, and abdominal diagnosis). This identifies whether you have spleen deficiency (脾虛), excess phlegm-fluid (痰飮), or liver qi depression (肝氣鬱結) causing stress-related overeating—most patients who failed previous diets have a combined spleen deficiency and phlegm-fluid pattern. During this period, herbal medicine (e.g., Bo Qi Jian Pi Tang or Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San formulas) is prescribed, and you keep a food diary to observe when hunger or sugar cravings occur. There is no claim like 'take this and lose 1 kg per day.' Instead, many people find digestion becomes easier and frequent bloating decreases as the body responds. I call this the 'stop digging the hole' phase, because we first restore the gastrointestinal function damaged by past excessive dieting. **Stage 2: Active Body Fat Reduction (2–8 weeks)** Now body composition changes begin in earnest. The herbal prescription shifts to formulas that strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness (健脾消濕) or regulate qi and transform phlegm (理氣化痰), promoting fat breakdown and water metabolism. Most patients report around week 2 that morning puffiness is reduced and bowel movements become more frequent. Individual results vary, but from a Korean Medicine mechanism perspective, as spleen deficiency improves, phlegm-fluid clears and blood stasis resolves, enhancing circulation. The key here is not speed but sustainability. I target a gradual loss of 2–3 kg over 4 weeks, but I emphasize qualitative changes—like clothes feeling looser or skin issues improving—rather than fixating on the number on the scale. **Stage 3: Maintenance and Habit Formation (2–3 months)** This is the most commonly neglected phase. Once weight drops, many people think 'I'm done' and stop the medication and return to old eating habits—that's the main cause of yo-yo effect. In this stage, we reduce herbal medicine to intermittent dosing (every other day or 3 times a week) and focus on embedding dietary and exercise patterns into daily life. For example, I provide specific guidance: 'For spleen deficiency types, replace cold drinks with warm barley tea; for phlegm-fluid types, choose vegetable protein over greasy foods.' Having observed this for over a decade, I've learned that diet is ultimately about lifestyle. I spend the most consultation time in this phase. Ultimately, Korean Medicine diet isn't about 'the medicine making you lose weight' but rather 'the medicine helping create an environment where your body can lose weight on its own.'