Q. I lost weight, but it comes back so quickly. Is there a way to maintain my weight without the yo-yo effect?
The key is to address the decline in basal metabolic rate and hormonal imbalances. You must restore your overall metabolism to enhance your body's ability to maintain a stable weight.
📝 Detailed Answer
Regaining weight quickly after a diet is not a matter of willpower. When you restrict calories excessively, the body perceives it as an 'emergency state' and tries to conserve energy, which often leads to dizziness and chronic fatigue.
In Traditional Korean Medicine, this state is often viewed as Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo), where the function of the Spleen is weakened, hindering proper digestion, absorption, and energy metabolism. When this is coupled with Dam-jeok (phlegm-accumulation)—the buildup of metabolic waste that obstructs circulation—your constitution becomes prone to gaining weight even with minimal food intake.
💡 Goal of Maintenance Management
The goal is not simply to reduce the number on the scale, but to restore the output of your 'metabolic engine' so your body can burn energy efficiently on its own.
- Restoring Metabolic Function: Strengthening the Spleen and Stomach functions to normalize the basal metabolic rate.
- Eliminating Waste: Clearing stagnant Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol) and phlegm-fluid to improve blood circulation.
- Appetite Regulation: Correcting hormonal imbalances to reduce 'false hunger.'
- Lifestyle Correction: Finding the ideal balance of food intake and activity levels tailored to your specific constitution.
Ultimately, it is necessary to change your body's 'default setting.' It is important to accurately assess your current metabolic state and receive a personalized prescription based on those findings.
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director