How do other people usually proceed? I'm curious about actual experiences from those who've tried it.

In the clinic, patients generally fall into two broad categories. The first group is highly motivated but their body simply can't keep up. In Traditional Korean Medicine, this is called piheo (脾虛, spleen deficiency)—a weakened spleen function that disrupts energy metabolism. Telling these patients to 'just eat less' often leads to exhaustion within days. So we work to boost their energy and awaken metabolism first. The second group struggles with appetite control or feels heavy and bloated. Here, the culprit is often dam-eum (痰飮, phlegm-fluid) or eohyeol (瘀血, blood stasis) causing waste accumulation or circulation blockages. Instead of forcing a fast, we need to clear the stagnation first. Once the body feels lighter, dietary adjustments become much easier. Of course, not everyone fits neatly into these two categories—constitutions and lifestyles vary, so treatments differ completely. I've made my share of mistakes while learning, but I've found that understanding where your body is blocked or deficient is the most important step. Instead of struggling alone, I hope we can examine your current condition together.