Q. Is it okay to have a 'cheating day' while dieting? I'm curious about your professional recommendation.

I have also had many experiences while dieting where I thought, 'Just for today,' only to feel dizzy looking at the scale the next morning. Even as a clinic director, I am no exception! Having gone through various trials and errors myself, I can finally truly understand how my patients feel (laughs). Cheating days have clear advantages. They prevent the body from lowering its metabolic rate in response to perceived starvation and, above all, offer a sense of psychological liberation. However, the side effects are just as significant. If you use 'cheating' as an excuse to justify binge eating, your stomach will suffer, and the blood sugar rhythm you’ve worked so hard to stabilize can be disrupted in an instant. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this situation is explained through the concepts of Spleen Deficiency (Bi-Heo, 脾虛) and Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-Eum, 痰飮). When excessive food is consumed while one's digestive power—specifically Spleen function—is weakened (Spleen Deficiency), undigested waste products called Phlegm-Fluid easily accumulate in the body. This accumulation is the primary cause of the body feeling heavy and experiencing significant swelling or edema. Therefore, rather than starving blindly and then exploding for one day, I recommend a 'reward meal' approach where you incorporate your favorite foods into about 20% of your regular diet. For those with naturally weak digestion or a tendency to swell, cheating days can be harmful. However, for those with high muscle mass and an active metabolism, they can serve as a key to breaking through a plateau. I hope you enjoy your meals wisely by consulting closely with a specialist to understand your body's unique state.