Q. Will it put too much strain on my body if I starve myself or leave long gaps between meals for weight loss?

Many believe that 'eating less and enduring longer' is the most effective way to lose weight. However, when energy intake is too low, the body switches to a storage mode. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this can lead to 'Bi-heo' (Spleen Deficiency/脾虛), where the digestive system's function weakens, significantly dropping your metabolic efficiency. During the first few days, you may feel lighter as water and glycogen are depleted. However, after 1–2 weeks, the body recognizes a 'starvation state' and lowers the basal metabolic rate. This can turn your body into a constitution that gains weight easily even with small amounts of food, or lead to the accumulation of 'Dam-eum' (Phlegm-Fluid/痰飮), causing heaviness and swelling. Furthermore, those with 'Eo-hyeol' (Blood Stasis/瘀血) may suffer from slowed blood circulation, making them more prone to cold extremities and extreme fatigue when meal gaps are too long. Having experienced these struggles myself before becoming a practitioner, I truly understand the difficulty. The key is not simply 'how long you starve,' but 'when and what you eat.' The secret to avoiding the yo-yo effect is designing a meal schedule tailored to your specific constitution and digestive state. I suggest we analyze your current health status together to find the optimal eating rhythm that doesn't strain your body.