Q. I have a lot of work dinners and drinking sessions. Is it still possible to lose weight while drinking?

I have personally struggled with work-related drinking sessions in the past, so I understand how tempting it is to say, 'I'll start tomorrow.' Depending on your habits, the strategy differs. For occasional drinkers, weight management is achievable through dietary adjustments and the support of herbal medicine. However, for those who drink heavily or daily, the priority is to 'flip the metabolic switch' to restart your fat-burning process. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), alcohol consumption leads to the accumulation of 'Dameum' (phlegm-fluid/痰飮). Dameum refers to unnecessary metabolic waste and toxins in the body; when this accumulates, the body feels heavy and becomes resistant to weight loss. If this is coupled with 'Eohyeol' (blood stasis/瘀血), it can lead to severe edema and swelling. Furthermore, frequent drinking often leads to a state of 'Bi-heo' (Spleen deficiency/脾虛). When the Spleen's function is weakened, nutrient absorption and transport are disrupted, meaning energy does not reach the necessary organs and is instead stored as fat. Rather than demanding total abstinence, I focus on revitalizing the liver and digestive functions exhausted by alcohol and clearing out bodily waste. This ensures that even after a drinking session, your body can recover quickly and return to its weight-loss trajectory. Instead of feeling guilty, let's analyze your current physical state together to find a sustainable pace tailored to your body.