What should I look for when choosing a menu for eating out while on a herbal diet for weight loss?
The general rule is to choose foods where the raw ingredients are clearly visible. I recommend steamed or grilled dishes over fried or sautéed options. Rather than adhering to a restrictive diet—like eating only chicken breast—which often leads to burnout, develop a sustainable habit of choosing foods that are easy for your body to digest.
As a practitioner, I've learned that extreme dieting or starvation is often counterproductive. The goal is to manage your eating-out habits while enhancing your body's metabolic capacity.
During the first one to two weeks, your body adapts to the herbal medicine, and your appetite naturally stabilizes. During this phase, I recommend menus with mild seasoning, such as Shabu-shabu, Ssambap (rice wraps), or grilled fish. Heavily seasoned foods can create 'Dameum' (痰飮)—the accumulation of unnecessary metabolic waste—which hinders efficient metabolism.
After three to four weeks, you will likely notice a reduction in edema (swelling) and a feeling of lightness. While you can be more flexible with your choices, focusing on raw ingredients remains key. For instance, if you visit a Chinese restaurant, focus on the ingredients in Jjamppong rather than the heavy sauce of Jajangmyeon; at a Japanese restaurant, opt for sashimi or sushi over tempura.
If you frequently experience indigestion or fatigue, you may be in a state of 'Bi-heo' (脾虛), meaning your Spleen function is weakened. In such cases, avoid cold salads and instead choose foods with 'warm' properties to support digestion.
Don't strive for perfection. One suboptimal meal isn't a failure; simply adjust your next meal. I will provide a more personalized dietary guide tailored to your specific constitution (Sasang type) during your next visit.
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