Weight loss and Chinese Medicine - vol 1

My 2026 journey (and why I’m sharing it)

Weight has been a challenge for me for as long as I can remember. I’m currently 49¾ and very much in the peri-menopausal phase of life. I also live with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and insulin resistance, both of which can make weight management more complex.

My work is fairly active – I teach tai chi and qigong, and I’m on my feet most of the day in clinic. I enjoy walking and going to the gym, although fitting everything in can be tricky during busy periods. My working pattern is quite distinctive: six weeks “on” (full, demanding weeks with moderate to high stress), followed by two weeks “off”, when I travel, see family or explore. My sleep timing isn’t ideal – I tend to go to bed after midnight – but once asleep, I generally sleep well.

During 2024 and early 2025, I lost around 3½ stone using a very calorie-restricted diet and relatively little exercise. Since then, further weight loss has been harder, and it feels as though my metabolism isn’t responding in the same way it once did. My aim for 2026 is to lose around 10kg (about 1½ stone). I’m not chasing rapid results, but I do want to see steady, consistent movement in the right direction. I’m also realistic: insulin resistance, PCOS and hormonal changes mean this journey may be different from someone without these challenges.

How Chinese Medicine makes sense of this picture

In Chinese Medicine, weight is never seen in isolation. It’s viewed as part of a bigger picture that includes digestion, energy levels, hormones, stress and sleep. When the digestive system isn’t working as efficiently as it could, the body can struggle to transform food into usable energy and instead hold on to excess weight. Hormonal shifts around peri-menopause can slow things further, while ongoing stress can interfere with how smoothly the body regulates appetite, blood sugar and fat storage. Irregular sleep patterns can add another layer, making it harder for the body to reset and repair overnight.

Rather than focusing purely on calories or willpower, Chinese Medicine aims to support the body’s natural balance so that weight loss becomes more achievable and sustainable over time. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing how I’m applying this approach to my own journey – one piece at a time – and tracking my progress honestly along the way, in inches as well as pounds.

Coming up next in volume 2

In my next volume, I’ll be starting with one very practical change: alcohol. I’ll be sharing why I’ve chosen to limit it, how alcohol can affect weight, hormones and blood sugar, and how this looks through both a Western and Chinese Medicine lens.

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If you have specific questions for me pop them in the comments or email me on info@acupuncture-surrey.co.uk