Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I want to try treadmill dieting. Is there a specific effective method?
Treadmill dieting works best when done in stages according to your body's condition. Start with brisk walking for the first week, then gradually increase speed and incline over weeks 2–4. However, some constitutions have sluggish metabolism from just exercise alone, so at our Korean medicine clinic we also address spleen deficiency (biheo) and phlegm-fluid (dameum). Combining herbal treatments can make exercise effects last longer.
Treadmill exercise may seem simple, but lasting results require considering the body's qi and blood circulation and spleen–stomach function. If you have a spleen deficiency constitution, energy production may be poor, leading to extreme fatigue after exercise or even a surge in appetite. At our clinic, we view the first 1–2 weeks as an adaptation period: we check your current phlegm-fluid and blood stasis levels through pulse and tongue diagnosis, then guide you to walk briskly (4–5 km/h) for 20–30 minutes to acclimate the body. Weeks 3–4 are the main phase: increase incline to 3–5% and speed to 6–7 km/h, mixing in 1–2 minutes of jogging intermittently. During this time, opening the stomach and spleen meridians with acupuncture or herbal acupuncture can boost fat-metabolizing enzyme activity, as clinical reports suggest. Months 1–2 are the stabilization phase: maintain a steady exercise intensity while reinforcing the spleen and addressing damp-phlegm with herbal medicine, which speeds recovery and reduces rebound weight gain. Since individual response varies, personalized guidance from a Korean medicine doctor is key to adjusting intensity, duration, and incline without overexertion.