Reviewed by최연승대표원장
I use the treadmill every day to lose weight; is there a more effective way to do it?
Rather than blindly walking or running, first assess your body's 'energy efficiency.' If you push yourself while suffering from severe fatigue, you may experience swelling and exhaustion rather than weight loss. It is crucial to determine if your current physical condition is primed for exercise. Please refer to the checklist below to see which approach you need:
✓ Feeling extremely heavy/lethargic upon waking (Deficiency of Qi)
✓ Prolonged recovery time and excessive fatigue after exercise (Low metabolism)
✓ Shortness of breath or abnormal sweating with minimal movement (Impaired cardiopulmonary function)
Many people mistakenly believe that sweating profusely always equates to fat loss, but excessive exercise when the body is not fundamentally prepared can actually be counterproductive.
In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), this state is often viewed as 'Spleen Deficiency (Bi-heo).' When the Spleen's function is weakened, the body's ability to generate energy drops. In this state, intense exercise may deplete your muscle mass and vital energy (Qi) rather than burning fat. If this applies to you, it is better to start with light walking to bolster your energy first.
Furthermore, if metabolic waste known as 'Phlegm-Fluid (Dam-eum)' has accumulated, circulation becomes stagnant, drastically reducing exercise efficiency. Phlegm-Fluid refers to residues caused by impaired fluid metabolism; when present, you may feel that your body remains heavy and bloated regardless of how much you use the treadmill.
Additionally, 'Blood Stasis (Eo-hyeol)'—stagnant or impure blood—can hinder circulation and delay oxygen delivery to the muscles, causing you to tire quickly. Without addressing these internal imbalances, relying solely on external movement often leads to burnout or the 'yo-yo' effect.
The most effective weight loss strategy is to first clear internal stagnation, enhance your metabolic capacity, and then add exercise. We should examine whether your body is currently in a state that can sustain and benefit from your workout routine.