Q. I'm curious about how to lose weight using a treadmill. How can I do it effectively?

Many people believe that sweating heavily is the key to weight loss, but from a Traditional Korean Medicine perspective, constitution (chejil) is crucial. For Taeumin (Tai Yin type), excessive sweating (balhan) should be avoided as they are prone to fluid-humor (jinyeok) deficiency. For Soyangin (Shao Yang type), qi circulation is more important, and fast walking may not suit everyone. Start with interval walking—3 minutes brisk walk followed by 1 minute slow jog—to avoid overburdening the spleen (bi). Spleen deficiency (bi xu) impairs water metabolism, potentially leading to edema or phlegm-fluid (dameum). During exercise, only sip enough water to moisten the mouth to prevent damaging spleen yang (bi yang); replenish with warm water 30 minutes after finishing. After sweating, avoid cold drinks or sweets immediately, as they worsen spleen deficiency and can lead to yo-yo effect. If fatigue or cold knees persist after two weeks, consider blood stasis (eohyeol) or phlegm-fluid as underlying causes; reduce speed and focus on walking. Clinics offer constitution-based guidance on intensity, duration, and recovery methods.