Q. I exercise on the treadmill every day, but why am I not losing weight? I'd like to know the proper way to do it.
Metabolic efficiency is more critical than simple calorie expenditure. If accumulated waste products in the body hinder your metabolism, the overall effectiveness of your workout may decrease.
📝 Detailed Answer
It can be incredibly frustrating when you're sweating and working hard, yet the numbers on the scale don't change. I understand that feeling well, as I once experienced knee pain without any weight loss from mindless running.
In reality, more important than simply 'eating less and running more' is metabolic efficiency. In Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), we view this through the lens of Dameum (痰飮, Phlegm-Fluid Retention). When unnecessary waste accumulates in the body and blocks the circulation of Qi and Blood, energy is not burned efficiently even while exercising.
- Spleen Deficiency (脾虛): Weakened digestive functions leading to inefficient energy production.
- Qi Stagnation (氣滯): Energy becomes congested due to stress, lowering the overall metabolic rate.
- Blood Stasis (瘀血): Poor blood circulation that slows down the process of fat burning.
Therefore, rather than blindly increasing the speed of the treadmill, it is necessary to first clear the stagnated areas of your body. Only then will your body begin to respond effectively to the same amount of exercise time.
💡 Ways to Increase Workout Efficiency
We recommend awakening your metabolism with herbal prescriptions tailored to your specific constitutional weaknesses, followed by an interval training approach that mixes low- and high-intensity exercise.
Expert Verified
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director