Do you ever feel this way: you clearly don't eat much—you might even only drink cold water—yet your weight shoots up like a rocket? What's even more frustrating is that you want to exercise to lose weight, but you always feel completely drained, getting out of breath after just a few steps. What on earth has gone wrong? Is it really true that some people are born with an "obesity-prone constitution," destined to never lose weight?
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this phenomenon of "gaining weight even from drinking cold water" is often not simply a matter of excess calories, but rather the mischief of "qi" and "water" within the body. You may have heard of "qi deficiency" and "dampness," but have you ever considered that these two are precisely the culprits behind your inability to lose weight? Why is it that some people can eat anything without gaining weight, while your body is like a sponge, retaining water even when you drink? Behind this lies TCM's profound understanding of body constitution.
Why Has "No Energy to Exercise" Become a Roadblock to Weight Loss?
Many people fail at weight loss not because their methods are wrong, but because they simply "don't have the strength to move." Do you ever feel this way: coming home from work, you just want to collapse on the sofa, feeling exhausted even stretching your arms? This kind of "laziness" is not a matter of willpower—it's your body sending a signal that your "qi" is insufficient. In TCM, it is said that "qi is the commander of blood." Qi is the driving force behind the body's metabolism, digestion, and elimination. When qi is deficient, it's like an engine running out of fuel—the body naturally operates sluggishly, and even basal metabolism can't keep up, let alone burn fat.
What TCM calls "qi deficiency" largely points to the transforming and transporting capacity of the spleen and stomach. When it comes to the spleen and stomach, Zusanli is an acupoint that cannot be overlooked. Zusanli, also known as Xialing or Sanli, belongs to the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and serves as the He-Sea point of the Stomach Meridian and the Lower He-Sea point of the Stomach. It is located on the anterolateral aspect of the lower leg, 3 cun below Dubi (ST35), one finger-breadth from the anterior crest of the tibia. The Lingshu records that "when pathogenic factors are in the spleen and stomach... all are regulated through Zusanli," indicating its close relationship with the transforming and transporting functions of the spleen and stomach and the condition of the muscles. From an anatomical perspective, the superficial layer consists of skin and subcutaneous tissue, while the deep layer comprises the tibialis anterior muscle.
So why does qi deficiency lead to "gaining weight even from drinking cold water"? Because when qi is insufficient, the body cannot effectively transform and transport water-dampness. When water-dampness stagnates in the body, it becomes "phlegm-dampness." These sticky substances not only make you look bloated but also obstruct the flow of qi and blood, creating a vicious cycle. Have you noticed that the fat on your belly is particularly soft and flabby, and pressing on it produces a watery sound? This is a typical manifestation of accumulated phlegm-dampness.
In TCM understanding, the distribution of phlegm-dampness is closely related to water-fluid metabolism, which brings to mind the collateral point of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian—Fenglong. Fenglong is the collateral point of the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, connecting to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. It is located on the anterolateral aspect of the lower leg, 8 cun above the tip of the lateral malleolus, two finger-breadths lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia (1 cun lateral to Tiaokou ST38). The Yulong Ge states that "for excessive phlegm, one should seek Fenglong," and TCM theory often uses this point to understand the distribution of water-dampness and phlegm-turbidity. From an anatomical perspective, the superficial layer of this point contains the distribution of the lateral sural cutaneous nerve, while the deep layer contains the deep peroneal nerve and the anterior tibial artery and vein.
How to Break the Vicious Cycle of "Gaining More Weight the More You Diet" Through Dietary Approaches?
Since the problem lies in "qi deficiency" and "dampness," blind dieting or frantic exercise may actually backfire. Have you tried those extreme weight-loss methods? For example, eating only fruit or drinking meal-replacement shakes, only to find that your weight didn't drop but you became even weaker? This is because these methods only further damage your "qi," trapping your body in the dilemma of "the weaker you get, the fatter you become."
So what should you do? TCM suggests starting with "supplementing qi" and "eliminating dampness." For example, you can appropriately incorporate some ingredients that strengthen the spleen and boost qi into your daily diet, such as astragalus (Huangqi), Chinese yam (Shanyao), poria (Fuling), and coix seed (Yimi). These foods are like "refueling" your body, helping to restore metabolic power. At the same time, avoid raw, cold, and cooling foods and drinks, such as ice water and cold beverages, because they directly damage the yang qi of the spleen and stomach, making dampness even worse. Have you noticed that after drinking ice water, your belly feels even more bloated and heavy? This is your body protesting.
Additionally, exercise isn't something you can't do—it's about making the right choices. Since you don't have the energy to exercise, don't force yourself to run a marathon. Try walking, Baduanjin (Eight-Section Brocade), or yoga. These gentle exercises promote the flow of qi and blood without excessively draining your physical strength. The key is "gradual progression," allowing your body to slowly adapt. Have you ever considered that perhaps what you need is not "desperate exercise" but "smart exercise"?
Can TCM Regulation Help You Find the Root Cause of Being "Overweight"?
Of course, everyone's constitution is different, and the reasons behind weight-loss difficulties vary greatly. For example, some people have "spleen deficiency with excessive dampness," some have "kidney yang deficiency," and others have "liver qi stagnation." These professional terms may sound complicated, but simply put, your body is "out of balance." Why do the same methods work for others but not for you? Because your "fat" may not be excess fat, but rather slow water-fluid metabolism.
On the Spleen Meridian, Yinlingquan is an acupoint often mentioned when understanding "spleen deficiency with excessive dampness." Yinlingquan belongs to the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian and serves as the He-Sea point of the Spleen Meridian. It is located on the medial aspect of the lower leg, in the depression between the lower border of the medial condyle of the tibia and the medial border of the tibia. TCM holds that the spleen governs the transformation and transportation of water-dampness, and thus Yinlingquan is commonly used to understand issues of water-fluid metabolism and the accumulation of dampness. The superficial layer of this point consists of skin and subcutaneous tissue, while the deep layer contains the posterior tibial artery and vein and the tibial nerve.
At this point, seeking the help of a professional TCM practitioner becomes very important. For example, a licensed TCM practitioner in clinical practice will use the four diagnostic methods—observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation—to help determine whether you have "qi deficiency" or "excessive dampness," and then develop a personalized regulation plan. However, please note that this is only a sharing of general knowledge and is not a recommendation for you to rush to a clinic. TCM regulation emphasizes "treatment based on syndrome differentiation," and each person's prescription may differ, so never buy herbs and take them randomly on your own.
In addition, you might ask: Isn't TCM regulation very slow? In fact, regulating the constitution at its root is like fertilizing the soil. Although the results may not be as fast as "quick-acting weight-loss pills," it is superior in safety and durability. Those methods that claim to "lose ten pounds in a week" often come at the cost of damaging your health. Are you willing to trade long-term fatigue and rebound weight gain for rapid weight loss?
Summary: If You Can't Lose Weight, Is It Time to Change Your Approach?
Returning to the original question: Why can't you lose weight, gain weight even from drinking cold water, and have no energy to exercise? The answer may not lie in "how much you eat," but in "how your body functions." TCM tells us that weight loss is not about fighting the number on the scale, but about making peace with your body. When you begin to pay attention to the balance of "qi" and "dampness," you may discover that those stubborn pounds of fat are actually reminding you: it's time to "lighten the load" for your body.
Of course, the above is only a general discussion. How to regulate specifically still requires consideration of individual circumstances. If you are also facing similar struggles, why not calm down and think: Is your body telling you that what it needs is not just "starvation," but "nourishment"? Finally, here's a question for you to ponder: On the journey toward slimming down, have we often overlooked the true "voice" of our bodies?