Can you lose 20 pounds a month by running slowly on a massage mat? Doctors warn: There is a certain effect, but be careful of injury

Recently, a new thing has become popular in the online health circle - "super slow jogging on acupressure mat"!

For a time, many people became "walking" health masters, stepping on small "pain points", and some people claimed to have even lost 20 kilograms in a month.

Let’s have a brainstorming session with the expertise of traditional Chinese medicine to see whether this is an amazing health secret or a “IQ tax” in sheep’s clothing.

Qu Qing, the chief Chinese medicine doctor of the Tuina Department of Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, introduced that ultra-slow jogging is a low-intensity, low-heart rate aerobic exercise. It is usually run at an extremely slow speed, which is between walking and jogging, generally 5 to 8 kilometers per hour. It can even be slow enough to be overtaken by fast-walking office workers.

Ultra-slow running can be done outdoors or on a treadmill, or even at home. It is actually equivalent to swinging your arms and taking small steps in place. Since it is not restricted by time and place, and the exercise intensity is extremely low, you can hardly feel the effort, so it is easier to stick to it. Generally, ultra-slow running takes about 20-30 minutes, and you can easily finish it by watching TV. The acupressure board ultra-slow running is actually based on ultra-slow running with the addition of an acupressure board.

The principle of the acupressure mat is similar to that of the pebble massage in the park. It is equivalent to an upgraded version of the foot massage mat. There are thousands of raised dots on the acupressure mat, which can stimulate dozens of acupoints and reflex areas on the sole of the foot more comprehensively and evenly by stepping on them.

"The places with the most acupuncture points on the human body are the head and the feet. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture point health care, the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet are related to human organs. Stimulating the acupuncture points on the soles of the feet through acupressure pads can achieve different effects." Qu Qing said. Improve sleep quality, dredge meridians, speed up blood circulation throughout the body, release pressure, and relieve fatigue; regulate microcirculation, stimulate related acupuncture points, promote blood and body fluid circulation, and dredge circulation disorders; strengthen the function of internal organs, improve metabolism through acupressure pad exercise, stimulate cell vitality, and play a certain role in strengthening the body; eliminate tension, dredge the blood vessels and meridians on the soles of the feet, relax the whole body, eliminate fatigue and tension, and are suitable for people with general weakness, insomnia, and high stress; relieve waist and leg pain, promote blood circulation, relieve fatigue and reduce body aches, especially for the elderly, office workers, and students. In addition, stepping on the acupressure pad for a long time can maintain body flexibility and improve balance.

For ordinary people to lose weight, the key is to "get moving"

The key to losing weight by super slow jogging on the acupressure board is to make you "move", which adds some fun to boring exercise. Remember the eternal six-word motto of weight loss: "control your mouth and move your legs"! Especially for the "lazy homebody" who don't like to go out and don't particularly like exercise, it not only saves you from the trouble of going out but also allows you to move at the right time.

The advantage of the super jogging acupressure board is that it can help us do aerobic exercise at home, improve cardiopulmonary function, and enhance physical fitness. At the same time, because of its moderate exercise intensity, it is suitable for people of all ages.

Especially for people with bad knees, heavy base weight, and who are not suitable for running and jumping, they can do 10-20 minutes of super slow jogging or marching on the acupressure mat to increase fat burning and regulate the body at the same time. They can also watch TV while marching and find that time passes quickly.

Therefore, from this perspective, the super slow running acupressure board is not completely a "tax on intelligence". But if you just follow the trend out of impulse and walk for a few days, then it will be a pure waste of money. No matter what method you use, persistence is the key.

To become a super slow runner on the acupressure board, it is important to exercise properly

Choose the right equipment: There are many acupressure boards on the market, and the quality varies. A good acupressure board should be moderately soft and hard, so that it can stimulate the acupoints without being painful because of its too hard texture.

Do it according to your ability: Beginners can wear socks or a towel for 10 minutes a day, and then gradually go barefoot for 20-30 minutes a day. Do not run or jump vigorously on the acupressure mat, which can easily cause plantar injury or sprain.

"Keep your eyes open and your ears alert": Pay close attention to your body's reactions, stop immediately if you feel any discomfort, and do a foot warm-up before starting jogging. The first 2-3 weeks is the initial running period. It is recommended to rest for 1 day after running for 2 days. It is not recommended for girls to run during their menstrual period.

All good things have a limit. Don't believe in "Using a massage board to run slowly can help me lose 10 pounds" and "Say goodbye to back pain" just because of one or two advertisements. You should know that the key to health lies in the details of daily life. A balanced diet, regular work and rest, moderate exercise... these are the basics that are indispensable. As for the acupressure board, it is more like a small dessert that adds icing on the cake. It tastes good but cannot replace the staple food.