Whether it boosts your qi or lowers your stress, spending time in nature is a healthy practice.

RODALE NEWS, LENOX, MA—In America, we spend billions of dollars on diet and exercise programs. Most of us struggle with weight regulation because a narrow focus on burning and consuming calories misses a crucial element of how our bodies function. A missing piece of the weight-loss equation has to do with energy. Not the energy we consume as food or the energy we expend through exercise. Rather, the energy that powers the vital functions of our body. If that energy is strong and well-balanced, our ability to lose weight and to maintain a healthy weight is tremendously enhanced.

THE DETAILS: Insight into this missing piece of the weight-loss equation can be found in an ancient healing system called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is medical system developed over thousands of years that includes the use of acupuncture, herbs, diet, movement activities, and meditation. It views health as a matter of building up and conserving energy, or “qi” (pronounced chee). When we have an abundant supply of qi flowing freely through the body, our internal organs and systems can function properly to keep us healthy.

In the view of TCM, weight regulation is not primarily about calorie intake and expenditure. It’s about fortifying, channeling, and sustaining qi. Fortifying qi raises your metabolism, and provides you with an invigorating feeling of well-being. If the qi in the digestive system is strong, your body will be able to optimally transform the food you eat into energy you can use. Two of the factors that weaken qi are excessive stress and inadequate sleep. Prolonged stress and sleep deprivation raise levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes the body to store, rather than burn, fat.

WHAT IT MEANS: To gain a deeper understanding of how to fortify qi for effective weight regulation, I spoke with Kelly Clady-Giramma, who is a licensed acupuncturist and a colleague of mine at Canyon Ranch. Kelly practiced acupuncture in China for a number of years, and brings a unique perspective to her patients who seek her help with weight management.

“Many Americans have too much on their plate, literally and figuratively," says Kelly. “If you are overstressed and your body is depleted and exhausted, it does not want to let go of excess weight.” The TCM approach of raising the level of qi, she explains, makes weight loss much easier. When energy is higher and more stable, food cravings diminish and the urge toward compulsive eating weakens.