Though it’s tempting to blame your inability to lose weight despite running on a treadmill on not running fast enough or long enough, there’s actually another reason that must be considered.

I’m a certified personal trainer. Now, in general, if you haven’t lost weight, or have dropped only a few pounds, despite doing a lot of running on best compact treadmills, the reason is because slow, steady-paced jogging doesn’t pack as much of a punch for weight loss as does high intensity interval training.

But there’s another reason to consider that will interfere with weight loss: holding onto the treadmill while running.

This just won’t cut it, even if it’s a very fast speed. The faster you go, the harder your hand grip will be. Holding onto a treadmill while running significantly alters gait, and can lead to repetitive stress injuries in the hips and feet.

The calorie burn is substantially lower than if you ran the same speed without holding on.

Whether the running is done in brief, fast intervals, or at a slower, prolonged pace, holding onto a treadmill will sabotage weight loss goals.

Sure, you may lose a few pounds at the beginning, since running while holding onto something requires more work than sitting in front of the TV. But you’ll quickly reach a plateau where the weight loss ceases.

The solution is simple: Stop holding on.

Never mind what the calorie counter says. This gadget is governed by the speed (and incline, if any), and is based on a pre-programmed formula, usually for that of a 150 pound, 5-10 man. This is why if you step off the tread and let it whiz empty between your legs, the calorie “burn” will still get computed.

Start out with a slower than usual pace for your running, and do not hold on. Let your body get used to a natural gait, natural biomechanics: the best way to exercise, and the best way to lose weight.

When you let go, more muscles will be engaged, which means more fat burned for fuel. The hips will move naturally and your feet will absorb normal forces. Once you get used to that, employ a powerful fat burning technique called high intensity interval training for optimal weight loss while running on a treadmill.