Invented by Dr. Wayne B. Hayes, a professor at the University of California and a visiting scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., the “Cold Shoulder” calorie-burning vest apparently is based on hard science, rather than science fiction. According to info on Kickstarter, scientists have spent decades studying how mild cold exposure can enhance calorie burn, and the results seem to show that it works.
Hayes works with NASA scientists who purportedly study ice, so he theoretically knows what he’s talking about. The trick, apparently, was figuring out how to harness mild cold exposure without making people uncomfortable. The inside of the vest has pockets for holding ice packs. The Cold Shoulder vest is designed to go into a freezer. Then, you take it out and wear it over a shirt (to protect your skin). It supposedly works best when you’re at a comfortable temperature, it won’t be effective in a hot environment or while you’re exercising. The concept is that cooling your body will force it to burn calories to stay warm. There have been some scientific studies in this direction, including a look at whether cold acclimation could be used to combat obesity.
The vest works if you are sitting down at rest in a room (or your car, or wherever) at a comfortable temperature. That way, it extracts heat from your body, subsequently causing you to burn extra calories in order to stay warm. If you’re in a hot environment, The Cold Shoulder will help you stay cool, but won’t burn excess calories, because you’re not cold. If you’re working out in the gym, then the vest can help you stay cool, but won’t enhance your calorie burn. Likewise, and also, DUH, “if the vest is not cold, or if the ice has all melted, it will not induce excess calorie burn.”
Also, the NASA scientist deemed it necessary to mention it, but “if you continue to eat junk, then no amount of exercise, cold exposure, or weirdly named supplements or powders will help you lose weight. The vest can burn up to 500 calories per day if used as directed, but you can easily nullify the effect by eating an extra 500 extra calories. So don’t expect that you can continue to eat junk food, wear the vest, and lose weight. You can’t.” There’s also a disclaimer: “The Cold Shoulder cannot claim to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease, illness, or condition.” The Cold Shoulder marketing materials claim it can help burn 500 calories per day when used as directed, though it doesn’t promise miracles. The description clearly states, “Let’s be blunt, there is no magic pill for weight loss, and The Cold Shoulder is no exception to that rule. The cold, hard truth is that the foundation of weight control is your diet.” It does, however, suggest that the vest can accelerate the calorie-burning efforts of people who already exercise and eat well. Hayes notes that wearing his Cold Shoulder vest is probably preferable to drug injections, liposuction, freezing fat cells, gastrointestinal surgery, and hours sweating away in a gym, and has no known side effects. “You can wear it pretty much anywhere.
For more information please visit: www.coldshouldervest.com
