In Aug 2013, the Cool Fat Burner ice vest made a huge scientific breakthrough: the first ever cold-thermogensis brown fat weight loss device was put to the test under controlled scientific settings… and shown to boost calorie burning up to 300% above resting!
UPDATE: this experiment was expanded into a university group study, got great results, and has been published in the peer-reviewed “The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.” 2019 July;59(7):1238-43
Background:
At the “EPARC” lab — Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center — at the University of California, San Diego, the Cool Fat Burner cooling vest was worn while undergoing indirect calorimetry (IC). IC measures one’s metabolism and calorie burn rate for various activities, by measuring oxygen and carbon dioxide respiration levels. (UCSD & the EPARC lab does not endorse the Cool Fat Burner or any calorie burning cooling vest; results may vary)
The two day experimental setup:
Day 1 — Establish baseline RMR (resting metabolic rate)
- sitting
- fasted, no coffee or stimulants, no movement
- 30 minutes measurement
Day 2 — the Cool Fat Burner and Gut Buster
- 30 minutes measurement at baseline
- sitting, no vests, no movement
- introduce the Cool Fat Burner – “cool down”
- wear the cooling vest at lowest intensity level
- 30 minutes measurement
- Cool Fat Burner – High intensity
- wear the cooling vest at the highest intensity levels
- 30 minutes measurement
- “Recovery” – remove the cooling vest, and return to normal temperature
- 30 minutes measurement
The room temperature was 71°F, removing that as a confounding variable. Between each of the 30 minute experiment blocks, several minutes were taken to recalibrate the equipment. To help compensate for the lack of a cold environment, the “Cool Gut Buster” would be worn simultaneously with the Cool Fat Burner. Ice water would be consumed to start off the high intensity ‘Hardcore’ block. Two cups to start, then 2 more cups 15 minutes in.
Results & Discussion:
The results were quite significant, especially considering the experiment took place in a thermo-neutral room and very little ice water was consumed.
The RMR (Day 1 – laying down) came out to 1944 cal/day.
The RMR sitting came out to around 2102 cal/day.
The slight increase (8%) in laying down to sitting hearkens to the phenomenon of NEAT, or “Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.” The calories one burns through regular daily activities. Standing instead of sitting, physically working a job instead of sitting at a cubicle… these NEAT differences could add up to hundreds of calories every day.
There was an increase at each stage wearing the Cool Fat Burner and Cool Gut Buster.
The “Cool Down” showed a slow but sporadic increase in calorie burn for the first 15 minutes. (see chart below)
Then around half way through the Cool Down, the intensity levels spontaneously jumped up significantly…. characterized by a very light, barely perceptible shivering sensation in the small muscles of the lower back. Calorie burn levels jumped to 230%.
To start the High intensity or ‘Hardcore’ portion of the experiment, 2 cups of ice water were drank during the between-session calibration. Calorie burn numbers increased to 301%. This is a huge metabolic boost. At this rate weighing 185lbs the subject would burn the obligatory “500 calories a day” (for 1lb of fat loss per week) in around 2hrs, independent of dietary restriction and without exercise. This is truly significant, and shows the Cool Fat Burner and Cool Gut Buster as viable means to aid in weight loss.
There was a technical glitch during the experiment around 1/2 way through the ‘Hardcore’ portion of the test. Sixteen minutes of data were lost. This would have been even more high intensity calorie burning at around a 300% boost. After this, when the 2nd round of ice water was drank, the water did not seem as cold as the first round of drinks that started the Hardcore section. Along with the missing 16 minutes, the overall cold-stimulus was decreased, and we see a drop to 273%.
During the ‘Recovery,’ when the Cool Fat Burner was removed, we still see a significant increase in caloric burn. 232% during the first 15 minutes. What is noteworthy here, is to remember that this was a thermo-neutral room, 71°F, and ideally, one should use the CFB in a cooler environment. In other words, if one were using the CFB at home, and took it off after there session, but stayed in a cold environment, they would almost certainly have even higher calorie burn numbers (and for a longer time) during the ‘recovery’ phase, than what is modeled here. Even in the last half of the Recovery segment we see a significantly boosted metabolism.