Belly fat is a major concern that stands in the way of the ideal figure for many people. Belly fat is stubborn and frustrating; people do crazy things to eliminate or reduce belly fat. One of the craziest tactics in the battle against belly fat is using ice to freeze and kill fat cells. But does this tactic work?
You cannot use ice packs to freeze belly fat because they do not attain the precision needed to cool and kill fat cells. The main challenge with ice packs is that they rapidly absorb heat and do not steadily maintain the required temperatures for considerable periods to freeze belly fat.
This article discusses why you cannot effectively use ice packs to freeze belly fat. It focuses on the health risks of prolonged exposure to ice and the temperature control challenges you will encounter when using ice packs at home to freeze belly fat.
Reasons Why Using Ice Packs to Freeze Belly Fat Isn’t Recommended
I wish I could warm your heart with reasons why you should try this tactic at home; unfortunately, there aren’t any. In fact, I recommend that you do not try it. There are numerous health risks of freezing fat at home.
You can try intermittent fasting if you want a strategy that effectively works toward weight loss.
The following are some reasons why “freezing” your belly fat at home is a bad idea:
1) There Is the Risk of Frostbite
Physicians at the University of Utah note that frostbite causes frost injury on different body tissue. You may not feel this injury since the tissue is numb, but it can have far-reaching effects. However, the doctors note that this type of injury is as bad as a burn from a hot object.
Frostbite can damage muscles, bones, skin, and other body tissue. Treatment usually requires antibiotics and hospital admission. Research shows that frostbite poses a risk of bacterial wound infections, including tetanus and sepsis. This risk warrants immediate medical attention in case of frostbite.
Secondly, frostbite impedes optimum blood flow. Exposing blood vessels to very low temperatures constricts them, and this carries risks for circulatory disorders. You will obviously get frostbite when you use ice belts or ice baths for a considerable period, regardless of precautions. The human body is not simply built to handle ice-cold temperatures, which is why you should not try to use ice packs to freeze belly fat at home.
2) It Is a Waste of Time and Money
Since you have no control and expertise, you will not attain any results. On top of the outlined health risks, you will waste time and money. There is a highly effective medical process known as CoolSculpting; however, there is no Do-It-Yourself option.
Related Reading: All You Need to Know About CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting relies on regulated cold to freeze and kill fat cells in a process known as cryolipolysis or cold lipolysis. This process involves numerous safety mechanisms to protect skin, muscle, and bone tissue. Coolsculpting thus requires expertise and specialized machines to work effectively.
The machine enables the cool sculpting expert to hold a steadily low temperature for a considerable period to trigger fat cell death. Thermometers and thermistors are involved in this process to target and regulate the temperature. This hyper-controlled cooling is difficult to achieve with ice packs at home, and the agony of using them to freeze belly fat at home is thus not worth it.
3) It Is Difficult and Awkward
How do you go about using ice packs to freeze belly fat? It is difficult and absurd, right? The ice packs will melt when they impact heat. So, you expect your belt of ice packs to disintegrate within minutes. You will get wet as the ice continues to melt. Holding the belt of ice packs around your belly will become difficult. I cannot think of any effective way of holding ice packs around your belly for more than a few minutes. I also cannot fathom a position that will help you deal with the wetness.
An ice bath looks like a perfect option to target your belly and several other areas simultaneously. These baths have also been described as painful and very uncomfortable. However, you will realize that an ice bath would be too expensive. Other techniques would offer better belly fat management results at a fraction of the cost of an ice bath.
Results will require the application of consistent temperatures for at least several hours a day. Can you imagine the stress you will be putting yourself in? The hassle is simply not worth it.
Related Reading: Top 20 Best Shapewear for Belly Fat
3) Adipose Fat Cells Are Notorious
Let’s assume you, luckily, bypass all the challenges outlined above. Here you are with a positive result to show. Congratulations, you have frozen a considerable amount of belly fat. How long will the results hold?
Preventing the rapid growth of adipose belly fat cells is difficult. Without lifestyle changes, such as tracking the calories you eat, the belly fat will grow back faster than you would expect. To prevent this, you must keep repeating your DIY ice pack belly therapy at home.
Dealing with these notorious fat cells is difficult. Research shows that these cells can withstand great amounts of temperatures. You should thus consider other less stressful remedies.
4) Online Resources on the Topic Are Deceptive
Do not fall for the online hacks on this topic. There are numerous online talks, videos, and blogs about using ice packs to freeze belly fat at home. These are deceptive and misleading. They blindly encourage you to try freezing devices known as “lipo belts” with little scientific backing.
This DIY home fat-freezing community claims how these belts or ice baths have achieved results. The suggested techniques are not FDA-approved, nor are there successful clinical trials from any part of the world in scholarly databases.
However, the dangers of these devices and techniques are not mentioned. You will not be shown images of skin discoloration and other harm in these videos. Simply put, there is no documented evidence of home belly fat freezing working effectively. Do not put yourself at risk
Conclusion
You cannot effectively use ice packs to freeze belly fat at home. There is no documented evidence of a successful DIY home belly fat freeze. The main challenge is a lack of temperature control in these attempts. Ice rapidly absorbs temperature and melts. Professional CoolSculpting is your best shot when it comes to cryolipolysis. Ice belts and ice packs cannot help with belly fat.
I advise you consider a scientifically tested method that carries a little health risk for you, such as liposuction.
References
- Journal of Sport Rehabilitation: Pain Perception During Repeated Ice-Bath Immersion of the Ankle at Varied Temperatures
- Element Body Lab: CoolSculpting for Men
- Chrysolite Aesthetics: Can You Freeze Your Fat at Home?
- University of Utah Health: The Dangers of Frostbite
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Fat Cells Directly Sense Temperature to Activate Thermogenesis
