Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Thermal Dieting??

When I heard the newscasters saying I could burn up to 50% more calories in the cold weather, I had to hang around to listen to the story. Thoughts of there being an added benefit in working horses in the cold winter weather seemed intriguing. Heaven knows I could use some motivation on those cold frosty days.

Being cold is not my favorite thing so I bundle up pretty heavily assuming the shape of the Pillsbury Doughboy on some occasions. I usually can peel off a layer or two as I work but still mobility can be an issue sometimes with all that extra padding. Sometimes I wonder if the horses sense the restrictions such clothing puts upon me because I swear they take advantage at such times.

I waited patiently for the story only to hear the new buzz work, thermal dieting. As it flowed out over the airways, the skepticism immediately transcended upon me. Astronauts working at 60°, athletics soaking in ice cube water and runners in New York sporting shorts and flip flops all to shed extra pounds. Give me a break!

I don't care if there is science to support the fact the body will burn calories to maintain heat. Duh! That's why we feed our horses extra when the temperatures drop. I get that.

I was hoping for some real science that said working in the cold, say under 40° can burn X number of extra calories per hour. Now that would have been useful information because you can sure bet you won't ever get me soaking in a tub of ice water to drop the added pounds I'd like to lose. No way baby.

I hate being cold. I'd rather be fat and warm than skinny and cold any day of the week. What about you?? Any thermal dieting in your future??

12 comments:

  1. I lost 60 lbs , still have more to go , but I tell you the first winter after I lost the bulk of it I was convinced I was going to freeze to death. Up and down now , but I need drop about 40 lbs to be good, Ice water?? notofreakinglikley! I think I will wait till spring

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well considering I wouldn't even wear shorts and flip flops in the summer, you can bet your ice cubes that I wouldn't be doing it in the winter!!

    More hype because everybody wants to lose weight with some miracle cure. It's what sells. There is no way except the old fashioned less calories more exercise regimen.

    ReplyDelete
  3. lol, Mikael, you are so very funny! How is one supposed to burn calories when one's blood turns to molasses?
    Ok, so if I were consistent about taking cayenne pepper, I could prolly actually stay warm enough to burn some calories, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ummm...NO!

    I prefer to lose my extra weight by sweating it off, not shivering it off - LMAO.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Between last winter and this one, I've actually had a fleeting moment in which I considered selling my horses, because going outside three times a day to tend to their needs was more shivering than I could take.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Probably not doing that. I prefer to bundle up when I go to the barn, and I like fires in the fireplace and hottubbing while I watch my horses. I've found lots of ways to stay warm in the winter--and I'm with Grey horse--I don't like shorts and flipflops in the summer--definitely not happening in the winter. I'm a coat and boots, gloves and hat and scarf woman!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I call shenanigans. Yes, you'll burn calories shivering but it will do next to nothing for your muscle tone and aerobic fitness.

    As a "skinny" person, I'm cold all the dang time. I have blankets all over the house so I can be wrapped up at all times.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's funny you should post this today, as just yesterday I was thinking something similar. The office in which I work is cold. As in, 60 degrees in the office, shivering all day, cold. I was hoping that since I'm shivering all day, that at the end of winter I'll be left with a svelte shivered buff bod...I can only hope that my suffering will not be for naught. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yikes! Im with you for fat and warm. I would much rather sweat off pounds than shiver them off!

    ReplyDelete
  10. MiKael, as a skinny person I can tell you that I have to eat more in the winter to maintain my weight. So there is some truth to working in the cold burning more calories. Plus if you figure in the extra strength you need to use to move your extra layers of clothes....
    So theoretically you can with a sensible diet and no additional work tone and drop a few pounds over the winter.

    ReplyDelete
  11. LOL I'm like Fernvally.....when it's cold I freeze so I like the comfort of food.......could be why I gain so much in the winter months.

    ReplyDelete