On a weekly basis people ask me my opinion about freezing fat in order to lose weight or get rid of cellulite. I tell them I've never heard of a skinny Eskimo and if they have any doubt about my opinion they can park their butts on the frigid asphalt and notify me of their weight loss results. I still have yet to find anyone to accept the challenge. In addition, I've stored my fair share of meat in the freezer and I can't recall ever seeing the fat dissipate out of the Ziploc bags.
Cold will reduce inflammation. Inflammation can be in the form of swelling, but I've personally NEVER lost weight waiting for the bus in Chicago in -20 temps.
However the weight loss and fitness industry has sure spent billions to educate us about burning fat, but when we burn fat where exactly does it go? According to studies from the University of New South Wales in Australia 80% of fat leaves the body through the lungs.
I just never knew that 80% of the fat we lose is through the lungs. Guess that answers the question is it better to diet or exercise. It's really both. If you eat more than you breathe (burn) you will continue to gain weight. If you burn more than you eat, you lose weight.
I might add this is why extreme exercising can be counter productive. If you're not exchanging Carbon Dioxide for oxygen (you're out of breath) CO2 is not leaving the body (anaerobic) and then neither are the calories until you get back to being aerobic (with oxygen). This is why strength training can be VERY effective in weight loss. The burn goes on for hours past your workout.
Check out more about these fascinating weight loss studies at The Daily Mail Site.
In the meantime Keep Calm and BREATHE!