The Truth About the Ice Hack

People want to lose weight fast, and they want a solution.

The “Ice Hack” is a tool used by entrepreneurs to get people to buy into their product by painting the government as an entity that does not want people to lose weight. It is merely used as propaganda to target audiences that do not have time to work out, have struggled with dieting in the past, and dislike endless, exhausting cardio workouts.

Find out what entrepreneurs won’t tell you.

Script ~

Why is the “Ice Hack” a harmful mindset?

The “weight loss ice hack” we refer to is a trend or idea that suggests consuming ice or ice-cold water can help you burn more calories and lose weight. While there is a kernel of truth to this concept, it’s essential to understand that the overall impact on weight loss is minimal, and there can be potential harm associated with it.

Here are a few reasons why the weight loss ice hack may be harmful:

(1) Minimal Calorie Burn: While it’s true that your body burns a few extra calories when you consume ice-cold water because it has to work to warm it up to your body temperature, this calorie burn is very minimal. It’s not a significant or sustainable method for weight loss.

(2) Potential for Discomfort: Consuming excessively cold water or ice can cause discomfort, particularly for people with sensitive teeth or a sensitive digestive system. It can lead to headaches, stomach cramps, and other discomforts.

(3) Hydration Concerns: Drinking extremely cold water can cause your blood vessels to constrict, potentially affecting the absorption of water and nutrients in your digestive system. Staying properly hydrated is crucial for overall health and can support weight loss efforts.

(4) Not a Sustainable Approach: Weight loss is best achieved through a combination of a balanced diet and regular physical activity. Relying on a single hack or gimmick, like drinking ice-cold water, is not a sustainable or healthy approach to weight loss.

(5) No Substantial Evidence: While there is some evidence that drinking cold water may slightly increase energy expenditure, it’s not a well-established or highly effective weight loss strategy. There are many other more effective and safe approaches to weight loss, such as maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise.

In summary, the weight loss ice hack is not a reliable or healthy method for significant weight loss. It may provide a minor boost to calorie expenditure, but it should not be the primary focus of a weight loss plan. Instead, it’s best to focus on sustainable and evidence-based approaches to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Always consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or weight loss strategies.

Additionally, the hack is used by entrepreneurs who are trying to push their own weight loss pills onto people. They claimed to have conducted thorough research and developed a pill that causes the same chemical and hormonal reaction in your body as the “ice hack”. However, these pills only make people bloat, which causes them to take more pills to try and try to lose weight.

This process attacks individuals that are trying to find a quick fix to their weight loss issues and undermine the discipline and hardwork that they need to put in via working out and dieting in order to achieve their goals. Companies hire individuals that did lose weight using alternative methods and they act as models for their pills to convince people to buy them. They blame the government for taking down the true results/research because the recipe undermines the weight loss industry to convince those who distrust the government to follow them.

What the Ice Hack actually looks like.

Essay ~

The term “weight loss ice hack” alludes to a popular notion that involves the consumption of ice or extremely cold water as a means to enhance calorie burning and facilitate weight loss. While there is a degree of validity in this concept, it’s essential to recognize that its impact on weight loss is relatively minimal, and it carries potential risks.

There are several reasons why the weight loss ice hack may actually be detrimental to one’s health, rather than helpful:

1. Insignificant Caloric Expenditure ~ While it is accurate to say that your body expends a few additional calories when processing ice cold water, as it needs to warm it to body temperature, this calorie burn is inconsequential. It is not a substantial or sustainable approach for weight loss.
2. Potential for Discomfort ~ Consuming excessively cold water or ice can lead to discomfort, particularly for individuals with sensitive teeth or a sensitive digestive system. This discomfort can manifest as headaches, stomach cramps, and other unpleasant sensations.
3. Hydration Concerns ~ One’s consumption of extremely cold water may prompt blood vessels to constrict, potentially affecting the absorption of water and nutrients within the digestive system. Proper hydration is vital for overall health and can support weight loss endeavors.
4. An Unsustainable Approach ~ Weight loss is best achieved through a combination of a well-balanced diet and regular physical activity. Relying on a single hack or gimmick, such as drinking ice-cold water, is neither sustainable nor conducive to healthy weight loss.
5. Overwhelming Lack of Substantial Evidence ~ While there is limited evidence indicating that cold water consumption may marginally boost energy expenditure, it does not constitute a well-established or highly effective strategy for weight loss.

Numerous alternative and secure methods for weight loss are available, such as adhering to a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise. In summary, the weight loss ice hack is an unreliable and unhealthful method for achieving significant weight loss. While it may provide a modest increase in calorie expenditure, it should not be the primary focus of a weight loss plan. Instead, it is advisable to concentrate on sustainable, evidence-based approaches for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Always seek guidance from a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making substantial alterations to your diet or weight loss strategies.

Additionally, the hack is exploited by entrepreneurs who seek to promote their own weight loss pills. They claim to have conducted extensive research and created a pill that triggers the same chemical and hormonal response in the body as the “ice hack.” However, these pills often cause bloating, prompting individuals to consume more pills in an attempt to shed weight. This method preys on individuals seeking quick fixes for their weight loss problems, undermining the dedication and hard work necessary for effective weight management through exercise and diet.

Companies employ individuals who have achieved weight loss using alternative techniques as models to endorse their pills, persuading people to purchase them. They often blame the government for suppressing genuine research findings, asserting that their formula challenges the weight loss industry, in an attempt to sway those who distrust governmental institutions to follow their lead.

I chose this example of harmful propaganda because I have been trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle myself, and I know that people like me, who don’t necessarily have a lot of time on their hands, can fall victim to these prompts. It would be devastating to find out that you were trying to better yourself only to have a product making your health worse. In my creative process I wanted to make something that looked like common propaganda or advertisements for the health and wellness field, but that actually picked it apart so that people can look at them with fresh eyes and see the real truth. These propaganda are so successful because they claim to be telling viewers the “truth” and that they are being “lied to” by the weight loss industry, and people want the real solutions to their problems. I felt it was important for me to highlight that even though we want these tricks to work, they don’t. These tricks are just gimmicks used by entrepreneurs trying to make money off of people struggling to make a difference in their mental, physical, or emotional health.

Citations ~

Aerts, M., Hack, A. C., Reusser, E., & Ulmer, P. (2010). Assessment of the diamond-trap method for studying high-pressure fluids and melts and an improved freezing stage design for laser ablation ICP-MS analysis. American Mineralogist, 95(10), 1523–1526.

Blackburn, G. (1995). Effect of degree of weight loss on health benefits. Obesity research, 3(S2), 211s-216s.

Garthe, I., Raastad, T., & Sundgot-Borgen, J. (2011). Long-term effect of weight loss on body composition and performance in elite athletes. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 21(5), 426–435.

Obert, J., Pearlman, M., Obert, L., & Chapin, S. (2017). Popular weight loss strategies: a review of four weight loss techniques. Current gastroenterology reports, 19, 1–4.

Svetkey, L. P., Stevens, V. J., Brantley, P. J., Appel, L. J., Hollis, J. F., Loria, C. M., … & Weight Loss Maintenance Collaborative Research Group. (2008). Comparison of strategies for sustaining weight loss: the weight loss maintenance randomized controlled trial. Jama, 299(10), 1139–1148.