Battery in the oven?

When I was on a training course at the GM Training Centre the instructor told us if the battery was frozen ...turn the headlights on and go have a coffee and the freedom battery will defrost itself. Never had to try it to say it works.
When I lived in Cheyenne Wy I tried what you suggested. I turned the headlights "on" then went back in for some coffee. I fell back to sleep and when I finally woke up the battery was dead because some idiot left the headlights "on"??