Noom has been all over the news lately. I kept seeing the promos and decided to check it out. There was really nothing to lose in giving it a try (except maybe a little belly fat).
First, you need to know that I am not a fad dieter. I was glad to learn that Noom is not a diet. There's no special food to buy and you can pretty much eat what you want (within certain parameters).
It was super easy to get started. I set up a trial account with Noom and downloaded their free app (available for both IOS and Android platforms). All of that took less than two minutes.
Next, I was asked a few questions about my health goals. Noom is a program based on tapping into your motivation and encouraging the behavior changes needed to support what you wish to achieve. Whether you want to lose weight, feel healthier, be more fit, or eat right, Noom is there to gently nudge you in the right direction.
I want to do all of those things. After plugging my answers into the app, I was provided with a two-week plan. That plan includes eating more nutrient-dense foods, gradually increasing the number of steps I take each day (with an eventual target of walking 10,000 steps), doing a daily weigh-in, and logging my meals.
After calculating my weight-loss goal, my age, my current weight, and other pertinent factors (like any physical limitations, energy needs, etc.), I was given a target of consuming no more than 1,200 calories per day. That may seem restrictive, but I have found it reasonable and doable. I'm not starving or feeling deprived (because I am eating foods that are filling and satisfying).
Noom wants me to focus on caloric density when I choose my foods. Eating foods with a low caloric density is one of the keys to successfully achieving my goals. The app will teach you what you need to know, but essentially, fruits and vegetables typically have the best ratio when it comes to low calories and high nutritional value (think foods with fiber and a decent water content).
Foods are categorized into three color groups: Green, Yellow, and Red. I am allowed to eat what I choose within those groups, as long as I don't exceed the calorie recommendations for each. The Noom app provides me with an instant analysis of my food choices.
Who might be drawn to the Noom approach to healthier living?
- People on the go with a busy lifestyle.
- Anyone who enjoys the convenience of interacting with an app rather than having to be in a certain place at a specific time.
- Those who enjoy a light-hearted interface that offers up quick, easy-to-understand tidbits of health-related information followed by fun quizzes.
- The individual who likes to be affirmed for making progress.
In addition to the basics, there are a number of extras that can be added on. Once your trial concludes, you have the option to continue for a monthly subscription fee. I'm still in the first week of my trial, but can say it has been working well for me. I would have been happy losing two pounds my first week. To lose five pounds makes me ecstatic.
Having to weigh myself daily as a part of my Noom commitment is not my idea of a good time, but I must say that the accountability of doing so, and logging that weight, makes me try harder. The same is true of logging my daily meals. I'm not going to eat junk when I have to post it for someone else to see. Accountability makes such a difference.
You know what else keeps me going? Affirmations. It is so nice to receive a high five when I do something right. It's the little things like this that make me want to stay the course and keep on keeping on.
Earlier today, I asked one of my friends about her Noom experience. This is what Jan had to say:
It was easy to lose weight, the daily information was fun to read, the program was/is sustainable. I didn't participate often in the large group support activities and my personal coach was ok but not great. I loved that I was able to recover from two knee replacement surgeries (low activity levels for several weeks) and still lose weight!Jan also mentioned that she had referred others to the program and was recently thanked for doing so. One woman who lost 14 pounds as a result of that referral shared that it had changed her life. It doesn't get much better than that!
I have no doubt I will reach my ultimate goals (and sooner rather than later). Why don't you join me on Noom. Give it a two-week go to see what you can accomplish in a short window of time. If you use any link in this review, you will receive a free trial (I paid for mine) and a 20% discount on a Noom subscription. Click here to try Noom for free.
Let's make 2020 our best year yet. We hold the power to do so within us. All we have to do is unleash it.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”