I’d like to say that I’m not the type to jump on trends, but when it comes to health and fitness, I do. When there are new workouts to try or programs to follow, it always piques my interest. Plus, I love taking a look at things so that I can share it here with you ladies!
So you can imagine my intrigue when I started to hear about Noom everywhere. It started with an ad played on one of my favorite podcasts and then it seemed to be everywhere.
Can this weight loss app really change your relationship with food?
After reading countless glowing Noom reviews, I decided to give it a try for myself. Here are my thoughts and opinions of the Noom App.
What is Noom?
It’s a weight loss app that’s done completely online, combining your standard diet procedures (food tracking, meal planning, etc.) with psychological behavior changes. It’s a program that’s designed to change your mind and the way you view and consume food so that you can realize weight loss for the long-term.
Losing weight tends to be one of our biggest, most stressful battles in life. And our desire to lose weight and achieve the ideal body is only amplified by social media. But what many of us don’t realize is that being overweight is rarely about just food. It’s about our relationship with food.
We all have a relationship with food whether we know it or not. Maybe we use it as comfort when we’re stressed, sad, or lonely. Maybe we fear certain food groups because we’ve been conditioned to think that they’re bad. Regardless of your personal relationship with food, there’s a good chance that it’s holding you back from achieving your weight loss goals in the long-term.
Noom set out to be a revolutionary weight loss program that works to break down those psychological barriers around food, changing the way you think about it and consume it.
How Does Noom Work?
The first thing you’ll notice about Noom is that there’s really no information on their site, you just begin the onboarding process. This can be a turn off for some people, but then again, that’s why people search for Noom reviews, right? So they can get the real scoop from someone who’s tried it before potentially wasting their time. And you definitely need a little time to get through this onboarding process.
You’ll start right off answering a series of questions about your goal weight, current weight, motivation levels, experience with other diet plans, activity levels, etc. This process was very similar to the Caliber Fitness onboarding process. It’s a pretty comprehensive set of questions, but not so many that you feel overwhelmed or annoyed with it. You can tick through them pretty quickly.
I really didn’t have a goal of losing weight, but I entered in that I’d like to be 5 pounds lighter for the sake of getting the best experience on the app. Once I did that, I was given a timeline for achieving my goal based on my lifestyle and the information that I input. They told me that I would reach my goal within a month and a half, which sounded doable.
Next, you’re thrown right into the app, which wasn’t a bad thing! I didn’t have a coach assigned to me yet, but I wonder if that was because I signed up on a Saturday night? Anyway, I did some digging into the coaching aspect and found that Noom coaches are required to complete a “core lifestyle coach training, which is an internationally recognized health and wellness training. I felt good about that as I have witnessed “coaches” in the past who are no different from anyone else on the street.
Although I didn’t have a coach yet, there was an online coach on call option always waiting for me in the upper-righthand corner. But I didn’t really need it yet, I immediately jumped into the “lessons” they had laid out for me. I was promptly assigned a coach on Monday morning!
At some point, they asked me how much time per day I wanted to allot to using the app and working on my weight loss goals, I chose the lowest option which I think was 5-10 minutes per day. They then provide lessons for you each day that is tailored to your time allotment.
So, in the beginning, you’ll learn all of the basics about the program and what to expect and you’ll also be quizzes on some common diet and eating habits, which was informative and keeps things interesting.
Tracking and Daily Weigh-Ins
Ok, so you probably won’t just magically shed the pounds by reading some interesting material. You have to put in the work and hold yourself accountable. Noom does this by having you weigh in daily and track all your food.
This sounds great to some people and induces anxiety in others. For some, tracking food and getting on the scale every day can be triggering and cause more damage than it’s worth. For others, it’s a great way to hold yourself accountable and to watch your progress while being mindful of what you’re eating.
Of course, our weight fluctuates each day, up to 5 pounds, in fact. And Noom will tell you all about this. It’s more about the progress over time than the number you see each day. Patterns begin to develop over time.
The app makes it really easy to track your weight each day as well as your food intake. They categorize foods into three different categories: green, yellow, and red, based on their caloric density. They are all about balance. So you’ll find that your food is split like this:
Green 30
Yellow 45
Red 25
Red doesn’t necessarily mean bad, it just means more calorie-dense, so those foods getting a smaller share of the pie.
Noom Food List
You know the red, yellow, and green we just discussed? Here’s where you’ll figure out how to balance that and what foods to choose.
The Noom Food list is one of the largest food databases available, which makes it easy for you to make healthy choices and track accordingly.
By reading the list, you’ll learn about the calorie content of each of the foods you eat. The main idea is to stick mostly with green foods as those are the least calorie-dense and the most nutritious, in general.
This list really makes meal planning simple by giving you a clear direction. As long as you stick to the food list, your food tracking will be easy. I love that this is something that you can follow for the long-term, it’s not restrictive at all and doesn’t require you to cut out any food groups.
Pros and Cons
No weight loss program is perfect and what works for one person may not work for another, but this is hands down the most inclusive, easy to follow, and maintain weight loss program that I have ever seen. Here are my pros:
Pros:
Cons:
Reviews of Noom: What Are Customers Saying Online About Their Diet App?
As reported by Trustpilot, 82% of the reviews for Noom (or noom.com) from real customers are excellent and great, while only a few are negative.
After reading all negative reviews, I concluded that the majority had to do with people not having great success with the app. Other unhappy customers reported the content was great, but they weren't seeing results fast enough. However, all reviews were directly answered and addressed by Noom support, which is a strong sign of excellent customer service.
To sum it up, most Noom users appear to be incredibly happy with the entire process of Noom's diet plan app platform. Most men and women would agree that this is a much needed service that saves further research (time) on what to eat and not to eat.
For many people suffering from being overweight, this company allowed them quick access to a professional service and diet plan which is a monumental life saver. Read below and watch the video to see what happy customers are saying.
And here's a great informational video on how Noom uses psychology that helped these two noom users accomplish their goals. Check it out below:
These customer testimonials are pulled right from Noom.com. Incredible to see how it has changed lives for the better!
“I started the program the first time in February 2019, after I weighed in at my heaviest and my energy was gone. I worked hard at it that first month. However, unexpected and tragic life circumstances took my focus away from the program. As my life calmed down, I started the program again on August 1st. I have stuck to the plan, took the advice seriously and the information was so helpful to keep me motivated and engaged. Noom gets deep into the issues and I discovered why I was struggling to have a healthy relationship with food, including limiting portions and not eating out of stress, boredom, or compulsiveness.”
“This is a fantastic program for those that struggle with weight loss. Each week work on one goal and classes and facts given to you everyday about eating. No good food, bad food - weight loss at your own speed fantastic be slow fast or super fast. They call in tortoise hare or don’t know both because I am a tortoise. Just about to meet for 10 percent goal is fantastic. Try it. You won’t be disappointed from someone who joined ww every year. Omg. Have lost slowly 6 kilos 10 weeks. Others losing much faster.. go for it. Yes 159 they bill you but weightwatchers charges every month then you don’t have to worry. You get a group of people to inspire you, access to coach any time is fantastic in helping you make changes one by one. Really like it. Will be in for the year at least. Can’t wait Feeling better and better!”
“Noom is different than anything I have ever tried. I am learning so much and it is working well for me. I am not only losing weight, but I am also gaining confidence with in myself and changing how I think about success! Wish I would have done this sooner.”
Lastly, a personal testimonial from Michelle who has transformed her body and conquered all her weight loss goals because of Noom's diet plan. Watch below:
My Personal Thoughts
As I mentioned, I did not have a significant amount of weight to lose when I started Noom, so I can’t really provide you a true weight loss review as that really wasn’t my goal.
I will say this, I think this app is absolutely perfect for those who are struggling with their weight. For the people who have tried everything and still can’t seem to reach their goals, this app is going to be a knight in shining armor.
It’s not just about the food you eat or the number on the scale, it’s your relationship with food and your body. Until you change that, you’ll never realize the long-term success that you truly desire and deserve.
I enjoyed the process of going through the app and learned a ton along the way. I was particularly interested in the lessons they provide each day as they give you bite-sized nuggets of valuable information that help you in so many different ways.
I only spent maybe 10 minutes per day tracking and going through the daily app checklist, which felt super doable and always worthwhile.
Want to Give it a Try For Yourself?
Right now, Noom is offering a FREE trial. If you think you’re even slightly interested in this app, I would take advantage right away as I’m not sure how long that offer will be available. You get access to the app and all the information within it for free for two full weeks. During which time you’ll be assigned a coach and everything.
You can cancel at any time, so if you decide that it’s not for you after the two-week trial, you can cancel and there’s no money lost.
If you have weight to lose and you feel like you’ve tried every diet, exercise plan, and supplement there is, then I highly recommend giving this a shot. It’s not a magic pill or quick fix, it’s results that are grounded in science and a lifestyle change, which is the only way to achieve lasting results.
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