I tried Noom for 30 Days … and this is what happened! 🙂 Today I'm sharing my experiences with this weight loss app. My wife is now on week 2 with Noom, so you'll hear about her results as well.
This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
“Healthi formerly iTrackbites is an alternative to Weight Watchers.“
I Tried Noom for 30 Days and This Happened
What is Noom?
Noomis a health app designed by behavioral psychologists to help youlose weight and keep it off. It focuses on making healthy choices without cutting out entire food groups like some diets do. Oh, and before I forget, Noom is not a diet. 😉
Take a free 30-second online evaluation to see how much weight you could lose with Noom. Keep reading to find out why I love this app!
Pros and Cons of Noom
There are pros and cons to any weight loss program. I want to get right into it, in case you're short on time and can only read part of this post… this is the part you want! 😉
Benefits of Noom
- Free trial to try before you buy
- Built-in pedometer to track your steps
- Easier than tracking Points when you don't have the app handy
- Daily actionable steps to take
- Optional reminders to track every meal
- Extensive food database and recipes
- Compatible with all other eating styles like Keto, Vegan, etc
Drawbacks of Noom
- It's a new program to get used to. When you've been with WW for a decade or more, new can be scary.
- Noom isn't free. But, it's less than the cost of a personal trainer and health coach – and comparable to other lifestyle/diet plans that are less interactive. This is also not a true “drawback”, because paying for something makes me much more accountable.
7 Things I Learned From Noom
I've been using the Noom weight loss app for about a month now and I have learned a lot, even though I haven't been as diligent as I could've or should've been.
1. Tracking doesn't have to be complicated.
We all know calorie counting alone just doesn't work for most of us, but what's the solution to tracking food without it being too tedious?
I love Weight Watchers and iTrackBites (must click link from mobile if you want my 40% discount), don't get me wrong, but if I don't have my phone with me for some reason – or it doesn't have service – I like knowing that Noom's principles can be used wherever I am. Their “green, yellow, red food system” is genius and has helped me literally stop (like at a “red light”) before over-indulging in certain foods. I know which foods are yellow and red, so I eat them less. It's a weird trick for your brain, but it works.
Just like with WW, no foods are off limits and portion control is key with “yellow” and “red” foods.
Related: Check out my FULL NOOM GUIDE and MEAL PLAN!
2. You don't have to walk 10,000 steps right away.
I always push myself as much as I can and getting at least 10K steps in is always my goal, but it doesn't happen every day. Noom has taught me there's no reason to be bummed if I get less than 10K steps, I just strive harder to get them the next day. Noom helps me celebrates the little wins in my daily life, so I stay motivated to keep going.
3. There's no one-size fits all.
With other weight loss programs, it has felt like a “one size fits all” approach, and it never worked for me. Noom encourages me based on the answers I've given to their questions, which are different than the answers my wife gave. We have different goals and Noom helps us each achieve them individually.
As a comprehensive solution, Noom delivers weight loss through a framework of psychology and community. It adapts to individual lifestyles and serves as a high level, expert resource–not as a one-size-fits-all “diet”–a word not even in Noom’s vocabulary.
4. Every day is a new day.
Noom is so motivational and encouraging, it's like having your own personal cheerleader in your pocket all day! In the past, I've had issues with diets affecting my mental health. Noom is not a diet.
When it comes to vulnerable matters like weight loss, a failed weight loss attempt can be as costly to your wallet as it is to your mental health. Whether it’s something as mild as low key discouragement or something more serious like depression or an eating disorder, it’s important to invest in a weight loss endeavor that keeps mental wellness and psychology in mind.
5. You must hold yourself accountable.
I'm guilty of skipping gym day sometimes, when I'm “too tired” or just don't feel like going. Noom reminds me that I've committed to a healthy lifestyle and that takes work every single day. I feel like it's another brain trick, having to press the “I commit!” button.
You're the only one who can take that next step towards your weight loss goals, but Noom is holding your hand every step of the way.
6. We all have bad habits.
Whether it's snacking at night, skipping the gym far too often, or overall just making poor eating choices, we all have bad habits we need to break.
Learning what a behavior chain is and how it affects my weight loss journey has been a real eye opener. Triggers are all around us: environmental, biological, mental, emotional, or social. When you're out with friends and you have the habit of ordering fried mozzarella sticks every single time, that's a tough habit to break for a few reasons.
First, they taste really freakin' good. Second, your friends are going to be like “what the heck?”. That can get awkward because you tell them you're trying to lose weight and they either tell you that you don't need to, or they laugh it off because you're “on a diet”… again.
7. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
You may log into your Noom app, record your weight, and notice you've gone up a bit or haven't lost any weight this week. The truth of the matter is, weight loss is about getting healthy. That means it's a marathon, not a sprint. Especially if you have a lot of weight to lose, you can't undo all of the previous weight gain in just a few weeks or sometimes even a few months.
Noom is great at keeping you on track long-term. I have easily lost interest with other apps because, well, tracking food is boring and not very interactive at all. With Noom, it's an interactive journey every single day that motivates me to make better food choices and move my body more.
Have I convinced you to lose weight the smart way? Start your journey today for FREE!
Can you lose weight fast with Noom?
You might be wondering at this point… is it really possible to lose weight fast? It is. And the truth of the matter is, you don’t actually need a fancy diet supplement or a state-of-the-art piece of exercise equipment in order to do so. Instead, the next time you’re looking to lose weight quickly and easily, rather than buying in to some commercial gimmick, consider relying on basic science-supported techniques like these:
- Weighing in daily
- Staying hydrated
- Eating mindfully
- Keeping full with fiber and protein-packed meals
- Cutting back on refined sugars and simple carbohydrates
- Getting a good night’s rest, practicing self care, and minimizing your stress
- Engaging in your exercise of choice: cardio, strength training, or interval training
These simple principles can help you lose weight just as fast as any supplement or fad diet. And the best part is, with techniques like these, you’ll be losing weight naturally – and it stays off!
You might be wondering:
Before I signed up for Noom, I had lots of questions! Here are a few of the most common questions about Noom. If you have others, leave a comment below and I will try to answer them!
What do you eat on Noom?
Noom has recipes already created for you when you sign into the app, and they teach you how to “calculate” all other foods on the green, yellow, and red light system. It's a simpler system than others I've tried, and doesn't require having the app on hand all day.
You get to eat real foods like butter, meats (ham, beef, chicken, turkey), french fries, and even pasta. The nutrition of each recipe is listed in the app along with the instructions.
How much weight will you lose?
A few weeks after starting Noom
I didn't take “before” pictures, but everyone noticed my weight loss when I posted this pic from the parade I rode in the other day so I wanted to share it. 🙂 I feel better because even though I haven't lost a ton of weight, I've been making better life choices all around and it shows.
I've lost 10 pounds in the last 30 days. Your results will vary based on your food choices, water intake, exercise level, and any health issues you may have. My wife has no thyroid so she loses weight VERY slowly, but she lost 5 pounds in 10 days on Noom so I know it works!
Why is Noom better than other programs?
Noom is a great program that is better than calorie tracking. For me, it's also been better than counting points. That doesn't mean I'm abandoning Weight Watchers, but I do enjoy using Noom far more than I enjoy the WW app so I'm going to keep using it. I will still create amazing recipes for you with WW points calculated, but I am going to add in more info about Noom recipes as well. 🙂
Will Noom work for me?
I'm not your doctor, so you may want to ask them before beginning a new program, but I'm a strong believer that Noom can work for anyone. It's about understanding the psychology behind your habits, and pushing yourself to ditch them. Noom is about accountability and interactive weight loss.
Who is Noom best for?
Noom is best for those who have struggled with other weight loss programs in the past and want to try something new. You will enjoy Noom if you need a cheerleader in your corner, or if you've failed in the past and are hung up on that in an emotional or psychological way. Because the trial is free, everyone should at least give it a try.
What's the bottom line?
I'm glad you asked! The bottom line is this: You can try Noom for free, which means you have NOTHING to lose… except your bad habits and extra weight. 😉
Noom has truly helped me change my mindset and behaviors, all while losing weight in a fun, interactive way. If you're bored with your current set up, or aren't getting the results you feel you should be getting, try Noom for free and let me know what you think.
