Does Noom Really Work?

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I get a lot of messages and emails asking me about Noom, starting with my first post about Noom, published about six months ago. People want to know if it is still working, how I am doing it, and if I would recommend it. So here are the nitty-gritty details of this program.

Noom isn’t a diet program and I absolutely love that about it.

Instead, it works to help you change your mindset about food, exercise, sleep, and stress. Noom doesn’t just want to help you lose weight, it wants to change your life, and it definitely has done that for me. This can save you from having to go through a mommy makeover recovery process! Let me break down the biggest questions I have received from readers.

What is Noom?

Noom is a subscription-based app to help you change your lifestyle and lose weight. Noom is similar to other apps when it comes to food logging, weight tracking, and exercise tracking. Where it differs is the way it approaches them. Noom uses a color system for foods, breaking them down like a stoplight.

• Green foods are less calorie dense than other foods. They include fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
• Yellow foods have more calories than green and include lean meats, legumes, and lower-fat dairy.
• Red foods are the most calorie-dense and include foods such as red meats and desserts.

Red doesn’t necessarily mean bad though. It should just raise a flag in your head about the calories you are consuming. The program isn’t about cutting cookies out but making sure they aren’t a huge part of your diet.

When you focus on eating green and yellow foods and watching your reds, you naturally start eating healthier and thinking about the food you eat.

One of the biggest ways Noom is different than other apps is each person is given a coach. The coach checks in with you often, sending you text messages to ask how you are doing and helping you figure out problem areas in your life.

My coach has been absolutely life-changing. She listens to me, researches topics if I need help, and is there to help me pick myself back up if I stumble. I mentioned to my coach that having notifications from her pop up on my phone really helps keep me on track by reminding me of my goals, so she started sending more.

Noom also gives you small articles and challenges to do every day. They focus on learning about your problem areas and how to fix them. Some of the challenges I have done in the past including replacing a soda with water and writing down everything that stresses me out. They are simple things that make big impacts.

Do I set goals with Noom?

Of course! Setting goals is a huge part of making things happen. Noom focus on “SMART” (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-oriented) goals. Your coach will help you nail down the very specific things you want to accomplish, make sure they are realistic, and then you can set a realistic time frame for them. Setting goals this way means you are more likely to meet them and get back up when you fall down.

Do you track calories with Noom?

Yes. Tracking your calories is a very important step toward becoming healthier. Studies show people who track their calories eat less in general because they are more aware of what they are putting into their bodies. Tracking calories is very important at the beginning of your Noom journey, especially because it will help you see where you are struggling and could do better. It wasn’t until I started using Noom that I realized I was drinking four cans of diet soda a day. FOUR. I seriously had no idea. Now I don’t drink it at all.

Does Noom tell me I can’t have treats?

Nope. No food is off-limits. Noom recognizes trying to tell people they can never have their favorite again is not realistic.

Does Noom give me a meal plan?

No. That is one of the things I love about it. It lets me track my calories with food I already know I love. The app lets you easily track the food you make or take-out options. If you want to try out some new healthier recipes, the app is full of them! As someone with food limitations, this is one of the best parts of Noom. It works if you are Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free or have allergies.

Does Noom track my steps?

Yes. It can do this just from your phone or it can sync with a Fitbit. My Noom app syncs with my Fitbit and I love it! I literally never have to think about adding my steps to Noom.

How do I sync my Fitbit to Noom?

From your home screen, click on the settings button in the menu that pops up on the left-hand side of the screen. In settings, select Apps and Devices. Hit connect additional devices and then find the type of device you have and connect it!

What Can I Log In Noom?

All of your calories. You can add food by searching the Noom Database or by scanning barcodes of the food you are eating. You can also log your weight and your exercise duration

How do I get started?

You start by taking an assessment from Noom. Your assessment will include questions about your weight and fitness goals. Then you will start your free 14-day trial and be assigned a health coach!

Want to find out what Noom can do for you? Go here to take your assessment and get a 14-day trial of the program.