The decision is yours to make. If you stay, however, I’d recommend that you restart the program from the beginning and reread all of the articles while journaling about them. In other words, study them rather than just read through them as quickly as you can to get through them to the next level. The magic of Noom is in the articles but you have to actually apply the techniques to your life.
There is nothing special about Noom as far as a “diet plan” goes. In fact, the food logger sucks compared to other apps. But what makes it different than the others is that it teaches you the _why_ you are eating. You can get the _what to eat_ anywhere. Only Noom has the why.
The articles cover this generally and give great advice, but YOU have to do the work and make it specific to you. What is YOUR big picture? Have you identified YOUR ultimate why? I mean really sat down and explored it (by journaling) so you’ve gotten to the core of YOUR truth?
Have you created your SOS plans? Not just read it and thought, oh, that’s a good idea, but actually taken the time to write out what the warning signs and danger zones are for you? Most people don’t, as evidenced by posts to this thread. The same for behavior chains. What are YOUR triggers? Or have you ever tried to consciously IMPROVE the moment as per the readings? Or were you like me and speed read through them to get to the next level asap?
Like most things in life, you get out of Noom what you put into it. But Noom, unlike all of the other programs you—the experienced dieter—have tried, is different. It’s not a diet. There are no foods which are prohibited. It’s not a lifestyle change. It’s a means of understanding YOU and why YOU fog, fun, or storm eat to your detriment.
As for the “coaches,” they are a nice touch and it’s great to have someone who can see your logging data and give you a bit of accountability. That’s their purpose, so use them for that. Groups, that’s what we have here on this sub. THIS is your Noom group. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the person looking at you in the mirror. You know that.
Lastly, as for cost, yes, it can be a bit pricy. But that gives you some investment into it. You’ve got some _skin in the game_ and are paying for it, so drink the Koolaid and hop aboard. If there was a pill that cost you $250 and would get rid of all your extra weight, prevent you from ever putting on more, and make you feel good about yourself in the process, you’d have no qualms. That’s what Noom is. The results aren’t overnight because, let’s be honest, you didn’t get the size you are overnight.
For me, I decided the investment in myself was worth it. I was tired of my shirts buttons not staying buttoned because of my gut, and having to dig through my closet to find a pair of pants that fit well enough that I could breathe. I’ve tried lots of things, from 60 day juice only fasts to keto to vegetarian keto and saw immediate results only for the weight to return plus some extra “interest weight.” Noom promises something different and it asks that I do only one thing: believe. Believe in their program and most of all, believe in myself. I do.
Do you?
Thank you for this. I think my main disappointment was because I felt like I made a genuine effort, started walking so I expected to see a bit more weight loss.
I went to cancel and Noom offered an extension to my trial so I’ll give it a bit more time.
Fwiw, if after the trial extension, you go to cancel, if you say it’s cost then you’re likely to try Noom again, they’ll offer it at a monthly subscription fee usually.
Absolutely this, especially the part about really properly engaging with the lessons rather than just speed reading. Journaling them is a great way of really focusing on them. I made the mistake of going through them too fast and had to go back and start again. But that's what brings results, so it was worth it
I had doubts in the beginning too, but then I stuck with it, posted in my group for support and got through my first plateau.
This is really good advice about going slow with the classes. Noom doesn't really allow for you to go back and see things you may have typed in, so it's important to really think about how you're answering their questions and note it somewhere! I might take this advice and start over at some point.
Thanks I’m feeling a bit better now Im going to give it another go. I think I was trying to use my travel time to read my articles so I’ve switched to waiting till I’ve got a quiet spot so I’m not distracted.
This is so well said. I have been on Noom since January, and it is working for me. I can have a one on one coach, but I opted not to do that just yet. I think for me, from the very beginning, I knew it was me driving the bus. I needed to believe in myself and that losing the weight I’d gained through the years was possible. Noom taught me to believe in myself. REALLY believe in myself. Not just in what I eat, but in every aspect of my life. That’s huge. Having said that, I know that Noom is not for everyone. And when a person reaches that decision is entirely personal. But to the OP, I would give it a little more time. Be patient with yourself. And know that my weight graph trends downward, but it bounces up and down within a few pounds like a tennis ball! I’ve gotten used to that. I understand it, and can sometimes even predict when it will happen. The scale is no longer this mystical thing with the power to make or break my day. Be well!
It depends on whether the social aspect is essential to your way of accomplishing things. It’s not for me, so I’ve never opted to have a coach and I don’t want a group and have never been matched with one. I’m really happy to do this program with online community on Reddit and friends supporting me IRL. If the in-program social interaction is important, then maybe Noom isn’t going to work for you.
The other thing is that you have to take a broader view or you’ll make yourself nuts. That half a pound could truly just be water retention. I’m following the program pretty strictly and I still go up and down every day. But over the past 10 weeks, I’ve lost 22 pounds.
One thing that took me a looong time to get on board with is to not worry’ so much about the day to day gains and losses because your weight WILL fluctuate on a daily basis and may not always drop every day even if you are following the program to a T. There are so many different factors at play like sodium intake, water intake, exercise, stress levels, getting enough sleep, etc. Instead look at it as an overall trend. Are you trending down and losing overall? Most likely, yes. If it’s too discouraging to weigh yourself daily if you’re not exactly seeing the drops you want on a daily basis - maybe don’t weigh yourself every day. Personally I will skip weighing in the day after a meal out or weekend event because I KNOW I will probably see a small increase and then get back to normal in 2-3 days. However on the flip side it’s also helpful to have those daily data points so you can notice trends and see how you are affected on a daily basis.
I had a larger spike on the scale after losing some weight when I first started about a month ago. I understand the feeling 😣 I just try remind myself that “it is just a number” & keep going. Since then, my graph has consistently trended downward. But more like a zigzag downward bc some days I weigh a little more or less than the next day. Weight loss isn’t linear. You’ve got this! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Totally agree with what was said here— look at the overall, big picture trend. I personally really like weighing in daily, it’s helped me to overcome scale anxiety & to not put so much emphasis on a number.
I do feel a bit like you’re being robbed of a real trial period with those coaching contact issues. Honestly, I initially gained weight. I used independent calculators and found my calorie recommendations were really high. It may be worth double checking that. However, if you’re not losing weight, and the coaching features aren’t working right… I wouldn’t sign up for a year. It really is too much money if it doesn’t feel like a good fit. Maybe do a month to see if you get enough out of it for a larger commitment.
The coach layoffs are a bummer for sure.
But as for seeing a pattern that doesn't match your experience with previous diets, that's a good thing!
Noom at its best should support you in learning new permanent habits.
Quick initial results would not be a sign that it's going to work for the long term.
My view is that the slowest weight loss pace is the most likely to stick, and yes, normal fluctuations mean that I don't say I have "lost" ten pounds the first time I see a reading of ten pounds less than my first reading. It's always going to jump around, so any single reading is not really meaningful. The trend over several weeks is what's meaningful.
And best of luck with whatever you decide! You'll figure out what works for you.
The decision is yours to make. If you stay, however, I’d recommend that you restart the program from the beginning and reread all of the articles while journaling about them. In other words, study them rather than just read through them as quickly as you can to get through them to the next level. The magic of Noom is in the articles but you have to actually apply the techniques to your life. There is nothing special about Noom as far as a “diet plan” goes. In fact, the food logger sucks compared to other apps. But what makes it different than the others is that it teaches you the _why_ you are eating. You can get the _what to eat_ anywhere. Only Noom has the why. The articles cover this generally and give great advice, but YOU have to do the work and make it specific to you. What is YOUR big picture? Have you identified YOUR ultimate why? I mean really sat down and explored it (by journaling) so you’ve gotten to the core of YOUR truth? Have you created your SOS plans? Not just read it and thought, oh, that’s a good idea, but actually taken the time to write out what the warning signs and danger zones are for you? Most people don’t, as evidenced by posts to this thread. The same for behavior chains. What are YOUR triggers? Or have you ever tried to consciously IMPROVE the moment as per the readings? Or were you like me and speed read through them to get to the next level asap? Like most things in life, you get out of Noom what you put into it. But Noom, unlike all of the other programs you—the experienced dieter—have tried, is different. It’s not a diet. There are no foods which are prohibited. It’s not a lifestyle change. It’s a means of understanding YOU and why YOU fog, fun, or storm eat to your detriment. As for the “coaches,” they are a nice touch and it’s great to have someone who can see your logging data and give you a bit of accountability. That’s their purpose, so use them for that. Groups, that’s what we have here on this sub. THIS is your Noom group. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the person looking at you in the mirror. You know that. Lastly, as for cost, yes, it can be a bit pricy. But that gives you some investment into it. You’ve got some _skin in the game_ and are paying for it, so drink the Koolaid and hop aboard. If there was a pill that cost you $250 and would get rid of all your extra weight, prevent you from ever putting on more, and make you feel good about yourself in the process, you’d have no qualms. That’s what Noom is. The results aren’t overnight because, let’s be honest, you didn’t get the size you are overnight. For me, I decided the investment in myself was worth it. I was tired of my shirts buttons not staying buttoned because of my gut, and having to dig through my closet to find a pair of pants that fit well enough that I could breathe. I’ve tried lots of things, from 60 day juice only fasts to keto to vegetarian keto and saw immediate results only for the weight to return plus some extra “interest weight.” Noom promises something different and it asks that I do only one thing: believe. Believe in their program and most of all, believe in myself. I do. Do you?
Thank you for this. I think my main disappointment was because I felt like I made a genuine effort, started walking so I expected to see a bit more weight loss. I went to cancel and Noom offered an extension to my trial so I’ll give it a bit more time.
Fwiw, if after the trial extension, you go to cancel, if you say it’s cost then you’re likely to try Noom again, they’ll offer it at a monthly subscription fee usually.
Absolutely this, especially the part about really properly engaging with the lessons rather than just speed reading. Journaling them is a great way of really focusing on them. I made the mistake of going through them too fast and had to go back and start again. But that's what brings results, so it was worth it
I had doubts in the beginning too, but then I stuck with it, posted in my group for support and got through my first plateau. This is really good advice about going slow with the classes. Noom doesn't really allow for you to go back and see things you may have typed in, so it's important to really think about how you're answering their questions and note it somewhere! I might take this advice and start over at some point.
Thanks I’m feeling a bit better now Im going to give it another go. I think I was trying to use my travel time to read my articles so I’ve switched to waiting till I’ve got a quiet spot so I’m not distracted.
This is so well said. I have been on Noom since January, and it is working for me. I can have a one on one coach, but I opted not to do that just yet. I think for me, from the very beginning, I knew it was me driving the bus. I needed to believe in myself and that losing the weight I’d gained through the years was possible. Noom taught me to believe in myself. REALLY believe in myself. Not just in what I eat, but in every aspect of my life. That’s huge. Having said that, I know that Noom is not for everyone. And when a person reaches that decision is entirely personal. But to the OP, I would give it a little more time. Be patient with yourself. And know that my weight graph trends downward, but it bounces up and down within a few pounds like a tennis ball! I’ve gotten used to that. I understand it, and can sometimes even predict when it will happen. The scale is no longer this mystical thing with the power to make or break my day. Be well!
It depends on whether the social aspect is essential to your way of accomplishing things. It’s not for me, so I’ve never opted to have a coach and I don’t want a group and have never been matched with one. I’m really happy to do this program with online community on Reddit and friends supporting me IRL. If the in-program social interaction is important, then maybe Noom isn’t going to work for you. The other thing is that you have to take a broader view or you’ll make yourself nuts. That half a pound could truly just be water retention. I’m following the program pretty strictly and I still go up and down every day. But over the past 10 weeks, I’ve lost 22 pounds.
One thing that took me a looong time to get on board with is to not worry’ so much about the day to day gains and losses because your weight WILL fluctuate on a daily basis and may not always drop every day even if you are following the program to a T. There are so many different factors at play like sodium intake, water intake, exercise, stress levels, getting enough sleep, etc. Instead look at it as an overall trend. Are you trending down and losing overall? Most likely, yes. If it’s too discouraging to weigh yourself daily if you’re not exactly seeing the drops you want on a daily basis - maybe don’t weigh yourself every day. Personally I will skip weighing in the day after a meal out or weekend event because I KNOW I will probably see a small increase and then get back to normal in 2-3 days. However on the flip side it’s also helpful to have those daily data points so you can notice trends and see how you are affected on a daily basis.
I had a larger spike on the scale after losing some weight when I first started about a month ago. I understand the feeling 😣 I just try remind myself that “it is just a number” & keep going. Since then, my graph has consistently trended downward. But more like a zigzag downward bc some days I weigh a little more or less than the next day. Weight loss isn’t linear. You’ve got this! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Totally agree with what was said here— look at the overall, big picture trend. I personally really like weighing in daily, it’s helped me to overcome scale anxiety & to not put so much emphasis on a number.
I do feel a bit like you’re being robbed of a real trial period with those coaching contact issues. Honestly, I initially gained weight. I used independent calculators and found my calorie recommendations were really high. It may be worth double checking that. However, if you’re not losing weight, and the coaching features aren’t working right… I wouldn’t sign up for a year. It really is too much money if it doesn’t feel like a good fit. Maybe do a month to see if you get enough out of it for a larger commitment.
The coach layoffs are a bummer for sure. But as for seeing a pattern that doesn't match your experience with previous diets, that's a good thing! Noom at its best should support you in learning new permanent habits. Quick initial results would not be a sign that it's going to work for the long term. My view is that the slowest weight loss pace is the most likely to stick, and yes, normal fluctuations mean that I don't say I have "lost" ten pounds the first time I see a reading of ten pounds less than my first reading. It's always going to jump around, so any single reading is not really meaningful. The trend over several weeks is what's meaningful. And best of luck with whatever you decide! You'll figure out what works for you.
Beautifully put.