Read my updated 2020 Noom experience here!
I feel like this post has been a loooong time coming. I’ve been yapping about my experience using NOOM app on Instagram for months now and this is probably one of my most highly requested posts ever. I really avoided sitting down to write it for a bit, I think because discussing a diet plan, weight loss plan, or wellness and health in general are SO personal. I’m not a dietician, a nutritionist - shit, I’m not even a wellness blogger.
BUT one of the main reasons I started this platform - this brand - was to share meaningful, valuable content and life experiences. NOOM actually really did impact my life and helped me make a change when it comes to healthy eating and a more healthy lifestyle overall.
If you’re coming here for a NOOM before and after situation, you won’t find the photos you're looking for. Sorry. Health and wellness are so much deeper than “before” and “after” photos. My weight goes up and down and honestly I didn’t start using NOOM with the goal of losing weight. My goals were to feel better, to feel like I’m in control, and to make a better investment in my health - and if I happened to lose weight during the process, that was a cherry on top.
So let’s dig in, shall we?
*Full transparency - the links in this article are affiliate links. NOOM really impacted my life so I signed on to be an affiliate and if you choose to sign on too I’d love if you use my link. I won’t make much, but I’ll make a little something.*
What is NOOM?
I’ll answer this question two fold - from the actual physical what IS it stand point and also from the philosophy standpoint.
What is NOOM physically? It’s an app. NOOM is a wellness program in app form. You can download NOOM in I’m pretty sure any app store - the app itself is free. While I wouldn't say NOOM is a weight loss program specifically, it is built with a healthy weight program mindset.
From a program philosophy standpoint, NOOM is all about understanding the psychology and science behind food and eating. They don’t promote any “diet” (this isn’t like a Whole 30 or intermittent fasting or anything like that). NOOM is truly like taking a long term nutrition class in app form. The biggest thing they teach? A little intro to dense foods. Eat more foods that have low calorie density (aka foods that are water rich). Why? You can eat them all damn day and they’ll keep you full.
Let’s talk about what the NOOM philosophy isn’t - it isn’t restrictive. You can eat pizza, dumplings, grilled cheese, chocolate, honestly whatever the F you want. BUT - you are taught to eat them "within reason." I really do want to preface a NOOM diet isn't restrictive and actually promotes a healthy mindset relationship with food - there are even articles included in the app that talk about how food isn't moral (there's no such thing as a "bad" food!). NOOM instead teaches you can enjoy all foods as part of a balanced lifestyle.
NOOM breaks foods down into three categories. Hear me out before you make a judgement call on it. Foods are color coded from green to red, but this is NOT based on sugar or fat. It’s also NOT based on labeling foods as “good” or “bad.” Red foods are not “bad” foods. In fact, one of the NOOM articles insists labeling food as “good” or “bad” is the worst thing you can do. Food isn’t bad. That cookie isn’t evil. It’s just a cookie. And you can enjoy it in reasonable quantities.
But I digress.
GREEN foods have low calorie density and are water rich. This category is filled with veggies, fruits, whole grains, etc. NOOM encourages you to eat “green” foods all day long. YELLOW foods are medium on the calorie density scale. These are your proteins like chicken. Remember, yellow isn’t “bad” so get your chicken breast on BUT pay attention to quantity. Most of us actually shouldn’t be eating an entire chicken breast in one sitting, but actually like half that amount. RED foods are very high calorie density, meaning lotssss of calories for one small little bite (like a piece of candy). High calorie density foods also tend to not keep you very full. I really have to stress again, red foods aren’t “bad” - they’re just high calorie and small. Almonds, for example, are classified as a red food. Almonds are an awesome source of protein, but they are actually really calorie dense. For perspective, 10 almonds = about 70 calories which is about the same as one entire big slice of a watermelon. The watermelon is chalk full of water and will keep you full longer (water fills the stomach up to make it feel full!), hence why it’s a green food.
NOOM not only teaches you this science of feeling full, but also gives you a short article to read each morning. The articles really go over the psychology and emotional ups and downs of eating healthy. My fave article talked about “plateaus.” Have you ever tried to eat healthy and weeks go by - you look no different, you feel no different. So why bother? NOOM broke down the science of the “plateau” right as I was getting frustrated about being at a plateau. I pushed through, and a few weeks later really saw the progress I was looking for.
In the paid version of NOOM, you're also connected with a health coach (or maybe the term was goal specialist?) to help provide advice when needed, answer any questions you may have, and also help moderate your "group" you are paired with (other NOOM users who started the program at about the same time you did). I'll be honest that the coaching and group aspects were my least favorite part about NOOM. I really enjoyed the articles and app itself.
So all in all - NOOM is an app based nutrition education program that teaches you how to eat smart and understand the psychology and science behind nutrition.
IS NOOM’s program sustainable?
A big fat YES to this question. NOOM’s program is actually ALL about sustainability. NOOM isn’t your cookie cutter weight loss app - it’s just a tool to help you understand how much to each of each food group and feel full and happy while doing it. Because you aren’t cutting anything out entirely, you never hit that wall of deprivation that causes you to binge. You just get smarter about what you eat, when you eat it, and how much. So if you do have weight loss goals - the program helps you reach them (and maintain them!) in a sustainable way.
How much does NOOM cost?
NOOM’s cost varies depending how many months you’re signed up for the program. I took their initial quiz about my goals and the app recommended I use the paid version of the program for two months, at $50 a month. So in total I paid $100.
There IS a free version of the app. In the paid program, you get a coach, a group, and daily articles. Honestly I could’ve gone without the coach or the group (I personally found neither helpful) BUT the articles I’d pay for again and again. Part of the reason I never lost any weight or felt any better on past “eating healthy” experiences was because I didn’t understand the science. The articles really break down WHY you feel hungry or full and how to deal with all the emotions in between.
My final verdict of this review. Does NOOM work?
Everyone will have to answer this question for themselves, but for me personally, YES I found the paid version of NOOM to be worth it and I saw the results I wanted. I had spent years with bloat that I just thought was my normal feeling. NOOM helped me feel full and satisfied, but not bloated. My stomach that is usually constantly upset was finally calm and happy. No digestive issues!
I also felt like I finally understood and had control. I didn’t feel helpless anymore. I felt like I could make a change and feel better. I felt like I could feel good.
So yes, for me, NOOM was completely worth it. And I’d potentially even do another round of the paid program! I did the paid program from December 31st until February, but what I love most is that I’ve been able to maintain my “new” weight until this very day and it’s now May. NOOM taught me how to change my habits so that I don’t even technically need the program anymore. And that’s pretty cool. They’re not trying to suck money out of me every month - they wanted to give me the tools to go off and do it on my own for the rest of my life.
And really all it was, was learning how to make more strategic choices. Eat that chocolate dude - but like maybe don’t eat the chocolate AND queso in one day, ya know? Lolz.
I’m not going to include a “my results” section here because, again, I’m not going to toss up any before and after pics. But I will put up my weight chart as it stands today. My weight goes up and down, but I’ve lost about 7-10 pounds since using NOOM. I’m 4’11” so for me that was a big win.
Also I just feel a hell of a lot better LOL. Way less bloat.
Alright babes, that’s my whole NOOM breakdown. PLEASE feel free to hit me with questions in the comments below. I’m happy to answer!