NOOM! A program designed by Psychologists! This is my review of this app and so far it is a winner! And if you haven’t seen my video discussing it, you can check that out too! 🙂
Yes! Staying fit on the road is a challenge!!! I’m sure a lot of people imagine getting on the road for a lifestyle of adventure, which includes lots of activity! Hiking, biking, snorkeling, or just all the time you think you will have to go for a walk, run, or to the gym. Because you will be free, with all the time in the world, right? And if you ‘work from home’, you can make your own schedule and ‘no problem’ scheduling in a walk, right? Wrong. I suppose it depends on how disciplined you are, and how much you love to exercise.
I have struggled with my weight for a lot of my adult life. I was healthy for years before I started RV’ing full time. I had even run a 10k! I was training again for a 5k right before a medical challenge. Unfortunately, I had a medical set-back that contributed to some extra unwanted poundage. I was one of ‘those people’ that thought, ‘Oh yeah, no problem, I can easily take it back off, because, I am free with my time, after all. Two and ½ years later I found myself still struggling! Grrr….visiting Planet Fitness around the country was hit and miss, enjoying ‘locals favorite restaurants’ as we traveled around the country made it a BIG challenge! Who doesn’t want Key Lime Pie in the Florida Keys? I know I do! (raises hand) Who doesn’t want authentic Mexican food when visiting the southwest? I know I do! (raising hand again). And CAN WE TALK about the Shrimp n’ Grits in Charleston, SC??…not to mention Benne Wafers haha. (Me raising hand again). So, you see there *are* definitely challenges on the road. And we also work on a computer, *more* than full time, so there’s lots of sitting that works in conjunction with good food that equates to this big challenge.
Recently I discovered a new kind of plan, NOOM, and it fits my needs perfectly. It does have some downfalls, but I’m going to get into what I love about it…and what I *don’t* love about it. And I have the *perfect* solution for the part I don’t love about it!
First let’s get into what NOOM is about! I had seen it advertised on social media for quite a while and I always thought, yeah, just another weight loss program. I’m so happy that I checked it out when I got to the point that I *had* to do *something*!
I’ll start with what I love about it. It’s a cheap trial (I opted for the $10 option) and you get 2 weeks. After the trial, there are several options (price packages) to stay the course, which I have decided to do because it’s working for me and it fits my needs. And I’ve lost 6 lbs in 8 days. So there’s that.
Here’s the short list, which I will go into more detail below, of what NOOM includes:
~ Food Logging
~ Exercise Logging
~ Weight Logging
~ Expert Coach Check-Ins for Goal Setting
~ Group Chat with a Group Coach Moderator
~ Searchable Recipes
~ A new way to categorize food
~ Behavior change education program
~ Saved Articles Folder
~ Notifications option
Food Logging
NOOM is simple to use, broken down by different meals you can select, including snacks. After you choose the meal, you are taken to a screen where you can search for a food (with different options of weight/measurements) or you can barcode scan a product. There is also an option to create your own recipes.
Exercise Logging
NOOM can sync up with several fitness apps. This may change but right now I’m using RunKeeper. You also have the option to input your data manually.
Weight Logging
You are encouraged to input your weight so you can see your graph. They make it clear that your weight *will* fluctuate on a daily basis, AND THAT IS NORMAL. You will see ups and downs and it is perfectly fine. So many factors can contribute to changes in weight. Don’t get tied up in the number. You have to foresee the big picture.
Expert Coach Check-Ins for Goal Setting
I thought this would be my favorite part, having someone to keep me accountable. But it’s only a 1x/week check-in and it kinda feels impersonal. Feels generic. That’s why I want you to join me in a private facebook group where we can encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and just toss around ideas, tips/tricks, share recipes, etc. I have a few recipe ‘hacks’ up my sleeve that I want to share.
It will be on a more personal level and we understand the travel lifestyle challenges. My Noom person doesn’t. And if you aren’t a full time traveler, or even a part time traveler, you are welcome to join us! (If you don’t mind us talking about the RV lifestyle lol) Hey, it may even inspire you to consider the lifestyle! (In this group we will also be sharing RV specific challenges for women, so we prefer only women join in this group. Sorry boys, but we need an exclusive place to chat about women ‘things’ in a safe space)
Group Chat with a Group Chat Moderator
I haven’t even explored this feature yet, so I cannot comment on it, but from what I have read online, a lot of people like this feature. I just haven’t had time. I’m busy sitting on my arse at a computer working lol!
Searchable Recipes
It looks like the database for the recipes is a good size. I like my own recipes, however, so I haven’t explored it extensively. I have taken a look at the front pages of each category and the recipes look good and they categorize them according to their unique food category system. I like that. I like the easy system they implement at Noom.
A New Way to Categorize Food
It’s a simple system. They do the work for you. No food is off limits. I love the flexibility of not having anything ‘off the table’ <-(notice what I did there??) If I want a piece of chocolate at night after dinner. I have it, it just has to ‘fit’ into my daily plan. Also, when I go out to eat, I am easily making better choices. Pizza for dinner? Of course! What is your favorite food or treat? You can have it. This is life, and you want to live it to it’s fullest and that includes eating food you enjoy. As soon as you are restricted to what kinds of foods you can and can’t have, that’s when you crave it the most! That’s how the brain works!! Let’s break that ridiculous food-restrictive mentality.
Behavior Change Education Program
Noom was developed by psychologists. The app gives you regular short articles to read, that help encourage you, give you motivation, to help you identify your triggers, give you solutions for those triggers. It is really helpful to have the psychological aspect implemented into this program. I spend about 5-10 min each day on the app, and I usually do it over coffee in the morning before I start my workday.
Saved Article Folder
It’s nice to be able to save the articles that really resonate with you and be able to find them quickly and easily for when you feel you need that extra kick in the butt!
Notifications Option
Although I have notifications for almost every app turned off, I opted for the notifications on this one. I set my meal times in Noom, and it alerts me that I need to log my food. It really makes it easy to not forget to do it!
So my idea is to use Noom in conjunction with a real coaching ‘team’ in the private facebook group. You don’t have to get the app. There are other apps you can use to log food and exercise, but I found this touches on the psychological aspect of it, which is eye-opening and helps you make better decisions. I hope you enjoy it too! Let’s chat about it in our private, members only, Facebook group (This link goes to our membership area on YouTube, just join at the ‘Behind the scenes access’ level to get instructions on how to join the private Facebook Group). I wanted to do something extra for our members, where we can all benefit. So, Ladies….Let’s rock 2020!!!
There is a quiz you can take to see if NOOM is right for you! You are under no obligation after you take the quiz. So check it out here!
Also, keep that app on your main page on your phone so it’s the first thing you see when you open your phone. It is the ONLY one on my main screen, and I made it as a ‘sun’ above a palm tree haha! #BEACHTRIBE
Thank you for using my link to sign up! If you stick with the program, I’ll receive an Amazon gift card. Which helps replace and update our cameras, computers and blogging equipment. – Cheri
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