If you are feeling guilty for over indulging in too many BBQ parties and picnic goodies this summer, there is still time to get healthier and lose some weight before the warm weather ends. One new popular Android-based health and fitness app is helping people to do just that, without all the complicated data entry and tracking that other weight loss apps have required in the past. According to its 13 million users, simplicity is the main advantage of the Noom Weight Loss Coach, the most popular app developed by the New York based company Noom.
The creators of the Noom Weight Loss Coach wanted to create an app that keeps people engaged and motivated and prevent them from getting bored and dropping the service. Instead of requiring its users to input every snack and physical activity, the Noom Weight Loss Coach is able to function with a much more informal interface. In other words, the creators of the app know that the vast majority of people do not have the time for detailed logging and tracking activities. "Other apps are focused on data input but the process of analyzing the data is not addressed," said co-founder and CTO Artem Petakov. "We're trying to keep you on the bandwagon. It's not about day 1, it's about day 3, day 10." To help people stay on track and interested, the Noom Weight Loss app will change things up with quizzes, daily tips and reminders to stay on goal. For example, if you let the app know you are going to work, it might challenge you to take the stairs and will keep you informed of how many calories you have burned for a day just by skipping the elevator.
By using a simple and intuitive one-click, color coded interface, users will be able to keep track of their meals, exercise and weight loss goals without having to spend hours inputting data on their cell phones. Customizable reminders will help dieters to keep focused and a daily Noom score will reward you when you are making progress toward your goals. Helpful and educational articles will give you the very latest health news and will keep you informed about important wellness innovations.
There is no charge for downloading the basic version of Noom Weight Loss Coach, but for $10 a month, you can download the premium version of the app which intensifies the coaching and further customizes fitness goals to reflect the user's personal goals and preferences. It also features a special exercise tracker that utilizes a pedometer equipped with real-time GPS technology to help users capture activity such as walking, running or biking. For those who want the benefit of interacting with others on their weight loss journey, there are user-support forums available that can help keep users motivated and engaged. For social media fans, users can customize their app to integrate with Facebook and Twitter as well. Currently an iPhone version of the app is in development.
While it would be nice if we all could afford personal trainers and dietary coaches, the reality is that, for most of us, these perks are out of reach financially. The good news is that most of us carry cell phones and we have access to cool tools like the Noom Weight Loss Coach that can help us become healthier and reach our fitness goals. All we need now is an app to take the calories out of ice cream!
Rachel Huber,
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Hulet Smith, OT
