How to Overcome the Top 3 Weight Loss Challenges

What are the common myths that are preventing us from getting real weight loss results?

by Tony Miller

FEATURED IN

Myth #1: Why Calorie Counting Alone Doesn’t Work

If calories were the end-all-be-all of weight loss, then wouldn’t all diets that cut calories work for most people? Just eat less, move more, and lose weight. Simple, right?

Many of us have tried calorie counting without getting the results we really wanted – or worse, we lost some weight, then gained it all back¹. It can be really frustrating to start a low-calorie diet with complete dedication and end up not seeing the results we expect to see, despite fighting hunger every day.

The reason these diets don't work is that our bodies are more complex than simple calorie math². While it’s true that calories do matter, there are other factors at play in the human body and brain that need to be addressed in a weight loss journey. Most plans just focus on calories and forget about all the other nuances of what it takes to lose weight.

Very low-calorie diets are the most extreme form of calorie counting. These are destined to backfire. From the “grapefruit diet” of the 1960s to the more recent HCG diet, they’re often touted as a “quick fix” to weight problems.

But stress hormones, like cortisol³, are increased on very-low-calorie diets and may interfere with the body’s ability to burn fat. Weight loss comes to a complete halt, even when calories are incredibly low. Cortisol also may increase cravings, especially for sugar, and turn our appetites up... yikes.

Behavior patterns that keep weight on are another issue that calorie counting alone won’t solve. Many of our eating behaviors are the result of subconscious programming⁴.

We may be truly dedicated to a low-calorie diet plan, but then at the end of the day, we end up binge eating snack foods because our brains are telling us to repeat a behavior pattern that is deeply ingrained in us.

Any successful, sustainable plan needs a way to address both conscious and subconscious thinking patterns to get you off the yo-yo routine of gaining and losing the same 10 pounds over and over.

Stop dieting. Get life-long results.

I want to:

Myth #2: Myth-Busting the Low-Carb Superhero – why low-carb diets aren’t always the best option

Anyone who has tried to lose weight has likely tried a low-carb diet, often without success. Sure, weight loss may happen in the short term, but it’s often water weight that comes off when we drastically cut carbs.

Then, when we eventually fail at restriction and cave in to some of our favorite foods, all the weight loss we had worked so hard for disappears overnight.

Falling victim to the low-carb myth is easy to do. It’s been out there since the Atkins diet of the 1970s. It keeps cycling back around but just changes its name.

Now all the gurus are talking about the “Keto Diet” and why it works. But the truth is, these diets only work for a small percentage⁵ of people. Most people are unable to achieve any real, permanent weight loss on a low-carb diet.

The truth is, carbs can be part of a healthy, weight-loss diet. Healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are carb-rich, yet are some of the best foods for weight loss.

The real issue is that many unhealthy behaviors center around carb-heavy foods. For night-time snacking or stress eating – which foods are usually the culprit? That’s right -- carbs.

So of course, when we cut out ALL carbs, we’ll get some short-term results. But that doesn’t teach our brains the behavior change⁶ needed to facilitate real, lasting results. We need to learn to lose weight while eating carbs.

Stop dieting. Get life-long results.

I want to:

Myth #3: There’s one way of eating that should work for everyone.

Whether it’s low-carb, low-fat, intermittent fasting, or vegan – you can always find people out there who have had success with a specific diet as well as people who didn’t see the same results.

Part of the problem is that when people have success with a certain way of eating, they want to tell the world about their success. They frequently think their results will translate to everyone. Those who fail at a diet, rarely share the failures.

The problem? Any eating plan⁷ or diet may work for one person, but not for another. Everyone’s body is different and unique. The bottom line is each person has to find out what works for them.

Some bodies⁸ perform better with a higher carbohydrate diet, and others perform better with lower amounts of carbs. Some of us do better with more fat, others do better with less. Trying to make a generic plan work for you leads to frustration and ignores the unique needs of each individual.

Weight loss success requires a plan that is individualized for you, your life, and your needs.

Stop dieting. Get life-long results.

I want to:

A different approach to weight loss with Noom

Beyond these common myths, there are a few things we know to be true for most people who are successful at losing weight. The truth is that weight loss requires long-term sustainable behavior change⁹, support and accountability, and yes – keeping an eye on calories, too.

Sustainable lifestyle change starts with recognizing our unhealthy behaviors, then using proven cognitive-behavioral techniques in order to change them. Traditional diets don’t address how to identify and create new, healthier behaviors. Therefore, these are unlikely to work long-term.

Over 80% of Noom users have lost weight on other weight loss plans only to gain it all back because they didn’t address the psychological issues that come with losing or maintaining their weight.

Noom takes a different approach. The goal is to help you lose weight and keep it off. Noom uses peer reviewed research¹⁰ to help create a weight loss plan that is individualized to your preferences, goals, and challenges.

With Noom, there are no foods or food groups that are “off limits”. Instead, Noom teaches you how to make healthier food choices that work for your life.

Valli, a happy Noom user, says,

“This has been the most successful program I’ve ever tried. I have totally changed my eating patterns and will always eat this way from now on. I love that it’s okay to have a treat now and then too and I just get right back to eating healthy without any big changes. I get impatient with the scale, but the lessons keep me motivated. Thank you!”

And Myrna says,

“As a yo-yo dieter, Noom is helping me think of food differently. The psychological approach is really helping me think of weight loss in different terms. So far so good. It’s not a quick fix but it seems like it has the potential to be a permanent one.”

Noom’s goal is to make weight loss permanent. The program focuses on the psychology behind your habits. A Goal Specialist (a real human!) helps customers identify their “Ultimate Why” so that they commit to their personalized plan and stick with it long-term to see real, lasting results.

Noom changes lives through human support and accountability to help facilitate the behavioral changes that result in long-term results. No more falling for fads or temporary quick fixes.

Get Started with Noom today and never count another calorie again, while still reaching your goals.

Take the quick survey now to see if Noom will work for you.

Stop dieting.
Psychology is the key to lasting change.

For a limited time only, Noom is offering a 7-day trial for only $0.50, which can be canceled at any time.

I want to: