Before I decided (to start trying) to quit diet culture, I did Noom for a few months in mid-2020. I went through all the lessons and was like: yes, I know this. I also know this. Yup, yup, yup. Oh I really should eat more regularly, now that you mention it. WAIT? FULL FAT YOGURT IS RED? WTF? How can I never even come like remotely close to the 'target?' Like at all. Then, a few weeks later, I started doing an CBT-based online program for stress and anxiety because, well, pandemic working motherhood. So for a while I was doing both. And then I just had this super surreal Emperor has no clothes moment. Like why do I have to be thin to begin with? Patriarchy. And why am I so stressed to begin with. Patriarchy. Is this all BS? Yes. I was going to post a snippet of the enraged monologue I wrote in my college besties group chat from a year ago when I started on this journey. But it's so full of expletives, it's not safe for the internet. It was, however, delightful for me to revisit. A reminder of how far I've come, and how much further I have to go. And a HUGE reminder of why I appreciate the work you do, Virginia, along with many others I found on social media and on podcasts who are exploring fat phobia and all its tentacles.
I loved your article on Bustle. I've been quite annoyed by Noom since one of my favorite podcasts started advertising it. The funny thing is that during the ad reads, one of the hosts is supposed to give his personal experience with Noom. It always ends up being something like, "well, last night I had half a pizza and three burritos for dinner, but tomorrow Noom will help me get back on track!" I want to yell at the host, "No, it won't! It's a diet and it doesn't work! It isn't your lack of willpower getting you off track! Noom is hurting you!" I've had to start skipping the ads whenever I can since they're so triggering. Thank you for the well researched article telling exactly what's wrong with Noom.
(the Pod Save America Facebook group had a whole concerned thread one time about how folks wished they could tell Lovett about HAES, and it was kinda parasocial and uncomfortable, but I also found it extremely wholesome an heartening!)
Noom is also trying to sell itself to breast cancer survivors, and I have some corkboard-and-red-string theories about that. I have receipts. I understand if you're done with Noom (I often am after I report on something), but I can email you if you're interested in more. (And yes, it feels pretty gross to me!)
Before I decided (to start trying) to quit diet culture, I did Noom for a few months in mid-2020. I went through all the lessons and was like: yes, I know this. I also know this. Yup, yup, yup. Oh I really should eat more regularly, now that you mention it. WAIT? FULL FAT YOGURT IS RED? WTF? How can I never even come like remotely close to the 'target?' Like at all. Then, a few weeks later, I started doing an CBT-based online program for stress and anxiety because, well, pandemic working motherhood. So for a while I was doing both. And then I just had this super surreal Emperor has no clothes moment. Like why do I have to be thin to begin with? Patriarchy. And why am I so stressed to begin with. Patriarchy. Is this all BS? Yes. I was going to post a snippet of the enraged monologue I wrote in my college besties group chat from a year ago when I started on this journey. But it's so full of expletives, it's not safe for the internet. It was, however, delightful for me to revisit. A reminder of how far I've come, and how much further I have to go. And a HUGE reminder of why I appreciate the work you do, Virginia, along with many others I found on social media and on podcasts who are exploring fat phobia and all its tentacles.
Thank you for sharing — and hell yes, patriarchy!
I loved your article on Bustle. I've been quite annoyed by Noom since one of my favorite podcasts started advertising it. The funny thing is that during the ad reads, one of the hosts is supposed to give his personal experience with Noom. It always ends up being something like, "well, last night I had half a pizza and three burritos for dinner, but tomorrow Noom will help me get back on track!" I want to yell at the host, "No, it won't! It's a diet and it doesn't work! It isn't your lack of willpower getting you off track! Noom is hurting you!" I've had to start skipping the ads whenever I can since they're so triggering. Thank you for the well researched article telling exactly what's wrong with Noom.
SO many podcasts advertise for Noom!
Is it Jon Lovett?
(the Pod Save America Facebook group had a whole concerned thread one time about how folks wished they could tell Lovett about HAES, and it was kinda parasocial and uncomfortable, but I also found it extremely wholesome an heartening!)
Noom is also trying to sell itself to breast cancer survivors, and I have some corkboard-and-red-string theories about that. I have receipts. I understand if you're done with Noom (I often am after I report on something), but I can email you if you're interested in more. (And yes, it feels pretty gross to me!)
Definitely interested. I may not write about them again for awhile, but would love to know more.
I'll email you.
That's a good headline Bustle gave your story! It's going to get found.