The Simple (But Not Easy) Way I Lost 80 Pounds

In case you’ve missed it, I’ve been sporadically posting about my weight loss journey on Mastodon.

During the pandemic, I gained about 30 pounds and it was taking a toll on my body. Not only did I feel like trash all the time, but I also had to look at myself on a weekly basis. Suffice it to say, I was uncomfortable confronting the weight gain every time I had to edit a video.

I have to admit, my vanity played a not-insignificant role in my weight loss journey.

But successful weight loss felt out of reach and insurmountable to me. It seemed complex and fraught with temptation. It seemed like I'd be facing tests of will that I was bound to fail.

Yet I had seen a few folks talk about their weight loss journey. The common thread between them was Noom. Some were ads (but with obvious results), while others were genuine testimonials.

So back in the summer of 2022, I signed up—putting down $150 for a year’s subscription. Being a cheap bastard, I figured if anything would keep me motivated it would be 150 buckazoids.

It asked for my information. Height (6'3" or 1.9 meters), weight, age, and target weight. Truthfully, I didn’t have a scale in the house and I didn’t know my exact weight. But one of the keys to success is making measurable progress.

The first thing I had to was buy a scale. So I grit my teeth and spend another ~$30. At my initial weigh in I was 328.2 pounds. That was the heaviest I had ever been and, while I felt a wash of shame I decided to harness that unproductive energy and redirect into determination.

I was still under the impression that this was going to be a painful and difficult process. However, the way Noom works is different. It’s not about shaming you into losing weight (which doesn’t work).

Instead, Noom uses proven psychological methods to affect change on a physical, mental, and behavioral level. It teaches you, instinctually, to understand which foods are better for you without ostracizing unhealthy options.

Some of the things I learned from Noom was that making data-driven decisions is the most effective way to change your behavior. When you track your steps, log your weight, and count your calories, you start to understand the relationship between what you eat and how much weight you lose.

Another very important thing I learned was to eat watery foods. Soups and fruits (cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.) will make you feel fuller faster. Avoiding deep fried and dried foods was another important step. It wasn’t “don’t eat them,” just “use moderation.” Protein also helps you feel more full.

Noom also made me conscious of the environmental triggers that made me want to eat when I wasn’t hungry. There are daily courses to take and challenges that help reenforce better habits.

So, to recap, Noom:

• Teaches you healthy habits
• Builds an instinctual understanding of healthier foods
• Uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to reenforce healthy behavior
• Helps you recognize the social, environmental, and emotional triggers associated with eating (and overeating)
• Acts as objective accountability for your daily caloric intake, exercise, and weight

And right off the bat with Noom I was losing about a pound and a half per week.

Within 9 months I had lost 50 pounds.

Shortly thereafter my Noom membership was up for renewal and I felt confident that I could maintain the healthy habits Noom had helped me build. So I decided to cancel my membership.

Progress slowed a bit because I wasn’t focused so heavily on losing weight. But I’m happy to report that I’ve now successfully hit my goal of 250 pounds!

Last summer I was in the 260s. And this spring I was down to about 250! Today, I weighed in at 248.6.

Averaging it all out, I have lost about three quarters of a pound per week over the last three years. It was shockingly painless, though that’s not to say it was easy.

I had to change some long-standing and deeply embedded behaviors in order to make this a success.

• I used to overeat in a daily basis
• I used to snack constantly
• I used to eat out at fast food multiple times a week
• I have suffered with bulimia in the past

But I'm also lucky because

• I only ever drink water and coffee
  • I don't consume alcohol
  • I don't like drink soft drinks or fruit juices
• I am not a huge fan of crackers or other high calorie snacks

And while I sometimes slip or make less healthy decisions, I have not just lost the weight. What I’ve done is made smart, actionable, and sustainable changes to my lifestyle that I'm bound to continue going forward!