How to make healthy eating a habit and boost your health this autumn

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However long ago we left the campus grounds for the last time, September will always herald a back-to-school mentality, conjuring images of blank notebooks, a fresh haircut and the feeling of a new beginning after halcyon summer days (or, in the case of summer 2021, a fresh start after a summer washout).

With this September coinciding with a return to the workplace for many office workers nationwide after 18 months away, those feelings are ever stronger.

And yet, for many of us, remote working welcomed positive change in our lives, from eating more fresh food to fitting an exercise plan into our daily routine and discovering the joys of a work/life balance. The return to the office, even if only for a few days a week, threatens to puncture that.

But, really, there’s no reason why it should. That’s what Noom wants us to know, as we enter Autumn. The digital health platform seeks to support users as they navigate their way to better health. The team at Noom understands that daily obstacles and systemic barriers can often stand in the way of personal wellness progress, making it feel impossible to know how to proceed.

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The program, which runs on a subscription basis, though a combination of personalised human coaching (a tailored approach is always the answer - Noom does not believe in a one-size fits all mentality), psychology and technology, seeks to drive behavioural change and a balance in our overall health through understanding why we make the food and lifestyle choices we do.

Bring awareness to your behaviour

Noom education project manager June Cara Christian, Ph.D, says that returning to work, especially at this stage of the pandemic, can increase stress levels. To assuage this, Dr Christian’s recommendation is to “make sure you have a plan in place to support your goals.” She explains that this can be achieved by simply bringing awareness to your behaviour.

“Notice how you’re processing stress when you get home from work. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you snacking more? Are you adding another glass of wine when you get home? If you notice patterns that do not support your goals, change them, one at a time,” she says, and “don’t expect perfection”.

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Noom emphasises that it is more important to focus on the fuel you put into your body than the fuel you burn off. We might, for example, learn to love certain superfoods like berries and green tea which we didn’t previously consider particularly exciting, simply because of the physical health boost we feel when consuming them.

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Celebrate the small wins

For Noom health coach Samantha Leonard, it is important to think less about what you will lose and more about what you will gain on your journey. “When you embark on a quest to heal your relationship with food, you’ll heal in so many other ways. You’ll have more energy, better skin, better sleep, feel empowered to live in ways you have dreamt of - and in endless potential ways you have yet to discover,” she says.

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Leonard says it’s important to emphasise that success is not a number on a scale. “Noom teaches that success is achieved every day in small ways. Did you hit your hydration goal today? Success! Did you read your articles today? Success! It’s an affirming mind shift from the diet mentality that ultimately empowers you to live without needing a program.”

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Redefine success

And success means something different to all of us, whether that be feeling less sluggish day-to-day, using diet to improve the symptoms of chronic health conditions, being able to keep up with your over-active toddler or even simply feeling more confident in your own skin.

Viewing success on the Noom weight loss journey is not about one final goal, but lots of daily wins, says coach Danielle Cywka. “Success on Noom looks like commitment. Whether that be committing to the tasks in the program, the goals you are setting with your coach, or committing to simply showing up each day, that, in and of itself, is a success! It doesn’t matter if your goal is 10 lbs or 50 lbs - if you simply commit to your goals, you’ll be successful.”

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What’s more, we all know that the route to success is not a straight but a winding road and being accepting of the bumps along the way is vital. Ongoing commitment, recognising your dedication and enjoying the journey is what it’s all about.

The great reset of September and the continual easing of pandemic anxiety is a perfect time to set new health and wellness goals. With the kids returning to school, time is freed up to focus on self-care and to reassess habits. With Noom, this translates as working closely with your goal specialist to determine how you’d like this season to look – as well as trying out some delicious new recipes.

“My best advice is to create your goals out of excitement and joy rather than out of despair or disgust. You can’t hate yourself into a version of you that you love”, says Cywka.

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