Noom vs. Carb Manager - Can Either of These Programs Aid in Weight Loss?

By Summer Banks FNS, SPT on Jan 17, 2023

Noom vs. Carb Manager – two apps that offer similar features for two entirely different diets. Noom users enjoy a balanced diet made up of whole foods. Carb Manager users attempt to put their bodies into a metabolic state known as ketosis by following a ketogenic diet. Which program provides lasting results?

We’ve provided the facts on Noom vs. Carb Manager so you can decide which program best fits your lifestyle.

What is Noom?

Noom is a fresh take on health coaching apps. Noom’s signature Healthy Weight Program can help you lose weight by encouraging you to rethink the way you look at meal planning. There are no ridiculous rules with Noom. Instead, you’ll log your meals, receive personalized support, and learn a little about behavioral psychology along the way.

There’s a reason why 50 million people have chosen Noom to help them reach their target weight. This Centers for Disease Control-recognized program offers a unique approach to weight loss that enables you to understand why you overeat and helps you stop your bad habits in their tracks.

Check out the Noom free trial offer available for Dietspotlight readers today!

What is Carb Manager?

The Carb Manager is a smartphone app that tracks your net and total carbohydrate intake. The Carb Manager includes tools to log nutrition and fitness information, a macro calculator, 350,000 keto-friendly recipes, personalized meal plans, and a virtual community that allows you to connect with other members.

The free version of Carb Manager offers:

  • Exercise logging
  • Weight tracking
  • Food logging
  • The ability to add friends

Upgrading to Carb Manager Premium gives users access to additional features that include:

  • 350,000+ recipes
  • Curated eating plans
  • Import recipes from other sites
  • Grocery list generator
  • Ketone tracking
  • Blood glucose tracking
  • Sleep tracking
  • Body measurement tracking
  • Log meals with voice control
  • Log meals with images
  • Macro reports
  • The ability to sync with other fitness devices
  • Set goals
  • Create groups
  • Print your data
Noom vs. Carb Manager Customer Testimonials
History

Noom vs. Carb Manager – History

Brief History of Noom

Noom is the leading weight-loss program among millennials and one of the internet’s most searched diets. However, Noom’s success didn’t happen overnight. When Noom was founded in 2008, the company was named WorkSmart Labs. Noom’s founders worked with medical professionals to create a program that used behavioral psychology to end the yo-yo dieting cycle. After eight years and thousands of hours of research, the Noom app was launched in 2016.

Noom is now a globally recognized company with offices in three countries. The company has raised tens of millions of dollars from investors and continues to expand upon its programs.

Brief History of Carb Manager

Carb Manager was founded in 2010, in Redmond, Washington. The app was developed by Wombat Apps, a Delaware-based web developer.

Noom vs. Carb Manager – Who’s Behind the Plans?

Who Created Noom?

Artem Petakov and Saeju Jeong met in New York City in the spring of 2007. The men had similar backgrounds, both immigrants to the United States, and a shared passion for using technology to cultivate change.

Artem Petakov came to the United States from Ukraine as a teenager. He was self-taught in chess and computer programming, and his parents wanted to give their gifted son the best education possible. Artem attended Princeton University, where a behavioral psychology course changed his perspective on life. Petakov realized that we try to change our habits without addressing the root causes of learned behaviors.

Saeju Jeong hails from Seoul, South Korea. His father was a respected doctor who believed the healthcare industry needed to focus on preventing serious health conditions. After Saeju’s father passed away, Saeju left his job as an electrical engineer at Hongik University to move to America. He wanted to carry on his father’s legacy of preventing health conditions, but he needed a fresh perspective before deciding on his next move.

Artem and Saeju became fast friends, bonding over their shared interests. Together, they came up with the concept for WorkSmart Labs.

Who Created Carb Manager?

Carb Manager and Wombat Apps are privately-owned companies that do not release information regarding their creators or staff.

Rules

Noom vs. Carb Manager – The Rules

Rules of Noom

The only real rule you must follow with Noom is to log your meals every day. Noom makes food logging easy with a huge database of foods and beverages. You can even scan the barcodes found on any food item’s packaging. Noom uses this information to keep track of your calories. Your Noom coach will have access to your food journal to help you identify any problem areas and offer insight into your dietary habits. Food logging also promotes accountability.

Once you start logging foods with Noom, you’ll notice that each food is labeled green, yellow, or red. Green foods are your best option, but that doesn’t mean that red foods are bad. In fact, there is no such thing as “bad food” on Noom. It’s all about portion control. You can still enjoy a slice of birthday cake on your Noom diet. What you can’t do is absentmindedly eat half a sheet cake while binge-watching your favorite Netflix documentaries.

Exercise is an important part of any weight-loss program. Burning calories helps you reach a calorie deficit faster, and exercise improves your cardiovascular health as well. Noom isn’t just about losing weight; it’s about living a healthier lifestyle.

You can start small with Noom. Every day, Noom challenges users to take extra steps. Your step goal starts at 2,000 steps and increases by 3400 steps each time you meet your goal. You can also log workouts and sync Noom with your Fitbit or other wearables.

Noom gives you an added benefit when you workout. The calories you burn are used to recalculate your calorie goal. If you burn 500 calories on an intense hike, you can eat an extra 250 calories that day.

The most significant difference between Noom and other apps is Noom lessons. Noom lessons are guided by the hilarious Noom Nerds. Your Noom Nerds will teach you about the connection between psychology, biology, and physiology in ten minutes a day. You’ll learn about triggers, thought distortions, emotional eating, boredom and overeating, better sleep habits, nutrition, craving management, portion control, calorie density, dining out without ruining your diet, and the importance of self-care.

If you ever feel yourself losing motivation, you can check in with your Noom coach, and you’ll have access to an online support group that was selected for you based on your interests, personality traits, and end goals.

With Noom, you are taught how to lose weight permanently – give it a try with the free trial offer available today!

Rules of Carb Manager

The Carb Manager app is designed for anyone following a ketogenic diet. A ketogenic diet requires eating foods high in fat and low in carbohydrates. As a general rule, eat fewer than 50 grams of carbs a day on a keto diet.

Carb Manager allows you to track your macronutrients and net carbs. You can also subscribe to Carb Manager Premium for access to a custom dietary plan. Carb Manager recommends purchasing keto test strips to determine when your body is in a state of ketosis.

Your keto-friendly food list:

  • Fatty fish
  • Eggs
  • Red meat
  • Poultry
  • Dairy (full-fat)
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Nut butters
  • Avocados
  • Vegetables (no starch)
  • Most fresh herbs and spices
  • Coconut oil
  • Olive oil

Foods to avoid on a keto diet:

  • Fruit
  • Juice
  • Bread
  • Baked goods
  • Pasta
  • Soda
  • Sugar
  • Sweetened tea and coffee
  • Salad dressing and sauces
  • Beer
  • Mixed drinks
  • Grains
Eating Plans

Noom vs. Carb Manager – Eating Plans

The Noom Eating Plan

Portion control is the key component of the Noom eating plan. You can eat larger portions of foods that have fewer calories. Over time, this rewires your brain. You’ll start to associate eating healthy foods with being full. Being full makes you feel happy and content. Since we’re biologically programmed to seek happiness and contentment, you’ll choose those healthy foods over the less healthy alternatives. This is just one way that Noom makes weight-loss sustainable.

Green Foods

Green foods are chock-full of essential nutrients to fuel your body without all the added calories. At least 25% of your meal plan should come from the green category. These foods can be eaten alone or used as ingredients in your meals.

  • Tomatoes
  • Peaches
  • Strawberries
  • Lettuce
  • Bananas
  • Green Beans
  • Egg whites
  • Broccoli
  • Oranges
  • Whole grain pasta
  • Carrots
  • Peas
  • Asparagus
  • Horseradish
  • Blueberries
  • Lemon Juice
  • Cherries
  • Brown rice
  • Watermelon
  • Quinoa
  • Onion
  • Whitefish
  • Apples
  • Spinach
  • Almond Milk
  • Brussel’s Sprouts
  • Non-Fat Yogurt
  • Whole oats
  • Whole grain bread
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Tofu
  • Salsa
  • Non-fat cottage cheese
  • Shrimp
  • Canned tuna

Yellow Foods

Forty percent of your Noom diet comes from yellow foods. You’ll eat healthy portions of these foods and pair them with green foods when you can.

  • Most lean meats
  • Tuna (fresh)
  • Turkey (breast meat)
  • Chicken (skinless)
  • Low-fat dairy
  • Avocados
  • Olives
  • Beans
  • Canned pineapple
  • Wild rice
  • Eggs
  • Corn tortillas
  • Lean pork
  • Figs
  • Tempeh
  • Plain pancake
  • English muffins
  • Hummus
  • Whole wheat bagel
  • Fruit cups
  • Couscous
  • Diet sodas
  • Guacamole
  • Light beer
  • Orange juice
  • Fruit cocktail
  • Fruit smoothie
  • Grapefruit juice

Red Foods

Red foods have excess calories and sugar, but you can still treat yourself.

  • Protein bars
  • Fried foods
  • Ham
  • Chips
  • Trail mix
  • Candy
  • Mayo
  • Pastries
  • Peanut butter
  • White bread
  • Bacon
  • Granola
  • Ranch dressing
  • Burgers
  • Cookies
  • Bagels
  • Cakes
  • Pizza
  • Whole milk
  • Pie
  • Crackers

Meals prepared yourself are your best option, but Noom has millions of prepackaged foods in their database as well. You’ll also find options for kosher, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. If you’re someone who does better with a set meal plan, you can request a personalized eating plan for a small fee. Your Noom coach will work with you to ensure your curated plan suits your needs.

The Carb Manager Eating Plan

While following the Carb Manager eating plan, you’ll get about 75% of your total calories from fats. Proteins will account for 20% of your diet. The goal is to force your body into ketosis. When you’re in a state of ketosis, your body will burn fat for fuel instead of sugar from carbs.

It sounds like a simple process, but the keto diet has a reputation for being difficult to follow.

Take a look at what you might eat on the Carb Manager eating plan.

Monday

  • Breakfast: Yogurt with keto-friendly granola
  • Lunch: Steak with cauliflower in cheese sauce
  • Dinner: Pork chops and green beans in butter

Tuesday

  • Breakfast: Mushroom omelet
  • Lunch: Turkey, avocado, bleu cheese, hard-boiled eggs and arugula in a lettuce wrap
  • Dinner: Bison steak with broccoli in cheese sauce

Wednesday

  • Breakfast: Baked avocado and eggs
  • Lunch: Cobb salad
  • Dinner: Roast chicken and sauteed veggies

Thursday

  • Breakfast: Fat bombs and yogurt
  • Lunch: Tuna salad
  • Dinner: Grilled salmon with spinach prepared in coconut oil

Friday

  • Breakfast: Bacon and avocado omelet
  • Lunch: Bunless California cheeseburger
  • Dinner: Parmesan meatballs and zucchini noodles

Saturday

  • Breakfast: Eggs scrambled in coconut oil
  • Lunch: Sliced salami and olives
  • Dinner: Roast with veggies

Sunday

  • Breakfast: Coconut milk chia pudding
  • Lunch: Salsa steak bowl
  • Dinner: Chicken curry

We won’t lie; the keto diet plan sounds delicious, but it’s challenging to go without carbohydrates for more than a few weeks.

Noom vs. Carb Manager – Plan Duration

How Long Does Noom Last?

The Noom Healthy Weight program lasts for a total of 16 weeks. You can expect to lose between one to two pounds a week. Users can continue their subscription or use the free version of Noom to track their progress after they complete their program.

Noom creates a personalized plan for each user, so if your plan requires more than 16 weeks to safely lose weight, that’s exactly what’s suggested.

Check out the free trial offer today to see what your personalized program looks like.

How Long Does Carb Manager Last?

Carb Manager programs don’t have a specific time frame. You can choose a monthly or annual subscription when you sign up or use the free version for as long as it’s needed.

Significant Differences Between Noom and Carb Manager

Noom and Carb Manager have a lot of the same features, but the two programs are divided when it comes to eating plans. All Noom programs are based on calorie density. If you eat more foods with a lower calorie density, you’ll stay full longer. Noom uses behavioral psychology to help you make better choices when you’re planning your meals.

Eventually, your brain will realize that you feel full when you eat certain foods, and you’ll start to choose foods with a lower calorie density automatically.

Carb Manager focuses on eliminating carbohydrates from your diet. Our bodies are designed to use carbohydrates for fuel, so you’ll never fully adjust to eating a low-carb diet. As soon as you eat over 50 grams of carbs in a day, your body will no longer be in ketosis.

In the end, the biggest difference between Noom and Carb Manager will be sustainability. Noom is all about long term weight loss, and you might not see the same results from Carb Manager.

Can You Follow Carb Manager on Noom?

Carb Manager and Noom are not compatible. The two programs promote different dieting methods.

Possible Side Effects of Noom vs. Carb Manager

You won’t put yourself at risk with Noom, but the ketogenic diet is a different story.

Common side effects associated with an extremely low-carb diet include:

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Migraines
  • Fatigue and muscle weakness
  • Rash
  • Bad breath
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Stomach cramps
  • Muscle cramps
  • Mood swings
  • Dizziness
Research

Noom vs. Carb Manager– The Research

Clinical Research on Noom

Noom has a long history of backing up its claims with verifiable evidence. Noom’s DPP, an intensive 24-week program designed to reduce the risk of developing blood-sugar related health issues, was the subject of an enormous clinical trial, and the results were overwhelmingly positive.

The study monitored 35,921 obese adults. During a nine-month period, 77.9% of the patients lost enough weight to greatly reduce their type 2 risk.

The clinical research, which was disclosed in Nature (Scientific Reports), also found that regularly logging dinner increases the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Evidence presented in MSRD shows that the results achieved with Noom are sustainable. Formerly overweight adults were able to maintain a healthy weight for one year after completion of the Noom program.

Clinical Research on Carb Manager

The company behind Carb Manager has not taken part in any clinical trials, but there is plenty of research available that involves a ketogenic diet.

Research reviewed in the Indian Medical Journal concluded that ketogenic diets may provide short-term weight loss. Still, a high-fat ketogenic diet can increase the risk of negative side effects in the body.

More research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that weight loss is possible with a ketogenic diet.

Quick Facts

The Facts About Noom vs. Carb Manager

Quick Facts on Noom

  • Psychology is the foundation of all Noom programs.
  • Noom promotes healthier eating patterns for sustainable weight loss.
  • There is no food restriction required with Noom.
  • Noom offers individual and group support to keep users motivated.
  • Noom has taken part in multiple clinical trials with promising results.
  • Noom provides structure while still allowing you to eat the foods you want.

Quick Facts on Carb Manager

  • Carb Manager offers free and premium plans.
  • Carb Manager is intended for use as part of a ketogenic diet.
  • Low-carb diets can help you lose weight, but they are difficult to follow for more than a few weeks.
  • Side effects are common when you follow a keto diet plan.
  • Carb Manager may work for you if you’re comfortable eliminating carbs from your diet.
Bottom Line

The Bottom Line on Noom vs. Carb Manager

If you only want to lose a few pounds, Carb Manager may work for you. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight permanently, Noom is the better choice. Weight loss doesn’t have to make you miserable. You can eat a healthy diet and still enjoy your favorite dishes. Noom teaches you how to find balance without requiring unsustainable dietary restrictions.

That’s why when it comes to Noom vs. Carb Manager, we say Noom is the clear winner!

Since so much clinical research supports Noom, we’ve decided to partner with the company to offer all our readers a free trial offer. Give it a try while the offer still stands!

Noom vs. Carb Manager Ingredients
Questions

Noom vs. Carb Manager Questions and Answers

Q: What is Noom?

A: Noom is a psychology-based weight-loss program that has been backed by multiple clinical studies.

Q: How Does Noom work?

A: Noom uses psychology-based tactics, personalized plans, and comprehensive health tracking tools to help its users lose weight and learn new healthy behaviors.

Q: Is Noom free?

A: Although Noom is not free, they do offer a trial period of their program for those that want to give it a try.

Q: How much does Noom cost?

A: After the trial period, the Noom program costs about $59 a month.

Q: How do I cancel Noom?

A: To start the cancellation process, just send a message asking to cancel your account to your coach.

Q: What is the Noom diet plan?

A: The Noom diet plan is made up of all foods. There are no restrictions. Users are taught how to choose low calorie-dense foods in proper portion sizes.

Q: What is the Noom app?

A: The Noom program is only accessible through a mobile app, making it convenient to access on the go.

Q: Who owns Noom?

A: Artem Petakov and Saeju Jeong are the founders of Noom. Although the company was founded in 2008, the program was only released a few years ago after years of clinical research.

Q: How long is the Noom program?

A: The standard Noom program lasts for about 16 weeks. However, you can always choose to renew your subscription for however long you choose.

Q: Is Noom worth the money?

A: Yes, Noom is worth the money, especially since the program offers customized meal plans, health tracking tools, educational lessons, and more.

Noom vs. Carb Manager

Q:
Is Carb Manager only for Keto?
A:

Carb Manager is designed with a ketogenic lifestyle in mind, but it can be used to track and manage any type of dietary plan. The app offers a comprehensive set of tools including personalized macros tracking, detailed nutrition analysis, meal planning, grocery lists, and daily food loggins. It also provides access to over 1 million different recipes that are tailored to whichever diet you choose. Therefore, while Carb Manager was developed for users who follow the ketogenic diet, it can also be used by users who want to maintain other types of diets.

About the Author:

Summer Banks has researched over 5000 weight-loss programs, pills, shakes and diet plans. Previously, she managed 15 supplement brands, worked with professionals in the weight loss industry and completed coursework in nutrition at Stanford University.

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