Hi! My name is Will Ginsberg and I’m Noom’s newest intern, or “Jack of All Trades.” I’m a rising junior at Northwestern University majoring in Computer Science and a native New Yorker. Over the next few weeks I hope to update this blog with my experience at Noom.

Over my next 3 months at Noom I’m going to do my best to document what it’s like to work as an intern. This post covers the basics, but in the future I hope to delve into the details of the millions of projects that we have planned for the summer!

To be perfectly honest, the best word to describe my experience so far is: awesome. Awesome describes the job, office, and people relatively well, but the Noom machine can’t be summed up in an adjective. Upon entering the office, you’re overwhelmed by the mouthwatering aromas of food being cooked by our chef, Matt. The cloud of savory and sweet is something out of a dream. At 10:30am, the Noom office is buzzing with activity, excitement, and speed. Everyone knows their assigned tasks and an all out sprint ensues until lunchtime. Today, we enjoyed salmon on kimchi salad, kale and sweet potato salad, tomato soup, quinoa and cherry tomato salad, tomato soup, key lime pie, and peanut butter pie — just to name a few. Lunch provides the much-needed break and sustenance to keep the office buzzing for the rest of the day.

After lunch, the office returns to work. Teams sync up, and tackle the latest bugs, devise new strategies and plans, and others brew coffee to keep us all alert throughout the day. With full stomachs and clear minds, the afternoon is filled with excitement and activity. As the day comes to a close, some retire to their apartments and others will participate in the Noom office-wide yoga class. Yeah yoga, in the office … it’s pretty awesome.

Now, I return to conquering a myriad of challenging and innovative tasks. Until next time…

- Will

In honor of the launch of Noom Walk this week, here’s a throwback about why walking is great (it might be a few years old, but it’s an awesome video we still love).

Soup is awesome for feeling full without too many calories. What could make it better? Spinach. Check out the New York Times’ list of soups with spinach.

The link between stress and weight gain is an interesting one. There’ve been numerous studies suggesting the first can lead to the second, but now we have a gadget for it. The Phyode W/Me wristband aims to monitor your stress levels and help talk you down when you get too cranked up.

We loved this geek guide to fitness. If you’re nerdy like us, this is sure to get some lolz.

One study this week found that yoga is better for your brain than cardio exercise. We’re not saying you should give up your regular workouts, but it’s a good case for adding in some yoga.

Recent research on activity trackers suggests that accelerometer-based trackers (like Noom Walk!) are very accurate at counting steps. There’s some doubt about how well they can track other types of movement, though. For example, the FuelBand, which claims to track all types of movement, may miss actions that don’t directly involve the arms.

Another study suggests that obsessive behavior and obesity may share a genetic link. While that may not sound too encouraging, the revelation could improve treatment of both conditions.

And another reminder not to believe everything you read on product labels: A study on the effectiveness of green coffee bean supplements haven’t found that the do in fact lead to weight loss.