Jargon Free Help is more than just technology. I like to share my experiences and hope that it helps others. For some time I’ve been working hard to try and lose weight through dieting and exercise. But for a long time nothing happened. I had become fitter and my weight was not going up but something wasn’t right.

Let me also explain that I’m a type 2 diabetic so losing weight was really important. But it is not easy. However, I changed my strategy a few months ago and it is working. I’m now a respectable 83 kgs (just over 13 stone), I was 92.5 (about 14.5 stone). What did I do and why mention it in a blog about technology?

Well technology helped me, not because of some new tangled device that zaps fat but because of tools that were available to help.

There are two things to weight loss and both are important dieting and exercise. Technology helped me with both.

Like me you are probably dreading the exercise bit, where do you fit it in and how do you stop yourself getting bored. Most people have trouble getting going and many say it is boring. I had the same thought. I joined a gym and wondered how long it would last. Stopping the boredom can be done in a number of ways and believe me makes it more enjoyable. One you could go with a friend who wants to do the same or is already a member. The other is to take an iPod or iPhone, or something similar. Make sure you have your favourite music, TV show or movie and listen to or watch them. Be careful, make sure you device won’t fall and break and make sure you are not at risk, that is don’t use a device on something where you need to be alert. I downloaded podcasts that I found interesting. My wife downloads radio shows and listens to them. This will reduce the boredom and give you a chance to catch up on what you enjoy. I have also downloaded educational podcasts so I learn too.

Why not watch Jargon Free Help whilst exercising, I know some people who do. You can get it from iTunes, just search for it on iTunes.

Don’t flash your device around in the changing room if you have to put it away, you never know who is watching.

Another tip with exercising I found was not to exercise if really tired it makes it hard work. Find a time to suit you and do what you can, of you have 10 minutes do that, if more then do more.

As far as dieting is concerned, I used Excel and Number on the iPad to count my calories, this was really useful. Once I started counting the calories the weight started to fall. I created a vlookup on a spreadsheet to look up the calories based on the food I’d eaten. You can see how to use vlookup in the Excel section of my website, www.jargonfreehelp.com

If you are like me and trying to loss weight drop me a line and share it with me, let me know if any of these tips have helped and if you have any tips, technological or not.

This week I’ll know if it has made a difference when I have my diabetes check up. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Gary