| CLAIMS: 1. An electronic training database, wherein the database is remotely accessible using an electronic communication means and comprises a plurality of training exercises, food types and their nutritional compositions from where a user can access the database and cause an exercise and dietary regiment to be selected based on inputted personal physical information and goals of the intended user; the physical information and goals relative to such information being assigned a set of values as well as each exercise and food group component being assigned a value, the database enabled to calculate the inputted values against exercise and food values and generate an appropriate exercise and dietary regiment. 2. The electronic training database as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the physical information includes at least two of the following: age, gender, racial group, BMI, activity level, BMR, BFP, MNS. 3. The electronic training database as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the goals include at least one of the following: weight modification, targeted muscle development, exercise specific physical development, movement flexibility, muscle stamina and endurance. 4. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the database comprises a plurality of goal dependant exercises, wherein the exercise combination and extent thereof is selected to effectively achieve the inputted goal. 5. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the database comprises a plurality of goal, alternately exercise dependant food options, said options having an associated daily food intake recommendation. 6. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the database is enabled to recommend a plurality of food combinations for athletes with special dietary requirements including but not limited to at least one of the following: kosher, vegan, vegetarian or halal; wheat, gluten, sugar or lactose reduced diets. 7. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the database is enabled to monitor progress of the user based on inputted levels of compliance with the exercise and dietary regiment. 8. The electronic training database as claimed in claim 7, wherein the database is enabled to store the results of the athlete regiment compliance and develop a statistical model of most effective dietary and exercise regiments per individual profile. 9. The electronic training database as claimed in claim 8, wherein the database is enabled to generate an optimized dietary and exercise regiment based on anthropological factors such as racial group, age and gender of the user. 10. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the regiment generated for the athlete may be any one of a paper or electronic format. 1 1. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the database comprises an animated figure, which is morphable to reflect an athlete's anatomical appearance by inputting physical details including height and weight. 12.The electronic training database as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the BFP may be estimated by morphing key anatomical aspects of the figure including anyone of abdominal, thorax, legs and buttocks regions, the extent of which is allocated a BFP value. 13. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exercise regiment may be transmitted to an electronic communication device having software enabled to display a virtual kinesthetically correct human figure and transmit sound, the figure being programmed to demonstrate a plurality of exercise techniques with supporting verbal instructions to explain and guide a user through the technique performed by the figure. 14. The electronic training database as claimed in claim 13, wherein the motions demonstrated by the figure are performed through the entire motion range of the technique. 15. The electronic training database as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein user progress may be monitored by inputting user physical data into the remote training database, the database in communication with a designated communication address to which a text message is transmittted, the text transmitting device having a unique sender identifier tag recordable on the database against the details of a specific user. 16.The electronic training database as claimed in claim 15, wherein the user progress may be represented as a graph, alternately a morphable figure whose progress is reflected against a timeline. 17. The electronic training database as claimed in claims 16 or 17, wherein, the text message is sent from a mobile communication device (MCD), which device transmits a unique identifier number sequence upon sending the text, the identifier number sequence is recordabe on the training database as the belonging to the user, thereafter each time the user transmits data from the MCD the data is automatically recorded and reflected against the user's profile. 18. A method of training comprising the steps of: - utilizing an electronic communications device to access an electronic training database, wherein the database is remotely accessible and comprises a plurality of training exercises, food types and their nutritional compositions, from where a user accesses and causes an exercise and dietary regiment to be selected based on inputted personal physical information and goals of the intended user; and - the physical information and goals relative to such information being assigned a set of values as well as each exercise and food group component being assigned a value, the database enabled to calculate the inputted values against exercise and food values and generate an appropriate exercise and dietary regiment. 19. The method of training as claimed in claim 18, comprising the steps of utilizing the database as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9. 20. The method of training as claimed in claim 18 or 19, comprising the steps of utilizing the database as claimed in any one of claims 1 1 to 14. 21. The method of training as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, comprising the steps of monitoring user progress by periodically inputting user physical data into the remote training database, the data being transmitted via text message to a designated communication address, the text transmitting device having a unique sender identifier tag recordable on the database against the details of a specific user. 22.The method of training as claimed in claim 21 , comprising the steps of representing user progress as a graph, alternately a morphable figure whose progress is reflected against a timeline. 23. The method of training as claimed in claim 21 or 22, comprising the steps of sending the text message from a mobile communication device (MCD), which device transmits a unique identifier number sequence upon sending the text, the identifier number sequence being recorded on the database as the belonging to the user, thereafter each time the user transmits data from the MCD the data is automatically recorded and reflected against the user's profile. |
G06F
The present invention relates to an intergrated method of training and apparatus therefor, which utilizes individual and anthropological factors to determine an optimal exercise and dietary regiment of an individual.
BACKGROUND
Modern day training models incorporate numerous factors when determining an optimal training regiment for an athlete. These factors take into consideration the user's intended training goals which may include body weight modification, muscle development and movement flexibility. Thereafter the athletes Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and Macro Nutrient Scale (MNS) are determined to provide a customized training and dietary regiment. The BMR being determined by the weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage (BFP) of the athlete. The MNS being the quantity and ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and energy to each other based on how many kilojoules per day the athlete requires to best obtain his training goal. Such customized regiments facilitate the athlete reaching his intended training goal efficiently and effectively. Numerous information tables exist, which indicate food nutrient value and composition as well as the MNS value required when performing various sporting activities. These tables form the basis determining the quantity and type of daily food intake for the athlete as well as designing an exercise regiment. The dietary and training regiments are adjusted according to the specific goal of the athlete.
The existing methods while effective are time consuming to develop and collate the desired regiment and are not adequately integrated. In addition the tables used often lack dietary options for athletes with special dietary requirements such as wheat and lactose intolerances or the need for a kosher, vegan or halal diet. A further disadvantage with the state of the art is the limited access and modification to the athlete's diet and training regiment. In particular, the athlete is only able to modify his dietary or training regiment scientifically when consulting with his dietitian, bio-kinetisist, personal trainer or other suitably qualified training assistant. Such limited access to training assistants is further exacerbated in regions where there are inadequate numbers of training personnel and inadequately trained personnel.
The invention seeks to at least partially ameliorate current disadvantages associated with current training methods by providing a readily accessible and modifiable training and dietary regiment. The invention also seeks to provide an optimized anthropologically based training method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an An electronic training database, wherein the database is remotely accessible using an electronic communication means and comprises a plurality of training exercises, food types and their nutritional compositions from where a user can access the database and cause an exercise and dietary regiment to be selected based on inputted personal physical information and goals of the intended user; the physical information and goals relative to such information being assigned a set of values as well as each exercise and food group component being assigned a value, the database enabled to calculate the inputted values against exercise and food values and generate an appropriate exercise and dietary regiment.
Preferably the physical information includes several of the following: age, gender, racial group, BMI, activity level, BMR, BFP, MNS. It will be appreciated that certain physical information is a combination of factors, which may be calculated by the remotely accessible database or whose value may simply be inputted by the user having previous knowledge of the required information.
Preferably the goals include at least one of the following: weight modification, targeted muscle development, exercise specific physical development, movement flexibility, muscle stamina and endurance.
Conveniently the database comprises a plurality of goal dependant exercises, wherein the exercise combination and extent thereof is selected to effectively achieve the inputted goal.
Conveniently the database comprises a plurality of goal and/or exercise dependant food options, wherein the daily food intake recommended facilitates an athlete achieving his goal by providing adequate and balanced daily nutrients. The athlete is thereby provided an exercise and goal appropriate dietary regiment.
Conveniently the database is enabled to recommend a plurality of food combinations for athletes with special dietary requirements including but not limited to at least one of the following: kosher, vegan, vegetarian or halal; wheat, gluten, sugar or lactose reduced diets. Preferably the database is enabled to track the progress of the athlete, wherein the user inputs a level of compliance with the exercise and dietary regiment. Each result is accorded a statistical value, whereby poor compliance results are discounted or ignored according to desired predetermined criteria.
Conveniently the database is enabled to store the results of the athlete regiment compliance and develop a statistical model of most effective dietary and exercise regiments per individual profile. It will be appreciated that an increased number of results inputted create a more accurate statistical model.
Preferably the database is enabled to generate an optimized dietary and exercise regiment based on anthropological factors such as racial group, age and gender of the athlete. These regiments being based on initial data inputted into the database as well as regiment compliance results inputted by the user.
Conveniently the regiment generated for the athlete may be paper based or transmitted electronically to a mobile communication device or other suitably enabled device for viewing the regiment.
Conveniently the database comprises an animated figure, which is morphable to reflect an athlete's anatomical appearance by inputting physical details such as height and weight. The BFP may also be estimated in this manner by morphing key anatomical aspects of the figure including abdominal, thorax, legs and buttocks regions, the extent of which is allocated a BFP value.
Conveniently the exercise regiment may be transmitted to an electronic communication device having software enabled to display a virtual kinesthetically correct human figure and transmit sound, wherein the figure is programmed to demonstrate a plurality of exercise techniques with supporting verbal instructions to explain and guide a user through the technique performed by the figure. Conveniently the motions demonstrated by the figure are performed through the entire motion range of the technique and no aspect of the movement is left up to the user's interpretation.
Preferably user progress may be monitored by periodically inputting user physical data into the remote training database, wherein the data is transmitted via text message to a designated communication address, the text transmitting device having a unique sender identifier tag recorded against the details of a specific user. Therefore whenever a user sends a text message with updated physical developments, the database records and tracks the relevant physical progress. The user progress may also be represented as a graph or morphable figure of physical change over a period of time.
Conveniently, the text message is sent from a mobile communication device (MCD) such as a cellular phone, which device transmits a unique identifier number sequence upon sending the text, the identifier number sequence is recorded on the training database as the belonging to the user, thereafter each time the user transmits data from the MCD the data is automatically recorded and reflected against the user's profile.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of training comprising the steps of:
- utilizing an electronic communications device to access a remote training database, wherein the remotely accessible database comprises a plurality of training exercises, food types and their nutritional compositions, from where a user accesses and causes an exercise and dietary regiment to be selected based on inputted personal physical information and goals of the intended user; - the physical information and goals relative to such information being assigned a set of values as well as each exercise and food group component being assigned a value, the database enabled to calculate the inputted values against exercise and food values and generate an appropriate exercise and dietary regiment; and - implementing the daily dietary and exercise regiment until the user's goal is achieved.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises an online database which is remotely accessible. In use, a user would register by following the relevant prompts provided by the database interface and be afforded a login name and password. Thereafter the user would follow a series of prompts requiring physical details and intended goals of the athlete for who a dietary and exercise regiment is required. These physical details include the following: name, age, gender, racial group, BMI, activity level, BMR, BFP and MNS.
The goal options include one or more of the following:
- whether the athlete wishes gain or loose weight;
- whether the athlete seeks to develop certain muscle groups; - whether the training regiment is to remedy or guard against particular diseases or injuries; and
- whether the athlete is training for a specific event such as a marathon or a particular sport.
The interface would also require information about:
- whether the athlete has specific dietary requirements such as being kosher, vegan, vegetarian or halal; wheat, gluten, sugar or lactose reduced diets;
- the preference of certain food types; - the preference for certain exercises; and
- the duration in which the goal is to achieved. The interface would thereafter generate an appropriate dietary and exercise regiment. The user being prompted whether the regiment should be emailed, faxed or printed out.
Upon subsequent logins after the regiment has been provided, the user would be prompted to input the results of the athlete's training and other relevant feedback. In the event that the athlete's compliance and/or the results where not in accordance with the goals, the interface would offer the user an option to modify the training regiment. The ongoing input of results would enable database to develop a statistical model of optimized dietary and exercise regiments for specific age, racial groups and genders.
Data inputted to monitor user progress may be captured by the user sending a text message with updated physical developments, the database thereby records and tracks the relevant physical progress. The text message is sent from a mobile communication device (MCD) such as a cellular phone, which device transmits a unique identifier number sequence upon sending the text, the identifier number sequence is recorded on the training database as the belonging to the user. Each time thereafter, the user transmits data from the MCD, the data is automatically recorded and reflected against the user's profile. The user progress may also be represented as a graph or morphable figure of physical change over a period of time.
A further benefit of such method of training would facilitate targeted marketing of specific market segments. This would be based on athlete's compliance or ineffective compliance of the regiment. By example, a white fifty year old female with a high regiment compliance level would be a suitable candidate for marketing products associated with chronic health benefits. Another example would be a fifty year old male with a low regiment compliance level who would be a suitable candidate for marketing products associated with short term usage yet still having health benefits. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the abovementioned embodiments. For example the exercise regiment may be sent to a mobile electronic device such as an ipod, mobile phone or like portable electronic display device which is enabled to view software comprising a virtual kinesthetically correct human figure and listen to instructional voice prompts therefrom. The figure being programmed to demonstrate the exercise techniques with supporting oral instructions to explain and guide the user through the technique performed by the figure. The motions demonstrated are performed through the entire motion range of the technique and no aspect of the movement is left up to the user's interpretation. The realistic figure enables the user to view a realistic motion and copy the exact movement and speed thereof. The device thereby paces the user for performing optimum movement motion and speed. The instructions are presented in a language of the user's choice by selecting from a language menu which is prompted by the device.
The summary of invention and claims form an integral aspect of the description of the invention.