System for weight loss and improving physical fitness

Abstract

A system and method are provided for improving the physical fitness of a person wherein the person performs at least one walking or running exercise routine at substantially that person's maximum performance level for a period between 1 minute and 10 minutes. Based on that maximum performance level, the method and system determine a variety of timed walking or running exercise regimens, each regimen including at least one routine to be performed by the person on a regular basis and wherein no single routine exceeds 10 minutes in duration. The person then selects and performs one or more of the walking or running regimens such that the person completes at least 10 minutes of exercise in a training session. The routines vary in duration from 1 to 10 minutes and in repetition from 10 to 1 repetitions. Numerous embodiments of the system are included such as a portable device.

1 . A method for improving the physical fitness of a person, the method comprising: 
 calculating said person's fitness level based upon two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance upon said person performing one exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of walking routines and running routines at substantially said person's maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time;    identifying a plurality of fitness training regimens based upon said person's fitness level, each said regimen comprising at least one exercise routine of a predetermined period of time; and    providing said plurality of fitness training regimens to said person.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of fitness training regimens of said identifying step further comprises five fitness training regimens.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said five fitness training regimens comprise 
 a first fitness training regimen comprising ten, 1-minute exercise routines with 1-minute rest intervals between each said 1-minute exercise routine;    a second fitness training regimen comprising eight, 2-minute exercise routines with 2-minute rest intervals between each said 2-minute exercise routine;    a third fitness training regimen comprising seven, 3-minute exercise routines with 3-minute rest intervals between each said 3-minute exercise routine;    a fourth fitness training regimen comprising five, 5-minute exercise routines with 5-minute rest intervals between each said 5-minute exercise routine; and    a fifth fitness training regimen comprising one, 10-minute exercise routine.    
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of providing comprises displaying said plurality of fitness training regimens on a computer display, wherein the display includes a distance, a time in which to complete said distance and any one of a walking indicator and a running indicator.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of providing comprises displaying said plurality of fitness training regimens via a framed portion of a slide that slidingly engages a chart, wherein the display includes a distance, a time in which to complete said distance and any one of a walking indicator and a running indicator.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said predetermined range of time in said calculating step ranges from 1 minute to 10 minutes.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one exercise routine of said identifying step varies in duration from 1 to 10 minutes such that the shortest exercise routine lasts 1 minute and the longest exercise routine lasts 10 minutes.  
   
   
       8 . A slide rule used for improving the physical fitness of a person comprising: 
 a chart defined by a plurality of cells organized into rows and columns, each said row corresponding to a rate of speed, and each said column corresponding to a period of time;    a slide slidingly engaging said chart such that said slide is capable of sliding along said columns of said chart, said slide defining a frame adapted to frame at least one cell on each of a plurality of rows of said chart;    wherein each said at least one cell of each row framed by said slide defines a fitness training regimen of at least one exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of a walking routine and a running routine, each said exercise routine being further defined by said rate of speed corresponding to said row of said at least one cell and said period of time corresponding to said column of said cell.    
   
   
       9 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said frame defined by said slide is adapted to frame at least one cell on each of five consecutive rows of said chart.  
   
   
       10 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 9  wherein each said row of said chart defines a fitness level and wherein the row corresponding to a top row of said five consecutive rows framed by said slide defines the fitness level corresponding to a group of five fitness training regimens determined by said at least one cell of each row framed by said slide.  
   
   
       11 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 10  wherein each said column of said chart also defines the number of times each said at least one exercise routine of said fitness training regimen should be repeated.  
   
   
       12 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the column corresponding to each said at least one cell of each row framed by said slide also corresponds to the recommended duration of rest between each repetition of said at least one exercise routine of each said fitness training regimen.  
   
   
       13 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 8  wherein each said row of said chart corresponds to incrementally increasing rates of speed and each said column of said chart corresponds to incrementally increasing periods of time.  
   
   
       14 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said rates of speed range from 1 kilometer per hour to 35 kilometers per hour and said periods of time range from 1 minute to 10 minutes.  
   
   
       15 . A slide rule as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said rates of speed range from 1 mile per hour to 20 miles per hour and said periods of time range from 1 minute to 10 minutes.  
   
   
       16 . A method for improving the physical fitness of a person comprising the steps of: 
 measuring two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance upon said person traveling afoot at substantially said person's maximum performance level for a period of time up to ten minutes in duration;    assessing said person's fitness level from a predetermined range of ascending fitness levels based upon the measured performance variables from said measuring step;    determining a plurality of timed fitness training regimens based upon the assessed fitness level, wherein each said fitness training regimen consists of at least one exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of a walking routine and a running routine, said plurality of regimens to be performed by said person; and    providing said person one or more of said plurality of timed fitness training regimens.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of repeating said assessing step to determine if said person is capable of performing at the next higher fitness level.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said determining step further comprises varying said timed fitness training regimens such that the longest exercise routine in any said training regimen lasts 10 minutes and the shortest exercise routine lasts 1 minute.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising performing one of said fitness training regimens daily.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said plurality of timed fitness training regimens of said determining step further comprises five timed fitness training regimens.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said five timed fitness training regimens comprise 
 a first fitness training regimen comprising ten, 1-minute exercise routines with 1-minute rest intervals between each said 1-minute exercise routine;    a second fitness training regimen comprising eight, 2-minute exercise routines with 2-minute rest intervals between each said 2-minute exercise routine;    a third fitness training regimen comprising seven, 3-minute exercise routines with 3-minute rest intervals between each said 3-minute exercise routine;    a fourth fitness training regimen comprising five, 5-minute exercise routines with 5-minute rest intervals between each said 5-minute exercise routine; and    a fifth fitness training regimen comprising one, 10-minute exercise routine.    
   
   
       22 . A method for assessing a human being's fitness level and determining a fitness training program to improve a candidate's physical fitness, the method comprising: 
 providing an array defined by a plurality of cells organized into rows and columns, each said row corresponding to a rate of speed and a fitness level, and each said column corresponding to a period of time ranging from 1 minute to 10 minutes, such that each said cell defines a workout routine defined by the speed corresponding to the row and time defined by the column;    testing said candidate by having said candidate travel afoot for a minimum of one minute to a maximum of ten minutes at substantially said candidate's maximum performance level;    measuring two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance during said testing step;    determining a fitness level from said array based on said two measurements from said measuring step; and    identifying a group a fitness regimens based upon said fitness level from said array wherein each fitness regimen of said group comprises at least one said workout routine.    
   
   
       23 . A portable fitness training device for determining timed fitness training regimens based on a user's fitness level, the fitness training device comprising: 
 a memory for storing user entered data, an operating program and a plurality of user prompts for said operating program;    a user interface for enabling a user to enter data into said memory;    a display for visually displaying information to the user;    a command and control circuit for executing said program, performing mathematical calculations, and generating control signals based upon inputted data from said user interface, said command and control circuit being coupled with said user interface and said display, and accepting data input via said user interface and generating an output to said display based upon the inputted data and execution of said program;    whereby said fitness training device prompts a user to input data based upon two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance based upon said user walking or running at substantially said user's maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time periods; and    wherein based upon the inputted data from said user said fitness training device determines a plurality of timed fitness training regimens wherein each regimen includes at least one exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of a walking routine and a running routine, and displays said timed fitness training regimens on said display.    
   
   
       24 . A portable fitness training device as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said operating program prompts the user to select from among the displayed timed fitness training regimens.  
   
   
       25 . A computer readable medium including computer instructions for improving the physical fitness of a person, the computer instructions including instructions for: 
 calculating said person's fitness level based upon inputted data, said data including two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance upon said person performing one exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of a walking routine and a running routine at substantially said person's maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time;    identifying a plurality of fitness training regimens based upon said person's fitness level from said calculating step, each said regimen comprising at least one exercise routine of a predetermined period of time; and    storing said plurality of fitness training regimens.    
   
   
       26 . A computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 25  further comprising instructions for: 
 displaying said plurality of fitness training regimens on a computer display.    
   
   
       27 . A computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said display includes a distance, a time in which to complete said distance and any one of a walking indicator and a running indicator.  
   
   
       28 . An information processing system for improving the physical fitness of a person, comprising: 
 an interface for receiving data, said data including two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance based upon said person performing one exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of a walking routine and a running routine at substantially said person's maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time;    a processor configured for calculating said person's fitness level based on said data received via said interface and for identifying a plurality of exercise regimens based upon said person's fitness level that was calculated, wherein each regimen includes at least one exercise routine, each said exercise routine includes any one of walking and running and wherein an exercise routine includes a distance and a time in which to complete said distance; and    a memory for storing said plurality of exercise regimens.    
   
   
       29 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising a display for displaying said plurality of exercise regimens.  
   
   
       30 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said display includes a distance, a time in which to complete said distance and any one of a walking indicator and a running indicator.  
   
   
       31 . An information processing system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the information processing system comprises any one of a personal computer, a handheld computer, palmtop computer, a laptop computer and a cellular telephone having computer capabilities.  
   
   
       32 . A treadmill including an information processing system for improving the physical fitness of a person, comprising: 
 an interface for receiving data, said data including two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance based upon said person performing an exercise routine from the group of exercise routines consisting of a walking routine and a running routine at substantially said person's maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time;    a processor configured for calculating said person's fitness level based on said data received via said interface and for identifying a plurality of exercise regimens based upon said person's fitness level that was calculated, wherein each regimen includes at least one exercise routine, each said exercise routine includes any one of walking and running and wherein an exercise routine includes a distance and a time in which to complete said distance; and    a memory for storing said plurality of exercise regimens.    
   
   
       33 . A treadmill as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising a display for displaying said plurality of exercise regimens.  
   
   
       34 . A treadmill as claimed in  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 a human-machine interface for allowing said person to select at least one of said plurality of exercise regimens, thereby prompting the treadmill to operate according to at least one of said plurality of exercise regimens routines that was selected.