Apparatus and method for promoting fitness

Abstract

A method of improving the physical strength of a person comprising the steps of performing a load-bearing exercise for a period of time while supporting about the body additional weight to increase the load on the person; after completing the exercise for a number of exercise sessions, adding a relatively small amount of weight to the additional weight; and repeating the exercise until a desired level of fitness has been achieved.

1 . A method of improving the physical strength of a person comprising the steps of: 
 (a) performing a load-bearing exercise for a period of time while supporting about the body additional weight to increase the load on the person;    (b) after completing step (a) for a number of exercise sessions, adding no more than 0.25 pounds to the additional weight; and    (c) repeating steps (a) through (c) until a desired level of fitness has been achieved.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time is at least one hour.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of exercise sessions is one session, and wherein at least one day elapses prior to repeating step (a).  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional weight is distributed about fourteen points on the person's body.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the fourteen points on the person's body comprise six points generally evenly distributed about a circumference of the person's torso area, six points about a circumference of the person's waist area, two points about a circumference of the person's left wrist area, and two points about a circumference of the person's right wrist area.  
   
   
       6 . A method of improving the physical strength of a person comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inserting a current set of loading objects into a plurality of pockets on a wearable equipment wherein each loading object in the first set individually has a first weight and collectively have a first total weight of less than four (4) ounces;    (b) donning the wearable exercise equipment;    (c) wearing the wearable exercise equipment with the current set of loading objects for a current length of time while performing routine activities involving movement of the person;    (d) removing the wearable exercise equipment;    (e) repeating steps (b) through (d) for a current number of days;    (f) determining whether or not a goal has been achieved;    (g) if the goal has been achieved, end;    (h) if the goal has not been achieved, determining whether or not there is any remaining volume in the plurality of pockets;    (i) if there is no remaining volume skip to step (l);    (j) if there is remaining volume in the plurality of pockets, inserting a next set of loading objects into the plurality of pockets wherein each loading object in the next set individually has a next weight and collectively have a next total weight of less than four (4) ounces;    (k) repeating steps (b) through (k);    (l) determining a current full weight by calculating an amount of weight in each of the plurality of pockets;    (m) removing each loading object from each of the plurality of pockets;    (n) inserting a new set of loading objects into the plurality of pockets wherein each loading object in the new set individually has a new weight equal to the current full weight, and wherein the density of each loading object in the new set is sufficiently greater than the loading objects removed in step (m) such that a volume of space occupied by the new set of loading objects is sufficiently less than a volume of space occupied by the loading objects removed in step (m);    (o) repeating steps (b) though (o).    
   
   
       7 . A method of improving the physical strength of a person comprising the steps of: 
 (a) donning a wearable exercise equipment having a plurality of pockets for holding a plurality of loading objects of known weight;    (b) inserting a first set of loading objects into the plurality of pockets wherein each loading object in the first set individually has a first weight and collectively have a first total weight of less than four (4) ounces;    (c) wearing the wearable exercise equipment with the first set of loading objects for a first length of time while performing routine activities involving movement of the person;    (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) for a first number of days;    (e) inserting a second set of loading objects into the plurality of pockets wherein each loading object in the second set individually has a second weight and collectively have a second total weight of less than four (4) ounces;    (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) until the plurality of pockets are sufficiently full so as to preclude easy insertion of further loading objects therein;    (g) determining a first full weight by calculating an amount of weight in each of the plurality of pockets;    (h) removing each loading object from each of the plurality of pockets;    (i) inserting a third set of loading objects into the plurality of pockets wherein each loading object in the third set individually has a third weight equal to the first full weight, and wherein the density of each loading object in the third set is sufficiently greater than the loading objects removed in step (g) such that a volume of space occupied by the third set of loading objects is sufficiently less than a volume of space occupied by the loading objects removed in step (g);    (j) repeating steps (a) though (i) until the person has achieved a desired level of strength.    
   
   
       8 . A method of improving the physical strength of an animal comprising the steps of: 
 (a) performing a load-bearing exercise for a period of time while supporting about the animal's body additional weight to increase the load on the animal;    (b) after completing step (a) for a number of exercise sessions, increasing the additional weight such that there is no noticeable strain on the animal; and    (c) repeating steps (a) through (c) until a desired level of fitness for the animal has been achieved.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the period of time is at least one hour.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the number of exercise sessions is one session, and wherein at least one day elapses prior to repeating step (a).  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the additional weight is evenly distributed about multiple points on the animal's body.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the animal is a horse.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the animal is a goat.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein in the animal is a dog.  
   
   
       15 . A wearable exercise apparatus for improving the physical strength of a person comprising: 
 (a) a first plurality of weights, wherein a total weight of the first plurality of weights is less than four (4) pounds;    (b) a second plurality of weights, wherein an individual weight of each weight in the second plurality of weights is at least one quarter (¼) pound;    (c) a waist belt comprising a first plurality of pockets adapted to hold a first portion of the first plurality of weights and a second plurality of pockets adapted to hold a first portion of the second plurality of weights;    (d) a torso belt comprising a first plurality of pockets adapted to hold a second portion of the plurality of weights, a second plurality of pockets adapted to hold a second portion of the second plurality of weights, and having harness for supporting the torso belt on the shoulders of a wearer; and    (e) a pair of wrist belts comprising a plurality of pockets adapted to hold a third portion of the plurality of weights and a second plurality of pockets adapted to hold a third portion of the second plurality of weights,    wherein the first plurality of pockets on the waist belt, the torso belt and the wrist strap each include at least one slot for receiving the first plurality of weights.    
   
   
       16 . The wearable exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the waist belt, the torso belt and the wrist belt each comprise a first wall and a second wall thereby forming an inner section within each and wherein the first plurality of pockets and the second plurality of pockets are inside the inner section of each.  
   
   
       17 . The wearable exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one slot on the first plurality of pockets on the waist belt, the torso belt and the wrist strap passes through the first wall thereby connecting the pockets to an exterior side of the waist belt, the torso belt and the wrist strap.  
   
   
       18 . The wearable exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the waist belt, the torso belt and the wrist belt each include a fastening means for securing the wearable exercise apparatus on the wearer.  
   
   
       19 . The wearable exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the fastening means for securing the wearable exercise apparatus on the wearer comprise a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       20 . The wearable exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 (a) the first plurality of pockets are evenly spaced along a length of the waist belt;    (b) the second plurality of pockets are evenly spaced along a length of the torso belt; and    (c) the third plurality of pockets are evenly spaced along a length of the wrist belts.