Nutrition and exercise program

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/373,306, filed Apr. 18, 2002.

[0002] A nutritional program and apparatus for implementing the program.

[0003] Many exercise nutritional plans have been developed and published. The majority of the programs deal with weight loss and weight maintenance. This fact is a result of obesity being a major problem in the United States. These programs focus on the daily caloric intake of the person following the program to reduce and maintain a desirable weight and avoid the numerous health problems related with obesity.

[0004] Nutritional and exercise programs need to be easy to understand and follow and provide results if it can be reasonably expected for user's to follow the program for extended periods of time and not deviate from the program. A complete nutritional program needs to encompass both the type of food being eaten and the portions of the food. The program must also include an easy to follow guide so that the user is assured of fitting within the boundaries and parameters set forth by the nutritional program.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a nutritional program that is part of an overall fitness regimen.

[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a nutritional program having a device enabling the implementation of the program.

[0007] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a portion control device for the various types of foods fitting within the program.

[0008] It is still another object of the invention to provide a nutrition program which is complete, easy to follow and provide results to the user.

[0009] These and other objects will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the disclosure of the invention.

[0010] An exercise nutritional program focuses on overall health of the user and is part of an overall fitness regimen including exercise. Proper weight and weight maintenance is an ancillary benefit of following a nutritional program and will be achieved by years of following the nutrition program in conjunction with the exercise and fitness program. The nutritional program separates foods into carbohydrates, proteins and fats and adjusts the percent of calories from each group depending on the goal of general weight maintenance, increased shape and definition or significant weight loss. An exercise program is also tailored to these three goals. In implementing the program, three connected shapes, preferably rings, or containers, representing the carbohydrate, protein and fat groups are used. Each ring is desirably a different color so that the user can readily ascertain which ring corresponds to which food group listed on the menus provided. The frequency of using these rings depends on the individual's goals in fitness.

[0015] The nutrition and fitness regimen includes a nutritional program, aerobic workout and weight resistance training. Proper nutrition includes eating four to five small meals throughout the course of the day, without overeating at any one meal. Carbohydrate intake is kept to an absolute minimum at night due to the body's slower metabolic rate. The use of several small meals increases the body metabolism, helping the body to burn more calories.

[0016] The aerobics workout burns fat, strengthens the cardiovascular system and helps in the prevention of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and other debilitating illnesses like arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD). These to conditions are the leading causes of death in the United States. The best time for aerobic training is the first thing in the morning on an empty stomach so that the body's primary fuel source at that time is fat. Aerobic activity necessitates a steady state of intensity for at least 30 minutes for at least three to four times per week. The intensity would include 65–75% of your maximum target heart rate, usually calculated as 220 minus your age.

[0017] Weight training is included to take advantage of its ability to increase bone density, muscle mass, thereby creating highly metabolic active tissue, and the improvement in self-esteem and posture. Weight training can be done any time during the day but is best accomplished one hour after a meal high in carbohydrates.

[0018] The nutrition aspect is separated between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Acceptable foods for the carbohydrate portions include sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice and cream of rice. Appropriate foods for the protein category include chicken, tuna, meat, lentils, fish, egg whites and turkey breast. The list of appropriate fat foods includes peanut butter (one tablespoon), rice pudding (½ cup), nuts/pistachios or almonds (15–20 nuts) and avocado dip (two tablespoons). Foods which do not fit under the plan in any category include bread, pasta, bagels, cereals, chips, cookies, sugar products or any flour product. There are alternative options to those who may be diabetic or hypoglycemic.

[0019] Three levels of the regimen have been established. The three levels are summarized on the chart below and include a first row for general weight maintenance, a second row for increased shape and definition, and a third row for significant weight loss.

[0020]

FITNESS CHART
NUTRITION	AEROBICS	WEIGHT TRAINING
(% of Calories)	(Frequency/Time)	(Frequency/Type)
50% carbohydrates	3 times/week	3 days/week
25% protein	30 min.	total body
25% fats
45% carbohydrates	4 times/week	4 days/week
30% protein	40 min.	split routine
25% fats		upper body/lower body
35–40% carbohydrates	5–6 times/week	4–5 days/week
35–40% protein	45 min. to 1 hr.	split routine
15–20% fats		all muscle groups
		worked separately on
		certain days

[0021] To implement the nutritional aspect of the program, three connected rings 10 are used. The three connected rings are shown in FIG. 1. The carbohydrate ring 12 is 3.5 inches in diameter, the protein ring 14 is 3 inches and the fat ring 16 is 2 inches. Each ring is color coded to signify to the user which ring corresponds to which food group. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the three rings can be placed on any plate. This allows the rings to be used with any variety of plates. Alternatively, the rings can be formed integrally with a plate 20 as shown in FIG. 2. This one piece construction allows the use of the rings without having to use a separate plate.

[0022] A cover 30 for the rings is shown in FIG. 3. The cover has a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the three connected rings. A flange 38 depends from the top wall and engages the sides of the rings to releasably retain the cover on the rings. The cover can take the form of a top panel as large as the plate with a depending flange engaging the outer periphery of the rings.

[0023] A second embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 4. In this invention, the three rings are separate. The largest ring 112 is for foods of the carbohydrate group, the medium ring 114 is for foods in the protein group and the smallest ring 116 is for foods of the fat group. This allows the rings to be used with any conventional dinner plate. The size of the rings and the color of the rings is identical to that of the first embodiment having connecting rings. The size of the rings is again proportioned to the amount of that food group you should consume and the color of the rings is color coded to the accompanying menu.

[0024] While the invention has been discussed with reference to preferred embodiments, variations and modifications would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art which would not deviate from the scope and spirit of the invention, the invention encompasses such variations and modifications.