METHOD OF MANAGING FUEL INTAKE IN INDIVIDUALS
TO ENHANCE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/600,199,
filed February 17, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
FIELD
[002] The present disclosure relates to a method to assist individuals with managing their
fuel consumption at different points throughout training or competition to achieve
enhanced athletic performance.
BACKGROUND
[003] In preparing for competitions and participating in athletic activity or an athletic event,
the vast majority of individuals are unaware of the types and amounts of fuel
necessary for consumption in order to enhance or optimize athletic performance.
Individuals need the right fuels at the right times to support training or performance
goals for athletic events. Hence, individuals need to train their bodies to accept fuels
at specific times in order to maximize performance. Existing methods or systems of
monitoring consumption only track nutrition, which does not directly correlate to fuel
intake for exercise and athletic performance purposes. Thus, a need exists in the field
for a method, grounded in sports science and sports nutrition, to assist individuals
with managing their fuel consumption at different points during training and
competition.
SUMMARY
[004] The present disclosure relates to a method for managing fuel intake specifically
designed for individuals training for and participating in athletic events. In particular,
the present disclosure relates to: assessing the type of activity, time of performance,
duration of the activity, intensity of the event, goals set for the event, and the type of
athlete participating in the event; arriving at a plan or schedule for consuming certain
fuel; providing instruction to the individual for consumption of foods identified
according to the fuel schedule; and assessing the individual's feedback, in particular,
his or her energy level at the moment of sweat, in order to better instruct the
individual regarding fueling needs. In another aspect, the method may be provided
electronically, such as via the internet or via an application for a mobile device carried
by the athlete during the activity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[005] FIG. 1 illustrates an illustrative network architecture and fuel plan server that may be
utilized in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.
[006] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example computer-implemented method of managing fuel
intake during an event in accordance with one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[007] The instant disclosure is directed to a method for managing fuel intake during training
for and competing in athletic events. The instant disclosure provides a method for the
individual to provide feedback about his energy levels at the moment of sweat
following receipt of specific information relating to the individual. The instant aspect
uses this information in conjunction with the type, intensity and duration of the
athletic even to generate a fueling plan for the individual. The method as set forth in
more detail below assists the individual athlete with training his or her body to accept
fuels at the appropriate times in order to enhance and maximize his performance in
the particular athletic event. The method generates a fueling plan based on the type of
athletic activity and the time of day that the individual will train or compete.
[008] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a network architecture and fuel plan processing
device that may be used to implement one or more illustrative aspects of the
disclosure. Various network nodes 103, 105, and 109 may be interconnected via a
wide area network (WAN) 101, such as the Internet. Other networks may also or
alternatively be used, including private intranets, corporate networks, LANs, wireless
networks, personal networks (PAN), and the like. Network 101 is for illustration
purposes and may be replaced with fewer or additional computer networks. A local
area network (LAN) may have one or more of any known LAN topology and may use
one or more of a variety of different protocols, such as Ethernet. Devices 103, 105,
107, 109 and other devices (such as sports watch 108 and/or other devices not shown)
may be connected to one or more of the networks via twisted pair wires, coaxial
cable, fiber optics, radio waves or other communication media. In an embodiment,
the devices may include a tablet or other touch screen computing device.
[009] The term "network" as used herein and depicted in the drawings refers not only to
systems in which remote storage devices are coupled together via one or more
communication paths, but also to stand-alone devices that may be coupled, from time
to time, to such systems that have storage capability. Consequently, the term
"network" includes not only a "physical network" but also a "content network,"
which is comprised of the data—attributable to a single entity—which may reside
across all physical networks.
[010] The components may include fuel plan server 103, dietary information server 105,
mobile device 107, sports watch 108, and/or user computer 109. In one embodiment,
fuel plan server 103 may provide overall access, control and administration of one or
more collections of data (e.g., databases) and control software for performing one or
more illustrative aspects of the disclosure as described herein. In one embodiment,
fuel plan server 103 may be connected to dietary information server 105 through
which users interact with and obtain data as requested. Alternatively, fuel plan server
103 may act as a dietary information server itself and be directly connected to the
Internet. Fuel plan server 103 may be connected to dietary information server 105
through the network 101 (e.g., the Internet), via direct or indirect connection, or via
some other network. Users may interact with the fuel plan server 103 using remote
computer 109, e.g., using a web browser to connect to the fuel plan server 103 via one
or more externally exposed web sites hosted by dietary information server 105. In
addition, users may interact with fuel plan server 103 via a sports watch 108 or a
mobile device 107. Such devices may be used in concert with fuel plan server 103 to
access data stored therein, or may be used for other purposes. For example, from
device 109 a user may access dietary information server 105 using an Internet
browser, as is known in the art, or by executing a computer-executable instructions on
a non-transitory computer-readable medium that communicates with dietary
information server 105 and/or fuel plan server 103 over a computer network (such as
the Internet).
[Oil] Servers and applications may be combined on the same physical machines, and retain
separate virtual or logical addresses, or may reside on separate physical machines.
FIG. 1 illustrates just one example of a network architecture that may be used, and
those of skill in the art will appreciate that the specific network architecture and
processing devices used may vary, and are secondary to the functionality that they
provide, as further described herein. For example, services provided by dietary
information server 105 and fuel plan server 103 may be combined on a single server.
[012] One or more of components 103, 105, 107, 108 and 109 may be any type of known
computer, server, or data processing device. Looking to the example fuel plan server
103, it may include a processor 111 controlling overall operation of the fuel plan
server 103. Fuel plan server 103 may further include RAM 113, ROM 115, memory
121 and/or any one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums. As one
example, memory 121 may further store operating system software 123 for
controlling overall operation of the fuel plan server 103, control logic 125 for
instructing fuel plan server 103 to perform aspects of the disclosure as described
herein, and other application software 127 providing secondary support, and/or other
functionality which may or may not be used in conjunction with aspects of the present
disclosure. The control logic may also be referred to herein as the fuel plan server
software 125. Functionality of the fuel plan server software may refer to operations
or decisions made automatically based on rules coded into the control logic, made
manually by a user providing input into the system, and/or a combination of automatic
processing based on user input (e.g., queries, data updates, etc.). Those skilled in the
art will realize that components 105, 107, 108 and 109 may also include similar
hardware components (e.g., processor, RAM/ROM, memory, etc.) as discussed above
with respect to fuel plan server 103.
[013] Fuel plan sever 103 may further include network interface 117 and/or input/output
interfaces 119 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, display, printer, etc.). I/O 119 may include a
variety of interface units and drives for reading, writing, displaying, and/or printing
data or files. Memory 121 may also store data used in performance of one or more
aspects of the disclosure, including a first database 129 and a second database 131. In
some embodiments, the first database may include the second database (e.g., as a
separate table, report, etc.). That is, the information can be stored in a single
database, or separated into different logical, virtual, or physical databases, depending
on system design. Devices 105, 107, 109 may have similar or different architecture as
described with respect to device 103. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the
functionality of data processing device 103 (or device 105, 107, 109) as described
herein may be spread across multiple data processing devices, for example, to
distribute processing load across multiple computers, to segregate transactions based
on geographic location, user access level, quality of service (QoS), etc.
[014] One or more aspects of the disclosure may be embodied in computer-usable or
readable data and/or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more
program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices as described
herein. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components,
data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data
types when executed by a processor in a computer or other device. The modules may
be written in a source code programming language that is subsequently compiled for
execution, or may be written in a scripting language such as (but not limited to)
HTML or XML. The computer executable instructions may be stored on a computer
readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid
state memory, RAM, etc. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the
functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in
various embodiments. In addition, the functionality may be embodied in whole or in
part in firmware or hardware equivalents such as integrated circuits, field
programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like. Particular data structures may be
used to more effectively implement one or more aspects of the disclosure, and such
data structures are contemplated within the scope of computer executable instructions
and computer-usable data described herein.
[015] In one aspect of the instant disclosure, the individual chooses the type of
workout/sport/activity (which may include any cardiovascular or strength training
activity, including without limitation ball sports, track and field, running, aerobics,
yoga, swimming, weight training, etc.), the time or times of day that she will compete,
and information regarding the duration of activity, intensity (measured as number of
calories burned per hour), the type or level of athlete (professional, elite, serious age
group, fitness, recreational, beginner), and the person's overall objective or goal
(performance, weight loss, health/fitness, muscle gain, recovery, recreation). For
example, the method supports selections such as morning practices, evening
competitions two athletic events a day, etc. The information provided by the athlete is
evaluated and a fueling plan is generated. The fueling plan instructs individuals on
how to choose the right fuels at the right time in preparation for or participating in an
athletic event, and identifies food selection choices that relate to the specific fuels.
For example, identified foods may include a bagel with cream cheese or certain fruit
or other such food items, each of which relate to a specifically identified fuel type
(complex carbohydrate, protein, simple carbohydrate, etc.) and an identified amount
of each such fuel. In one aspect of the disclosure, this information is compiled in
relation to pre-event, during event and post-event fuel needs. Individuals log their
feedback and/or progress on each day they train or compete, including tracking and
identifying the type and number of fuels consumed, and that information is used to
generate a fuel score for the day. Specifically, the feedback includes collecting
information from the individual regarding his feelings of energy during the event and
on each day of the training or competition events. In particular, the individual logs
his feelings of energy during the moment of sweat - - i.e., the moment when the
individual begins to sweat. In a form of the disclosure, the fuel score is set or may be
adjusted on several criteria, preferably including the individual's responses relating to
his or her energy level on a regular day of training and on a regular day of
competition, coupled with the amount of fuel consumed for the particular day. In one
form of the method, individuals receive feedback in the form of a report including a
graph to view their fuel score over time, as well as his or her energy ratings. "Athletic
event" or "athletic activity" as used herein shall be any type of training or competitive
event relating to any sporting activity. Thus, according to one aspect, the athletic
events included in the fuel plan may include cross training exercise as well as training
that is specific to a particular competitive athletic activity, whereby an aspect of the
fuel plan includes a report compiling all athletic activity over a given period of time.
In another aspect, the fuel score may be segregated into scoring for different activity,
such as training separate from competition events.
[016] In another embodiment, various sensors may collect information regarding the
individual and transmit such information to fuel plan server 103. The sensor may
include various biological and activity sensors.
[017] The method of the instant disclosure may include at least two integrated levels. The
first level comprises gathering information and performing calculations to generate a
plan that identifies in detail which fuel nutrients (e.g., carbohydrates, proteins and
electrolytes) the individual should consume and at what times. However, this level
does not identify specific types of carbohydrates or proteins or amounts of
carbohydrates or proteins. Accordingly, the information generated from the first level
comprises the nutrients (including carbohydrate energy, fluid, protein and
electrolytes) the individual needs to consume in preparing for and participating in the
athletic event.
[018] In another aspect of the instant application, the second level of the system or method
comprises generating information that may be provided to the individual regarding
specific types and amounts of the nutrients identified in level one, including without
limitation the specific types of carbohydrates selected from the group consisting of
glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltodextrin and others, that should be consumed at
specific times before, during and after the specified athletic event.
[019] In one aspect of the instant disclosure, the individual may utilize the second level only
after he or she completes the first level. In an alternative aspect of the instant
application, such as if the individual has used the method before, or if the individual
has experience with fueling in preparation for athletic events, he or she may begin the
method at the second level. In one aspect, a third level may also be generated and
used by the individual to provide more detail of the fuel plan and reporting of the
individual's fuel efficiency. This level optionally may be accessible to the individual
after he or she completes the first and/or second level or becomes proficient with the
use of the second level to manage fuel intake and efficiency. In level three, the
method includes providing the individuals with an overall nutrition plan for health and
performance which will incorporate appropriate fueling information.
[020] Examples of several aspects of the instant application follow:
[021] Example 1: The following is an example of a fueling plan relating to a sprint or high
intensity athletic event:
salt)
[022] Example 2 : The following is an example of a fueling plan relating to a strength
training athletic event:
electrolytes (primalily salt) string cheese, Greek yogurt
23] Example 3 : The following is an example of a fueling plan relating to a team athletic
event:
lean protein in this timeframe
Athletic Event Taking Place in the Afternoon/Evening (In Season)
l iming in
relation
Occasio Patterns oo Suggestions
to athletic
ac t
Cai bohydrate energy, fluid A sports drink with sugar and sodium is
02 During anc electrolytes (primarily your best option. You can also use gel
soc ium) or chew products with water.
Lean meat sandwich, low-fat cottage
Cai bohydrate energy,
cheese and fruit, pretzels and low-fat
Within 30 pro tein, fluid and
03 string cheese, Greek yogurt, or eat your
min after ele