Mobile computing weight, diet, nutrition, and exercise management system with enhanced feedback and goal achieving functionality

• US 9,280,640 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SmarTEN LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Nusbaum, Vincent Pera Jr
• Inventors: Pera, Jr., Vincent, Rhoads, Jan E., Nusbaum, Jennifer L., Nusbaum, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Downey, John R
• Application Number:
  US14/242,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 434/127, 128/921, 128/905, 705/2, 705/3, 707/802
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An illustrative mobile computing device executing weight, nutrition, health, behavior and exercise application software serves as a simulated combination personal trainer and dietician/nutritionist for the user using comprehensive databases storing personalized health, nutrition and exercise information. A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, executing such software monitors, tracks and/or adjusts caloric intake, energy expenditure taking into account nutritional information and behavioral factors. The mobile computing device receives food consumption, exercise-related, behavior and other input using speech input and the device'"'"'s GPS subsystem to ease data entry burden on users and to promote continued long-term usage. The system rewards user goal achievement in an automatic, seamless manner, through, for example, downloading music, books, or other media. In illustrative implementations, the system assists users to make healthy food and exercise choices by using a comprehensive color code system to identify good choices, bad choices and those in between.

Claims

1. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device having a housing sized to be held in a user'"'"'s hand comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing health information including a user profile, said storage subsystem being operable to store health information about a user, including body weight, pulse rate information, a calorie-related daily goal, and an exercise-related goal, said storage subsystem being further operable to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable foods and to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable exercises;

a touch screen display operable to display food-related and exercise-related information to said user;

a user interface operable to receive input from said user and to communicate output to said user, said user interface including a plurality of user interface displays displayable on said touch screen display;

said user interface being operable to selectively initiate entry into said user profile or at least one food-related operation or at least one exercise-related operation, said user interface including a plurality of user-selectable symbols;

said user-selectable symbols being operable to initiate entry into said user profile or at least one food-related operation or at least one exercise-related operation;

a GPS receiver in said housing operable to receive input GPS data;

a pedometer in said housing operable to generate step-related data;

said user interface being operable to display on said touch screen display in said housing;

a food mode symbol, a first exercise mode symbol for initiating an exercise mode that uses position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data, and a second exercise mode symbol for entry of data regarding a plurality of exercise modes that do not use position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data;

a processing subsystem, operatively coupled to said user interface, said GPS receiver, said pedometer, said touch screen display, and said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem including;

a food monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable to receive food-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first set of foods input by said user, and being operable to link said first set of foods to a specific user meal, said first set of foods including a first food and a quantity-related parameter identified by said user;

said food monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be consumed by said user upon eating said first food, and to store food-related information in said storage subsystem relating to said first food, including information relating to the nutritional content of said first food and the calories consumed by said user upon eating said first food, based in part on said food-related data from said user;

said food monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said food mode symbol, being further operable to generate a food selection display screen identifying a plurality of meal category symbols that allow the user to select a meal category including a breakfast category symbol, a lunch category symbol, a dinner category symbol, and a snack category symbol;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a nutritional rating based at least in part on a combination of nutrient parameters in said first food of said first set of foods;

said nutritional rating being further based upon nutritional rating values ranging from low values, indicating a relatively undesirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to at least one health-related goal, to high values, indicating a relatively desirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to said at least one health-related goal;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of said nutritional rating to said user via said user interface on said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, wherein said nutritional rating is based in part on the protein and fat content of said first food;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a list of said user'"'"'s favorite foods in response to food-related inputs by said user during food selection for said specific user meal; and

an exercise monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode symbol or said second exercise mode symbol, being operable to receive exercise-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be burned by said user upon performing said first exercise, and to store exercise-related information in said storage subsystem relating to said first exercise, including the calories burned by said user and an exercise quantity-related parameter upon said user performing said first exercise, based in part on data from said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to analyze data related to user performance of at least one exercise, and to generate exercise feedback for said user relating to said at least one exercise;

said exercise monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode symbol, being further operable to receive exercise data including user location data via signals received from said GPS receiver, to determine user distance traveled using location data from said GPS receiver, and to track user distance traveled and duration traveled;

said exercise monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode symbol, using said user location data received from said GPS receiver in said hand-held housing, being further operable to generate the current location of a motion-related exercise, and to generate a visual depiction in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to associate each of a set of exercise levels with at least one user-selectable exercise, said user-selectable exercise including an associated exercise parameter combination;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to allow said user to select a user-selectable exercise to be performed from any one of said exercise levels from said storage subsystem;

said set of exercise levels ranging from a low exercise level, linked to an exercise with an associated exercise parameter combination that may be performed by users having a relatively low fitness level, to a first high exercise level, linked to an exercise having an exercise parameter combination requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform;

said set of exercise levels including a second high exercise level, linked to an exercise requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform, where said second high exercise level is at a lower exercise level than said first high exercise level, but at a higher exercise level than other exercise levels in said set of exercise levels, based upon a comparison of exercise parameter combinations associated with exercises of respective exercise levels being compared;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable, to receive said step-related data from said pedometer, to determine the number of steps taken by said user during a step-related exercise, and to calculate the distance traveled during said step-related exercise;

said processing subsystem being operable to generate a prompt for said user to enter an exercise-related goal;

said processing subsystem being further operable to monitor said user'"'"'s weight over time, and being operable to receive user weight data from said user interface and to store said user weight data in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a weight-related display visually depicting a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time on said touch screen display;

said touch screen display being operatively coupled to said processing subsystem to provide feedback to said user relating to progress towards meeting said daily calorie-related goal, to display at least some of said user'"'"'s favorite foods to aid in food data entry by said user, to display said nutritional rating to said user, and to display said protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user; and

being further operatively coupled to display the current location of said motion-related exercise, to display said visual depiction of said motion-related exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data while the user is moving along said path, and to display to said user at least one current exercise parameter during the user'"'"'s performance of an exercise.

2. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, said processing subsystem being further operable to initiate communication of said exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise.

3. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said exercise quantity-related parameter is distance and wherein said processing subsystem is operable to generate and couple to said touch screen display a visual depiction of the current exercise location and the pace of the exercise.

4. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said food monitoring subsystem is operable to receive bar code information that identifies calorie-related information of at least said first food.

5. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, further including a camera, wherein said food monitoring subsystem is operable to receive image data from said camera of a least one food item.

6. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said storage subsystem includes:

a first set of memory locations for storing data identifying said plurality of user-selectable foods, wherein each of said foods is associated with a unique food identifying signal, and for storing a plurality of descriptors associated with at least one of said foods, wherein said plurality of descriptors includes the quantity of each food, said first set of memory locations further operable to store data relating to the calories consumed by said user for each food based in part upon user input; and

a second set of memory locations for storing data identifying said plurality of user-selectable exercises and for storing a plurality of descriptors associated with at least one of said exercises, wherein said plurality of descriptors includes data indicative of distance traveled during at least one motion-related exercise based upon data received from said GPS receiver, said second set of memory locations further operable to store data relating to the calories burned by said user during each exercise.

7. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface includes an audio input device being operable to receive a speech signal from a user, and wherein said storage subsystem includes memory locations being operable to store a set of instructions for performing speech recognition.

8. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said visual depiction in real time indicating the user traversing the path shows an avatar traversing the path.

9. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable to monitor a user'"'"'s exercise by determining the calories burned by said user at least in part based upon the user'"'"'s distance traveled over time, said processing subsystem being operable to store in said storage subsystem said user'"'"'s distance traveled and the calories burned during said exercise.

10. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said user profile data indicative of said user'"'"'s age and height.

11. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said user profile data indicative of a user'"'"'s physical statistics including a user'"'"'s height, and a body frame size-related parameter.

12. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said user profile data indicative of a user'"'"'s heart rate during exercise and to determine a target heart rate based in part on data stored in the user'"'"'s profile.

13. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem further includes a reward generating subsystem being operable to automatically select a reward for said user if a user health-related goal has been met by said user.

14. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to permit a user to input a plurality of diverse exercise-related goals.

15. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said user profile data indicative of at least one food or exercise restriction that is applicable to the user.

16. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said storage subsystem, the identity of a first food and a second food input by said user, and a nutrient descriptor for said first food and said second food.

17. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, further including an audio subsystem enabling a user to listen to music, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to initiate the play of music during said at least one exercise performed by said user.

18. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said user interface displayed on said touch screen display is operable- to display the amount of carbohydrates expected to consumed by said user upon consuming said first food.

19. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem includes a reward generating subsystem that automatically selects a reward for said user based on achievement of at least one goal by said user and communicates said reward to said user via said user interface.

35. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, said processing subsystem being operable to generate, from said body weight and at least one other physical parameter of said user stored in said user profile, a weight-related rating applicable to said user, said weight-related rating being associated with one of a set of color codes, wherein multiple color codes indicate ascending degrees of a user'"'"'s weight-related physical state of health ranging from one color code indicating an unhealthy weight-related physical state to another color code indicating a healthy weight-related physical state.

38. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, said processing subsystem being further operable to access information stored in said user profile and to determine the target pulse rate for said user, to store information indicative of the performance of a current exercise by said user and to dynamically generate a recommendation to the user to increase or decrease the amount of exercise based on the user'"'"'s performance of said current exercise.

41. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, said processing subsystem being further operable for at least one motion-related exercise to associate a first color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a first pace and to associate a second color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a second pace that is faster than said first pace.

42. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 41, wherein said processing subsystem is further operable to generate a communication to encourage the user to move at a faster pace associated with a color code that is different from said first color code.

45. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to monitor the user'"'"'s performance of said at least one exercise, and to associate a predetermined color code with said user'"'"'s performance if the performance exceeds the user'"'"'s prior best performance of said at least one exercise.

46. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 1, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to generate a prompt to said user to enter exercise data.

20. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device having a housing sized to be held in a user'"'"'s hand comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing health information about a user including a user profile, said storage subsystem being operable to store health information about said user including body weight, height, pulse rate information, a calorie-related daily goal, and an exercise-related goal, said storage subsystem being further operable to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable foods and to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable exercises;

a touch screen display operable to display food-related and exercise-related information to said user;

a user interface operable to receive input from said user and to communicate output to said user, said user interface including a plurality of user interface displays displayable on said touch screen display, said user interface being operable to selectively initiate entry into said user profile or a food-related operation or an exercise-related operation, said user interface including a plurality of user-selectable symbols, said user-selectable symbols being operable to initiate entry into a user profile mode of operation or a food-related mode of operation or an exercise-related mode of operation;

a GPS receiver in said housing operable to receive input GPS data;

a pedometer in said housing operable to generate step-related data;

said user interface being operable to display on said touch screen display in said housing;

a food mode symbol, a first exercise mode symbol for initiating an exercise mode that uses position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data, and a second exercise mode symbol for entry of data regarding a plurality of exercise modes that do not use position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data;

a processing subsystem operatively coupled to said user interface, said GPS receiver, said pedometer, said touch screen display, and said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem including;

a food monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable to receive food-related data, via said user interface, including data identifying a first set of foods input by said user, and being operable to link said first set of foods to a specific user meal, said first set of foods including a first food and a quantity-related food parameter identified by said user;

said food monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be consumed by said user upon eating said first food, and to store food-related information in said storage subsystem relating to said first food, including information relating to the nutritional content of said first food and the calories consumed by said user upon eating said first food, based in part on said food-related data from said user;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to accumulate the calories consumed by said user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s food-related inputs, and to display said calories consumed by said user during a given day to said user via said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said food mode symbol, being further operable to generate a food selection display screen identifying a plurality of meal category symbols that allow the user to select a meal category including a breakfast category symbol, a lunch category symbol, a dinner category symbol, and a snack category symbol;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a nutritional rating based at least in part on a combination of nutrient parameters in said first food of said first set of foods;

said nutritional rating being further based upon nutritional rating values ranging from low values, indicating a relatively undesirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to at least one health-related goal, to high values, indicating a relatively desirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to said at least one health-related goal;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of said nutritional rating to said user via said user interface on said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, wherein said nutritional rating is based in part on the protein and fat content of said first food;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a list of said user'"'"'s favorite foods in response to food-related data inputs by said user during food selection for said specific user meal; and

an exercise monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode symbol or said second exercise mode symbol, to receive exercise-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be burned by said user by performing said first exercise; and

to store exercise-related information in said storage subsystem including the calories burned by said user and an exercise-quantity related parameter upon said user performing said first exercise, based in part on data from said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to accumulate the calories burned by the user during at least one day, and to display said calories burned during said at least one day to said user via said touch screen display;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode symbol, to receive exercise-related data including user location data via signals received from said GPS receiver, and to determine user distance traveled using said location data from said GPS receiver;

said exercise monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode symbol, using said user location data received from said GPS receiver in said hand-held housing, being further operable to generate the current location of a motion-related exercise, and to generate a visual depiction of said motion-related exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to associate each of a set of exercise levels with at least one user-selectable exercise, said user-selectable exercise including an associated exercise parameter combination;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to allow said user to select a user-selectable exercise to be performed from any one of said exercise levels from said storage subsystem;

said set of exercise levels ranging from a low exercise level, linked to an exercise with an associated exercise parameter combination that may be performed by users having a relatively low fitness level, to a first high exercise level, linked to an exercise having an exercise parameter combination requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform;

said set of exercise levels including a second high exercise level, linked to an exercise requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform, where said second high exercise level is at a lower exercise level than said first high exercise level, but at a higher exercise level than other exercise levels in said set of exercise levels, based upon a comparison of exercise parameter combinations associated with exercises of respective exercise levels being compared;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable, to receive said step-related data from said pedometer, to determine the number of steps taken by said user during at least one step-related exercise, to calculate the distance traveled during said step-related exercise, and to determine the number of calories burned during said step-related exercise, said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to display real time performance data regarding said step-related exercise to said user, via said touch screen display, including at least an indication of the distance traveled during said step-related exercise;

said processing subsystem being further operable to monitor said user'"'"'s weight over time, and being further operable to receive user weight data, and to store said user weight data in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a weight-related display visually depicting a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time on said touch screen display;

said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a prompt for said user to enter an exercise-related goal;

said touch screen display being operatively coupled to said processing subsystem, while in a food-related mode, to display the calories consumed by the user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s food-related inputs, to display said nutritional rating to said user, to display said protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, and to display at least one of the user'"'"'s favorite foods; and

while in an exercise-related mode, to display the calories burned by the user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s input; and

while in an exercise-related operation, to display a visual depiction of the current location of said motion-related exercise, and to display said visual depiction of the current location of said motion-related exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data while the user is moving along said path;

said touch screen display being further operable to display a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time.

21. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said visual depiction in real time indicating the user traversing the path shows an avatar traversing the path.

22. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to generate a color code indication to said user, via said touch screen display, of progress towards achievement of a calories consumed-related goal.

23. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said food monitoring subsystem is operable to receive bar code information to input calorie-related information of at least said first food.

24. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, further including a camera, wherein said food monitoring subsystem is operable to receive image data from said camera of a least one food item.

25. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said user'"'"'s profile data indicative of a user'"'"'s heart rate during exercise and to determine a target heart rate based in part on the user'"'"'s age stored in the user'"'"'s profile.

26. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to permit a user to input a plurality of diverse exercise-related goals.

36. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, said processing subsystem being operable to generate, from said body weight and at least one other physical parameter of said user stored in said user profile, a weight-related rating applicable to said user, said weight-related rating being associated with one of a set of color codes, wherein multiple color codes indicate ascending degrees of a user'"'"'s weight-related physical state of health ranging from one color code indicating an unhealthy weight-related physical state to another color code indicating a healthy weight-related physical state.

39. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, said processing subsystem being further operable to access information stored in said user profile and to determine the target pulse rate for said user, to store information indicative of the performance of a current exercise by said user and to dynamically generate a recommendation to the user to increase or decrease the amount of exercise based on the user'"'"'s performance of said current exercise.

43. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, said processing subsystem being further operable for at least one motion-related exercise to associate a first color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a first pace and to associate a second color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a second pace that is faster than said first pace.

47. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to monitor the user'"'"'s performance of said first exercise and to associate a predetermined color code with said user'"'"'s performance if the performance exceeds the user'"'"'s prior best performance of said first exercise.

48. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to generate a prompt to said user to enter exercise data.

52. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 20, wherein said exercise monitoring subsystem is operable to analyze data related to the user'"'"'s performance of at least one current exercise, and to generate exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise, based at least in part on said pulse rate information stored in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to initiate communication of said exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise, based at least in part on said stored pulse rate information.

27. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device having a housing sized to be held in a user'"'"'s hand comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing health information about a user including a user'"'"'s profile, said storage subsystem being operable to store health information about said user including body weight, height, pulse rate, a calorie-related daily goal, and an exercise-related goal, said storage subsystem being further operable to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable foods and to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable exercises;

a touch screen display operable to display food-related and exercise-related information to said user;

a user interface operable to receive input from said user and to communicate output to said user, said user interface including a plurality of user interface displays displayable on said touch screen display;

said user interface being operable to selectively initiate entry into said user profile or a food-related operation or an exercise-related operation, said user interface including a plurality of icons selectable by said user including an icon operable to initiate entry into a user profile mode of operation, at least one food-related icon operable to initiate entry into a food-related mode of operation, and a plurality of exercise-related icons operable to initiate entry into a plurality of exercise-related modes of operation;

a GPS receiver in said housing operable to receive input GPS data;

a pedometer in said housing operable to generate step-related data;

said user interface being operable to display on said touch screen display in said housing;

a food mode icon, a first exercise mode icon for initiating an exercise mode that uses position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data, and a second exercise mode icon for entry of data regarding a plurality of exercise modes that do not use position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data;

a processing subsystem operatively coupled to said user interface, said GPS receiver, said pedometer, said touch screen display, and said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem including;

a food monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable to receive food-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first set of foods input by said user, and being operable to link said first set of foods to a specific user meal, said first set of foods including a first food identified by said user and a quantity-related food parameter;

said food monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be consumed by said user upon eating said first food, and to store food-related information in said storage subsystem relating to said first food, including information relating to the nutritional content of said first food and the calories consumed by said user upon eating said first food, based in part on said food-related input from said user;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to accumulate the calories consumed by said user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s food-related inputs and to display said calories consumed by said user on said given day via said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said food mode icon, being further operable to generate a food selection display screen identifying a plurality of meal category symbols that allow the user to select a meal category including a breakfast category symbol, a lunch category symbol, a dinner category symbol, and a snack category symbol;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a nutritional rating based at least in part on a combination of nutrient parameters in said first food of said first set of foods;

said nutritional rating being further based upon nutritional rating values ranging from low values, indicating a relatively undesirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to at least one health-related goal, to high values, indicating a relatively desirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to said at least one health-related goal;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of said nutritional rating to said user via said user interface on said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, wherein said nutritional rating is based in part on the protein and fat content of said first food;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a list of said user'"'"'s favorite foods in response to food-related inputs from said user interface, and

an exercise monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon or said second exercise mode icon, to receive exercise-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be burned by said user by performing said first exercise; and

to store exercise-related information in said storage subsystem, including the calories burned by said user and an exercise-quantity related parameter, upon said user performing said first exercise, based in part on data from said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to accumulate the calories burned by the user during at least a given day, and to display said calories burned to said user via said touch screen display;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon, to receive exercise-related data including user location data via signals from received from said GPS receiver, and to determine user distance traveled using said location data from said GPS receiver;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable to track distance traveled and duration traveled;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon, to generate, via said touch screen display, a visual depiction of the current location of at least one current exercise and an exercise parameter relating to the user'"'"'s performance of said current exercise;

said exercise monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon, using said user location data received from said GPS receiver in said hand-held housing, being further operable to generate a visual depiction of a motion-related exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to associate each of a set of exercise levels with at least one user-selectable exercise, said user-selectable exercise including an associated exercise parameter combination;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to allow said user to select a user-selectable exercise to be performed from any one of said exercise levels from said storage subsystem;

said set of exercise levels ranging from a low exercise level, linked to an exercise with an associated exercise parameter combination that may be performed by users having a relatively low fitness level, to a first high exercise level, linked to an exercise having an exercise parameter combination requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform;

said set of exercise levels including a second high exercise level, linked to an exercise requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform, where said second high exercise level is at a lower exercise level than said first high exercise level, but at a higher exercise level than other exercise levels in said set of exercise levels, based upon a comparison of exercise parameter combinations associated with exercises of respective exercise levels being compared;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable, to receive said step-related data from said pedometer, to determine the number of steps taken by said user during at least one step-related exercise, to calculate the distance traveled during said step-related exercise and to determine the number of calories burned during said step-related exercise, said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to display real-time performance data regarding said step-related exercise to said user, via said touch screen display, including at least the distance traveled during said step-related exercise;

said processing subsystem being operable to generate a prompt for said user to enter an exercise-related goal for storage in said storage subsystem;

said processing subsystem being further operable to monitor said user'"'"'s weight over time, being operable to receive user weight data and to store said user weight data in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a user'"'"'s weight-related display visually depicting a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time on said touch screen display;

said touch screen display being operatively coupled to said processing subsystem, while in a food-related mode, to display the calories consumed by the user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s food-related inputs, to display said nutritional rating to said user, to display said protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, and to display a plurality of the user'"'"'s favorite foods; and

while in an exercise-related mode, to display the calories burned by the user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s input; and

while in an exercise-related operation, to display a visual depiction of the current location of said motion-related exercise, and to display said visual depiction of said current location of said motion-related exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data while the user is moving along said path;

said touch screen display being further operable to display a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time.

28. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein at least one high exercise level is associated with an exercise of running multiple miles at a pace requiring a relatively high fitness level.

29. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said visual depiction in real time indicating the user traversing the path shows an avatar traversing the path.

30. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said exercise quantity-related parameter is distance and wherein said processing subsystem is operable to simultaneously visually depict, via said touch screen display, both the current exercise location and the pace of the exercise.

31. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said food monitoring subsystem is operable to receive bar code information to input calorie-related information of at least said first food.

32. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, further including a camera, wherein said food monitoring subsystem is operable to receive image data from said camera of a least one food item.

33. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to store in said user'"'"'s profile data indicative of a user'"'"'s heart rate during exercise, and to determine a target heart rate based in part on the user'"'"'s age stored in the user'"'"'s profile.

34. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to permit a user to input a plurality of diverse exercise-related goals.

37. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, said processing subsystem being operable to generate, from said body weight and at least one other physical parameter of said user stored in said user profile, a weight-related rating applicable to said user, said weight-related rating being associated with one of a set of color codes, wherein multiple color codes indicate ascending degrees of a user'"'"'s weight-related physical state of health ranging from one color code indicating an unhealthy weight-related physical state to another color code indicating a healthy weight-related physical state.

40. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, said processing subsystem being further operable to access information stored in said user profile and to determine the target pulse rate for said user, to store information indicative of the performance of a current exercise by said user, and to dynamically generate a recommendation to the user to increase or decrease the amount of exercise based on the user'"'"'s performance of said current exercise.

44. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, said processing subsystem being further operable for at least one motion-related exercise to associate a first color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a first pace and to associate a second color code with said user'"'"'s performance if it is at a second pace that is faster than said first pace.

49. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to monitor the user'"'"'s performance of said first exercise, and to associate a predetermined color code with said user'"'"'s performance if the performance exceeds the user'"'"'s prior best performance of first exercise.

50. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said processing subsystem is operable to generate a prompt to said user to enter exercise data.

51. A mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said processing subsystem further includes a reward generating subsystem operable to automatically select digital entertainment content to be downloaded to said mobile computing device based on user goal achievement.

53. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 27, wherein said exercise monitoring subsystem is operable to analyze data related to the user'"'"'s performance of at least one current exercise, and to generate exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise, based at least in part on said pulse rate information stored in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to initiate communication of said exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise, based at least in part on said stored pulse rate information.

54. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device including a housing comprising:

a storage subsystem for storing health information about a user including a user'"'"'s profile, said storage subsystem being operable to store health information about said user including body weight, height, pulse rate, a calorie-related daily goal, and an exercise-related goal, said storage subsystem being further operable to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable foods and to store data relating to a plurality of user-selectable exercises;

a touch screen display operable to display food-related and exercise-related information to said user;

a user interface operable to receive input from said user and to communicate output to said user, said user interface including a plurality of user interface displays displayable on said touch screen display, said user interface being operable to selectively initiate entry into said user profile or a food-related operation or an exercise-related operation, said user interface including a plurality of icons selectable by said user including an icon operable to initiate entry into a user profile mode of operation, at least one food-related icon operable to initiate entry into a food-related mode of operation, and a plurality of exercise-related icons operable to initiate entry into a plurality of exercise-related modes of operation;

a GPS receiver in said housing operable to receive input GPS data;

a pedometer in said housing operable to generate step-related data;

said user interface being operable to display on said touch screen display in said housing;

a food mode icon, a first exercise mode icon for initiating an exercise mode that uses position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data, and a second exercise mode icon for entry of data regarding a plurality of exercise modes that do not use position coordinate information based upon said input GPS data;

a processing subsystem operatively coupled to said user interface, said GPS receiver, said pedometer, said touch screen display, and said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem including;

a food monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable to receive food-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first set of foods input by said user, and being operable to link said first set of foods to a specific user meal, said first set of foods including a first food identified by said user and a quantity-related food parameter;

said food monitoring subsystem being operable to determine the calories expected to be consumed by said user upon eating said first food, and to store food-related information in said storage subsystem relating to said first food, including information relating to the nutritional content of said first food and the calories consumed by said user upon eating said first food, based in part on said food-related input from said user;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to accumulate the calories consumed by said user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s food-related inputs and to display said calories consumed by said user on said given day via said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said food mode icon, being further operable to generate a food selection display screen identifying a plurality of meal category symbols that allow the user to select a meal category including a breakfast category symbol, a lunch category symbol, a dinner category symbol, and a snack category symbol;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a nutritional rating based at least in part on a combination of nutrient parameters in said first food of said first set of foods;

said nutritional rating being further based upon nutritional rating values ranging from low values, indicating a relatively undesirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to at least one health-related goal, to high values, indicating a relatively desirable combination of nutrient parameters, with respect to said at least one health-related goal;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of said nutritional rating to said user via said user interface on said touch screen display;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a display of protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, wherein said nutritional rating is based in part on the protein and fat content of said first food;

said food monitoring subsystem being further operable to generate a list of said user'"'"'s favorite foods in response to food-related inputs from said user interface, and

an exercise monitoring subsystem being operatively coupled to said storage subsystem and being operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon or said second exercise mode icon, to receive exercise-related data from said user, via said user interface, including data identifying a first exercise expected to be performed by said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to determine the calories expected to be burned by said user by performing said first exercise; and

to store exercise-related information in said storage subsystem, including the calories burned by said user and an exercise-quantity related parameter, upon said user performing said first exercise, based in part on data from said user;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to accumulate the calories burned by the user during at least a given day, and to display said calories burned to said user via said touch screen display;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon, to receive exercise data including user location data via signals from received from said GPS receiver, and to determine user distance traveled using said location data from said GPS receiver;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable to track user distance traveled and duration traveled;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon, to generate, via said touch screen display, a visual depiction of the current location of a current exercise and an exercise parameter relating to the user'"'"'s performance of said current exercise;

said exercise monitoring subsystem, in response to user selection of said first exercise mode icon, using said user location data received from said GPS receiver in said hand-held housing, being further operable to generate a visual depiction of the current location of said current exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being operable, to receive said step-related data from said pedometer, to determine the number of steps taken by said user during at least one step-related exercise, to calculate the distance traveled during said step-related exercise and to determine the number of calories burned during said step-related exercise;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to display real-time performance data regarding said step-related exercise to said user, via said touch screen display, including at least the distance traveled during said step-related exercise;

said processing subsystem being further operable to store information indicative of the performance of a current exercise by said user and to dynamically generate a recommendation to the user to increase or decrease the amount of exercise based on the user'"'"'s performance of said current exercise;

said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a plurality of prompts for said user to enter a plurality of diverse exercise-related goals for storage in said storage subsystem;

said processing subsystem being further operable to monitor said user'"'"'s weight over time, being operable to receive user weight data and to store said user weight data in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a user'"'"'s weight-related display visually depicting a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time on said touch screen display;

said processing subsystem being further operable for a motion-related exercise to associate a first color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a first pace and to associate a second color code with said user'"'"'s performance if said user'"'"'s performance is at a second pace that is faster than said first pace;

said processing subsystem being further operable to monitor the user'"'"'s performance of at least one exercise and to notify said user, if said user'"'"'s performance exceeds the user'"'"'s prior best performance of said at least one exercise;

said processing subsystem being further operable to generate a prompt to said user to enter exercise data;

said touch screen display being operatively coupled to said processing subsystem, while in a food-related mode, to display the calories consumed by the user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s food-related inputs, to display said nutritional rating to said user, to display said protein and fat content of at least said first food selected by said user, and to display a plurality of the user'"'"'s favorite foods; and

while in an exercise-related mode, to display the calories burned by the user during a given day based in part on the user'"'"'s input; and

while in an exercise-related operation, to display a visual depiction of the current location of said current exercise, to display said visual depiction of the current location of said current exercise in real time indicating the user traversing the path defined by said user location data while the user is moving along said path, and to display an exercise parameter;

said touch screen display being further operable to display a plurality of instances of said user'"'"'s weight over time; and

being further operable to display at least one user performance-related color code.

55. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 54, wherein said exercise monitoring subsystem is operable to analyze data related to the user'"'"'s performance of at least one current exercise, and to generate exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise, based at least in part on said pulse rate information stored in said storage subsystem, said processing subsystem being further operable to initiate communication of said exercise feedback to said user to change the level of exercise, based at least in part on said stored pulse rate information.

56. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 54, wherein said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to associate each of a set of exercise levels with at least one user-selectable exercise, said user-selectable exercise including an associated exercise parameter combination;

said exercise monitoring subsystem being further operable to allow said user to select said user-selectable exercise to be performed from any one of said exercise levels from said storage subsystem;

said set of exercise levels ranging from a low exercise level, linked to an exercise with an associated exercise parameter combination that may be performed by users having a relatively low fitness level, to a first high exercise level, linked to an exercise having an exercise parameter combination requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform;

said set of exercise levels including a second high exercise level, linked to an exercise requiring a relatively high fitness level to perform, where said second high exercise level is at a lower exercise level than said first high exercise level, but at a higher exercise level than other exercise levels in said set of exercise levels, based upon a comparison of exercise parameter combinations associated with exercises of respective exercise levels being compared.

57. A hand-held mobile weight and exercise management computing device according to claim 54, wherein said visual depiction in real time indicating the user traversing the path shows an avatar traversing the path.