US20110247638A1

US20110247638A1 - Smoking cessation and weight management method and kit

Info

Publication number: US20110247638A1
Application number: US12/755,544
Authority: US
Inventors: Theresa Ayala
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-07
Filing date: 2010-04-07
Publication date: 2011-10-13

Abstract

A cessation and management method comprising removing a physical aspect, wherein removing the physical aspect includes instructing a user to manipulate a delivery time of a substance, and instructing the user to control a consumption amount of the substance, correcting a behavioral association, wherein correcting the behavioral associations includes instructing the user to determine a personal goal and fixing it to a medium, facilitating the user to reprogram thoughts and activities, and facilitating the user to replace an old negative behavior with a new positive behavior, and providing a plurality of life cards to assist the removal of the physical aspect and the correction of the behavioral associations. Furthermore, an associated smoking cessation kit and weight management kit is also provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for smoking cessation and weight management, and more specifically to controlling both the physical aspect of an addiction and the behavioral aspect of smoking cessation and weight management.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cigarette addiction and obesity pose a significant health risk to many people. Smoking cigarettes can lead to lung cancer, emphysema, throat cancer, and many other illnesses. Two main drivers behind cigarette addiction are physical addiction and behavioral association of daily activities with the act of smoking a cigarette, which impacts everyday life. Quitting smoking is difficult, especially in view of the tight control over the human body and its subconscious. Similarly, obesity can lead to heart complications, diabetes, stroke, and many other illnesses. Two main drivers behind obesity are lack of physical activity and behavioral associations with sedentary and other behavior. Managing weight can also be difficult considering that overeating accentuates such sedentary behavior such as watching television, consuming alcohol, and relaxing.
Hence, a need exists for a smoking cessation and weight management system and method to successfully quit smoking and manage weight to avoid known health risks associated with cigarette addiction and obesity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first general aspect of the invention provides a cessation and management method comprising removing a physical aspect of an addiction, wherein removing the physical aspect of an addiction includes instructing a user to manipulate a delivery time of a substance, and instructing the user to control a consumption amount of the substance, correcting a behavioral association, wherein correcting the behavioral associations includes instructing the user to determine a personal goal and fixing it to a medium, facilitating the user to reprogram thoughts and activities, and facilitating the user to replace an old negative behavior with a new positive behavior, and providing a plurality of life cards to assist the removal of the physical aspect and the correction of the behavioral associations.
A second general aspect of the invention provides a smoking cessation method comprising instructing a user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette, instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each of the fixed intervals of time rather than in response to a lower nicotine level in a bloodstream, providing a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support in between smoking another cigarette at a next interval time, and providing a media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue.
A third general aspect of the invention provides a weight management method comprising instructing a user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium, instructing the user to calculate a body mass index to determine a target caloric intake, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between consuming food, instructing the user to consume the food at each of the fixed intervals of time, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake, providing a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support to the user in between consuming more food at a next interval time, and providing at least one media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue.
A fourth general aspect of the invention provides a method comprising receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system from a user interface, a first input data, wherein the first input data is a personal goal chosen by a user, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a second input data, wherein the second input data includes a fixed interval of time determined by the user, transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a real-time notification indicating an occurrence of the second input data, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a confirmation of an occurrence of an event, wherein the event is the user smoking a cigarette, presenting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a plurality of life cards, wherein the plurality of life cards support the user in between the user smoking another cigarette, and transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface in response to a request from the user interface, at least one audio/visual file, wherein the at least one audio/visual file, when played, quiets an internal dialogue of the user.
A fifth general aspect of the invention provides a method comprising receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system from a user interface, a first input data, wherein the first input data is a personal goal chosen by a user, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a second input data, wherein the second input data includes a fixed interval of time determined by the user, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a third input data, wherein the third input data is a target caloric intake of the user, transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a real-time notification indicating an occurrence of the second input data, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a confirmation of an occurrence of an event, wherein the event is the user consuming food at the fixed interval of time, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, further wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a target caloric intake, presenting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a plurality of life cards, wherein the plurality of life cards support the user in between the user consuming more food, and transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface in response to a request from the user interface, at least one audio/visual file, wherein the at least one audio/visual file, when played, quiets an internal dialogue of the user.
A sixth general aspect of the invention provides a kit comprising a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support to a user, at least one media component, a set of instructions, wherein the instructions include instructing the user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette, instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each of the fixed intervals of time rather than in response to a lower nicotine level in a bloodstream, and at least one publication, the at least one publication including a plurality of personal success stories about quitting smoking.
A seventh general aspect of the invention includes a kit comprising a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support to a user, at least one media component, a set of instructions, wherein the instructions include instructing the user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium, instructing the user to calculate a body mass index to determine a target caloric intake, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between consuming food, instructing the user to consume the food at each of the fixed intervals of time, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake, and at least one publication, the publication including a plurality of personal success stories about managing and losing weight.
The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of the invention will be more readily understood and fully appreciated from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a cessation and management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a first step of a cessation and management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a second step of a cessation and management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of multiple embodiments of life cards, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a smoking cessation method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a weight management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a system that is used with a computer-implemented smoking cessation method and a computer-implemented weight management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a computer-implemented smoking cessation method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 depicts a flowchart of embodiments of a computer-implemented weight management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of a computer apparatus used with a computer-implemented smoking cessation method and a computer-implemented weight management method, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a smoking cessation kit, in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a weight management kit, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention.
As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a cessation and management method 100. The cessation and management method 100 may include removing a physical aspect of an addiction 10, correcting a behavioral association 20, and providing a plurality of life cards 55 to assist and/or support the removal of the physical aspect of an addiction 10 and the correction of the behavioral associations 20.
FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of removing a physical aspect 10. Removing a physical aspect of an addiction 10 may include manipulating a delivery time of a substance 30. In one embodiment, manipulating the delivery time of the substance 30 may involve segmenting the delivery time of nicotine to a body 31. In another embodiment, manipulating the delivery time of the substance 30 involves segmenting the delivery time of food to a body 32. Removing a physical aspect of an addiction 10 may also include controlling a consumption amount of a substance 40. In one embodiment, controlling a consumption amount of a substance 40 may involve biochemically adjusting the body to lower nicotine levels by smoking a cigarette at fixed segments 41 without sending a signal to the brain, indicating the absence of nicotine 43. In another embodiment, controlling a consumption amount of a substance 40 may involve consuming a number of calories proportionate to a fixed segment 42, wherein the total number of calories consumed is below a daily limit 44.
Removing a physical aspect of an addiction 10 can be an important step to a cessation method, such as quitting smoking. When smoking a cigarette, nicotine levels in the body quickly rise and then fall after the cigarette is smoked. As the nicotine levels fall to a certain level in the body, messages are sent to the brain indicating an imbalance. The brain/body interprets the messages sent to the brain indicating a low level of nicotine in the bloodstream as a need to increase the nicotine level in the bloodstream (i.e. smoke a cigarette). The brain telling the body to smoke another cigarette to raise and maintain a certain level of nicotine in the bloodstream can be a physical addiction. The physical addiction to nicotine, as found in most cigarettes, is an example of a physical aspect of an addiction that can be removed in accordance with a cessation method. Moreover, removing a physical aspect of an addiction 10 can be an important step of a management method, such as weight management, or losing weight. Lack of physical activity can lead to obesity and other health problems. Thus, physical activity is a cornerstone to a healthy body and managing and/or losing weight. Physical activity may be anything involving the use of the body's muscles, such as, walking, running, exercising, cycling, playing outside, and the like. Physical activity can burn calories and keep the body lean. Lack of physical activity is an example of a physical aspect of an addiction that can be removed in a management method, such as managing and/or losing weight.
FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of correcting a behavioral association 20. Correcting a behavioral association 20 may include determining a personal goal and fixing it to a tangible medium 50, reprogramming thoughts and activities 60, and replacing an old negative behavior with a new positive behavior 70. For example, correcting a behavioral association 20 can be an important step in a cessation method, such as quitting smoking. As a person learns to be a smoker, they quickly learn that smoking compliments, or accentuates, certain, common behaviors like having a cup of coffee, consuming an alcoholic beverage, talking on the phone, driving a car, ending a meal, etc. As the person smokes over a period of time, the person associates common behaviors, such as driving a car, drinking coffee, etc., with smoking a cigarette. Once a common activity becomes associated with smoking a cigarette, it becomes difficult or strange to engage in that activity without simultaneously smoking a cigarette. In other words, the body's mind has been behaviorally programmed to smoke a cigarette when engaging in certain routine daily tasks and common activities. Correcting a behavioral association 20 may include reprogramming thoughts and activities 60, such that daily tasks and common activities may be accomplished without smoking a cigarette. Moreover, smoking cigarettes can be designated as an old negative behavior that may be replaced with a new positive behavior, such as walking or exercising. Thus, correcting a behavioral association 20 can be correcting a behavioral association between smoking cigarettes and common, daily activities.
Furthermore, correcting a behavioral association 20 can be an important step in a management method, such as managing and/or losing weight. As a person learns to overeat, they also learn that eating, or consuming a meal, compliments and/or accentuates certain activities, such as watching television, relaxing, socializing, consuming alcohol, preparing for sleep, etc. In addition, people may associate food consumption with feeling better, and may consume more than a healthy amount of food to alleviate stress, anger, sadness, etc. As a person overeats over a period of time, the person associates behaviors, such as sleep preparation, watching television, feeling better etc., with consuming a meal. Once an activity becomes associated with consuming food, it becomes difficult or strange to engage in that activity without simultaneously consuming food. In other words, the body's mind has been programmed to consume food when accomplishing or partaking in these activities. Correcting a behavioral association 20 may include reprogramming thoughts and activities 30, such that activities may be accomplished without consuming a meal. Moreover, overeating can be designated as an old negative behavior that may be replaced with a new positive behavior, such as walking or exercising. Thus, correcting a behavioral association 20 can be correcting a behavioral association between consuming food and engaging in common activities.
With reference to FIG. 4, a cessation and management method 100 may include providing a plurality of life cards 55 to assist and/or support the removal of the physical aspect of an addiction 10 and the correction of the behavioral associations 20. Life cards 56 may be a collection of purposeful writing, embodied by tangible cards (e.g. hard copies) or electronic deliverables (e.g. e-mail, real-time notification, word processing document, short message service (SMS) message, manufacturing message specification (MMS), text message, etc.) displayed by or sent to a computer, smart phone, wireless device, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless reading device, email address, social networking site, and the like. The life cards 56 may include a single word, a collection of words, or images that may challenge the reader (e.g. user or participant in cessation and management method 100) to consider their life direction, enrich experiences, forget about bad experiences, engage in physical activity, think, leave their comfort zone, etc. Furthermore, life cards 56 may make the reader laugh, cry, sweat, share, experience pain, experience joy, change attitudes, and the like. For example, the collection of purposeful writing on the life cards 56 may include famous quotes, proverbs, inspirational language, names, emotions, values, virtues, holidays, observations, states of mind, activities, historical events, religious themes, scripture quotes, biblical events, commands, questions, foods, diet plans, words of encouragement, personalized stories, celebrities, words of wisdom, or any word or words that may facilitate or provoke the reader to contemplate something other than intaking a substance, such as smoking a cigarette or eating food, until a designated time. The designated times may be segmented by fixed intervals chosen or determined by a user, and the life cards 56 provide support to a user in between consumption of a substance at the fixed interval of time. Moreover, the life cards 56 may be a tangible item such as cards, calendars, badges, dockets, schedules, sheets, programs, handbills, leaflets, or electronic versions thereof. Life cards 56 may also be referred to as support cards, cards, life messages, support messages, message cards, messages, stress relief cards, relief cards, topic cards, nutrition cards, cessation cards, management cards, activity cards, and the like. Additionally, the life cards 56 may include a variety of classifications and/or topics, such as meditation cards, nutrition cards, physical activity cards, thinking cards, and other topics relating to inspiration and motivation.
Referring still to the drawings, FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of a smoking cessation method 200. Smoking cessation method 200 may include the steps of instructing a user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium 210, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette 220, instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each fixed interval of time 230 rather than in response to a lower nicotine level in a bloodstream, providing a plurality of life cards 240, wherein the life cards provide support in between smoking another cigarette at a next interval time, and providing a media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue 250. A user may be any person following the steps of smoking cessation method 200. The user is typically a habitual or social smoker who desires to cease smoking cigarettes.
Embodiments of smoking cessation method 200 may include instructing a user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium 210. In other words, the user should determine, select, choose, decide on, aim for, etc., a point in the future where they will quit smoking. A personal goal should set a specific quit date, for example, 30 days from commencing the smoking cessation method 200. If the personal goal is not accomplished, and the quit date passes, the user should be instructed to determine another, new personal goal and fix it into a medium. Moreover, fixing the personal goal in a medium may include fixing the personal goal to a tangible medium, including an electronic medium. In one embodiment, fixing the personal goal to a medium may include writing down the personal goal on paper, in a notebook, diary, calendar, dry erase board, or any tangible item that can be referenced or used as a reminder to the user. In other embodiments, the medium may be digital memory of a computer, smart phone, PDA, wireless device, etc., using a word processing document, an email, or any electronic means to fix the personal goal to an electronic medium to provide a reference or reminder to the user. Before choosing the personal goal, the user should think about the reasons they want to quit. The user may brainstorm and write down all of the reasons they desire to quit smoking to clarify to themselves why the personal goal is important to accomplish.
Furthermore, smoking cessation method 200 may include the step of instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette 220. The user should be instructed to determine, select, choose, etc., a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette that best suits the user's schedule, and other factors. For example, the user may determine a fixed interval of one or two hours in between smoking a cigarette. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the fixed interval could be more than one hour, less than one hour, or any reasonable amount of time. Additionally, the user should be instructed to chose, pick, determine, etc., a smoke time 225. The smoke time may be a time during the interval hour, such as 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 minutes after the hour separated or segmented by the fixed interval wherein the user smokes a cigarette. Heavier smokers, such as those who smoke two packs per day, may choose two smoke times per hour, with the intention of tapering down to one smoke time per hour. Lighter smokers, such as a half a pack per day, may consider extending their fixed interval. For instance, if the user selects a fixed interval of one hour, chooses 10 minutes after the hour, and begins the day at 8:00 AM, the user's smoke time would be 8:10 AM . . . 9:10 AM . . . 10:10 AM . . . 11:10 AM . . . until the day is over, usually when the user falls asleep.
Another step in one embodiment of smoking cessation method 200 may include instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each of the fixed intervals of time 230. The user should smoke a single cigarette at the chosen smoke time, at each of the fixed intervals of time. Smoking the cigarette at a fixed interval of time rather than in response to a lower nicotine level helps to remove and/or control the physical addiction to nicotine. Normally, habitual smokers smoke a cigarette when performing common activities that they have behaviorally associated with smoking a cigarette or based on messages are sent to the brain indicating a low level of nicotine in the bloodstream. By smoking a cigarette at a fixed interval of time, or at a smoke time, the user may remove the physical addiction to smoking cigarettes by not responding to physical urges due to low levels of nicotine in the bloodstream. In addition, by smoking a cigarette at a fixed interval of time, or at a smoke time, and not while accomplishing or performing common activities associated with smoking a cigarette, the user may correct and/or break the behavioral associations between smoking a cigarette and those common activities.
In another embodiment, the user may be instructed to smoke or not smoke a cigarette via a phone coaching system and method. For example, the user may be contacted on or around their scheduled smoke time to urge, support, etc., compliance with the smoking cessation method 200. The user may receive a phone call, text message, email, smart phone notification, and the like, at or around their smoke time.
Further embodiments of a smoking cessation method 200 may include providing a plurality of life cards 240, wherein the life cards 56 provide support to the user in between smoking another cigarette at a next interval time, or smoke time. Life cards 56, as described supra, help the user get through the time until the next cigarette.
The provided life cards 256 may include a multitude of topics, and may be organized into a plurality of sets 256 n, each set corresponding to a time period associated with the smoking cessation method 200. For example, a first set of life cards may correspond to the first week a user is following the steps of the smoking cessation method 200, and a second set of life cards may correspond to a second week. In another embodiment, a third set of life cards may correspond to the third month into the smoking cessation method 200. Moreover, the life cards 256 may be provided by or made available over a network, such as an online website.
Moreover, embodiments of smoking cessation method 200 may include providing at least one media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue 250. A media component may a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), Blu-Ray® Disc, a digital audio encoding format (mp3), a video file format, such as AWV, an audio file format, such as a WAV, or any other audio, visual, or audio/visual file. The media component may contain music, lyrics, images, videos, spoken words, narration, speeches, animal sounds, environmental sounds, soothing noise, or anything that may facilitate a user to slow down his or her heart rate, control their breathing, reach a level of comfortability and/or relaxation, etc. In one embodiment, the media components of the smoking cessation method 200 may include a relaxation CD to facilitate the relaxation of the user, and a DVD which may contain audio/visual information, marketing strategy, inspirational stories, links, resources, and the like. The media component player, such as a DVD or Blu-Ray® disc player, used to operate the media component may have wireless network capabilities to connect the user to a network to access additional content via the World Wide Web, wherein the content may include interactive support groups, online database(s), or any other material related to smoking cessation method 200. Moreover, the media component may be configured to facilitate a user quieting an internal dialogue, which prevents many others from quitting smoking. The internal dialogue may be a stream of thoughts running through the subconscious and conscious of a user, reminding them of the pros and cons of quitting smoking, the constant obstacles they face, or other aspects of life that increase stress levels. The internal dialogue may get in the way of true commitment and self realization. By teaching or facilitating the user how to quiet their internal dialogue, a user may learn techniques to fend off cravings, feel a true sense of self, begin to tap into the power that they naturally possess, begin to let go of the past, feel the connection to their natural state of health, allowing a re-connection to their true self that is not attached to roles and cannot be damaged by insult or criticism. Therefore, providing a media component to facilitate an internal dialogue 250 may involve a change not only in the psyche of a user, but changes and transformations in their blood pressure, breathing rate, cardiovascular health, nicotine levels in their bloodstream, and many changes to other physical aspects and/or conditions of their body.
In another embodiment, a plurality of meditation cards, sharing the same properties, qualities, and characteristics of life cards, may be used to facilitate the quieting of an internal dialogue. For example, the user may refer to the meditation cards that may prompt them or allow them to meditate, thus quieting their internal dialogue. Meditation cards may be used either independent of a media components, or in conjunction with the media component.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a weight management method 300 may include the steps of instructing a user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium 310, instructing the user to calculate a body mass index to determine a target caloric intake 320, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between consuming food 330, instructing the user to consume food at each of the fixed intervals of time 340, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake, providing a plurality of life cards 350, wherein the life cards provide support to the user in between consuming another meal at a next interval time, and providing a media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue 360. A user may be any person following the steps of weight management method 300. The user is typically a person who desires to manage their weight, or desires to lose weight. Weight in embodiments of weight management method 300 refers to a unit of mass, usually defining the heaviness of a person, and typically measured in pounds (lbs), kilograms (kgs), stones (st), ounces (oz), and the like.
Embodiments of weight management method 300 may include the step of instructing a user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium 310. In other words, the user should determine, select, choose, decide on, aim for, etc., a total amount of weight lost by a certain date in the future. In other embodiments, a user may be instructed to determine an ideal weight to be achieved by a certain date in the future. A personal goal should set a specific date and a specific amount lost or specific ideal weight, for example, the user may write down that, “30 days from commencing the weight management method 300, I will have lost 10 pounds.” If the personal goal is not accomplished, and the date passes without losing the weight, or reaching the ideal weight, the user should be instructed to determine another, new personal goal and fix it into a medium. Moreover, fixing the personal goal in a medium may include fixing the personal goal to a tangible medium or electronic medium. In one embodiment, fixing the personal goal to a medium may include writing down the personal goal on paper, in a notebook, diary, calendar, dry erase board, or any tangible item that can be referenced or used as a reminder to the user. In other embodiments, the medium may be a computer, smart phone, PDA, wireless device, etc., using a word processing document, an email, or any electronic means to fix the personal goal to an electronic medium to provide a reference or reminder to the user. Before choosing the personal goal, the user should think about the reasons they want to lose weight. The user may brainstorm and write down all of the reasons they desire to lose weight to clarify to themselves why the personal goal is important to accomplish.
Furthermore, embodiments of a weight management method 300 may include instructing the user to calculate a body mass index to determine a daily caloric intake 320. Body mass index (BMI) is a statistical measure of a person's weight and height. For example, a body mass index may be used to estimate a healthy body weight for a person's height. Body mass index may be calculated by applying the formula of
$B M I = \frac{weight (lb) \times 703}{{height (in)}^{2}}$
Those skilled in the art should appreciate that other methods to calculate a body mass index may be used. The body mass index is a numerical value that can be classified into categories, such as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. Once the body mass index is determined, the body mass index may be used to determine a daily caloric intake. In addition to the body mass index, other factors should be considered to determine a daily caloric intake, such as the amount of physical activity per week can factor into determining a daily caloric intake, gender, and age. The daily caloric intake can be a total amount of allowable calories per day to maintain a current weight. For example, a female, age 47, weighing 170 pounds, having a body mass index of 29.2, with an activity level of 20-30 minutes of light activity 1-3 times per week, may have a daily caloric intake of 2210 calories per day. Thus, the female in the above example may consume 2210 calories per day to maintain her current weight. To lose weight, she must consume fewer calories in a day than her daily caloric intake of 2210 calories.
Referring still to FIG. 6, embodiments of a weight management method 300 may include the step of instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between consuming food 330. The user should be instructed to determine, select, choose, etc., a fixed interval of time in between consuming food that best suits the user's schedule, and other factors, such as the amount of targeted weight loss. For example, the user may determine a fixed interval of one or two hours in between consuming food. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the fixed interval could be more than one hour, less than one hour, or any reasonable amount of time. Additionally, the user should be instructed to chose, pick, determine, etc., a meal time 325. The meal time may be a time during the interval hour, such as 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 minutes after the hour separated or segmented by the fixed interval wherein the user consumes food having a caloric amount proportionate to a target caloric intake. The target caloric intake is the number of calories that may be consumed in a day to lose weight; the user may be instructed to determine a target caloric intake based on how much weigh they would like to lose, and the rate with which they wish to lose the weight. The target caloric intake should be lower than the daily caloric intake. Furthermore, the target caloric intake should be divided by the amount of meals per day the user consumes 335. Most users should be instructed to consume at least six meals per day. Therefore, if the user selects a fixed interval of two hours, chooses 10 minutes after the hour, decides to consume 6 meals a day, and begins the day at 8:00 AM, the user's meal time 325 would be at 8:10 AM . . . 10:10 AM . . . 12:10 PM . . . 2:10 PM . . . 4:10 PM . . . 5:10 PM . . . 6:10 PM . . . 7:10 PM . . . 8:10 PM, wherein each meal time would involve consuming a caloric amount equal to the number of meals divided by the target caloric intake.
Moreover, the weight management method 300 may also include the step of instructing the user to consume food at each of the fixed intervals of time 350, the food consumption having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake. The user should be instructed to consume a single meal at each of the fixed intervals of time, or the meal time 326, wherein the amount of calories in the meal is proportionate to the target caloric intake. The amount of calories of each meal may be may be approximately the same for each meal. However, the total amount of calories consumed in a day may not exceed the target caloric intake if the user wishes to lose weight, and may be approximately equal to the daily caloric intake if the user wishes to maintain and manage a current weight. In addition, by consuming food during a meal at a fixed interval of time, or at a meal time (food time), and not while accomplishing or performing common activities associated overeating, the user may correct and/or break the behavioral associations between eating and those common activities listed supra.
In another embodiment, the user may be instructed to consume the food via a phone coaching system and method. For example, the user may be contacted on or around their scheduled meal time to urge, support, etc., compliance with the weight management method 300. The user may receive a phone call, text message, email, smart phone notification, and the like, at or around their meal time.
Further embodiments of a weight management method 300 may include providing a plurality of life cards 340, wherein the life cards provide support to the user in between consuming another meal at a next interval time. Life cards 56, as described supra, help the user get through the time until the next meal. The provided life cards 356 may include a multitude of topics, such as nutrition cards, activity cards, meditation cards and may be organized into a plurality of sets 356 n, each set corresponding to a time period into the weight management method 300. For example, a first set of life cards may correspond to the first week a user is following the steps of the weight management method 300, and a second set of life cards may correspond to a second week. In another embodiment, a third set of life cards may correspond to the third month into the weight management method 300. Moreover, the life cards 356 may be provided by or made available over a network, such as an online website.
Moreover, embodiments of weight management method 300 may include providing at least one media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue 350. A media component may a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), Blu-Ray® Disc, a digital audio encoding format (mp3), a video file format, such as AWV, an audio file format, such as a WAV, or any other audio, visual, or audio/visual file. The media component may contain music, lyrics, images, videos, spoken words, narration, speeches, animal sounds, environmental sounds, soothing noise, or anything that may facilitate a user to slow down his or her heart rate, control their breathing, reach a level of comfortability and/or relaxation, etc. In one embodiment, the media components of the weight management method 300 may include a relaxation CD to facilitate the relaxation of the user, and a DVD which may contain audio/visual information, marketing strategy, inspirational stories, links, resources, and the like. The media component player, such as a DVD or Blu-Ray® disc player, used to operate the media component may have wireless network capabilities to connect the user to a network to access additional content via the World Wide Web, wherein the content may include interactive support groups, online database(s), or any other material related to weight management method 300. Moreover, the media component may be configured to facilitate a user quieting an internal dialogue, which prevents many others from managing and/or losing weight. The internal dialogue may be a stream of thoughts running through the subconscious and conscious of a user, reminding them of the pros and cons of eating healthy (i.e. losing weight), the constant obstacles they face, or other aspects of life that increase stress levels. The internal dialogue may get in the way of true commitment and self realization. By teaching or facilitating the user how to quiet their internal dialogue, a user may learn techniques to fend off food cravings, feel a true sense of self, begin to tap into the power that they naturally possess, begin to let go of the past, feel the connection to their natural state of health, allowing a re-connection to their true self that is not attached to roles and cannot be damaged by insult or criticism. Therefore, providing a media component to facilitate an internal dialogue 350 may involve a change not only in the psyche of a user, but changes and transformations in their blood pressure, breathing rate, cardiovascular health, glucose levels in their bloodstream, and many changes to other physical aspects and/or conditions of their body, such as a lower percentage of body fat.
With reference to FIG. 7, an embodiment of system 401 may be used with a computer-implemented smoking cessation method 500 and a computer-implemented weight management method 600. System 401 may comprise user interfaces 408 a . . . 408 n connected through a network 407 to a computing system 410. Network 407 may comprise any type of network including, inter alia, a telephone network, a cellular telephone network, a local area network, (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, etc. User interfaces 408 a . . . 408 n may comprise any type of devices capable of implementing a social network including, inter alia, a telephone, a cellular telephone, a digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a video game system, an audio/video player, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer terminal, etc. Each of user interfaces 408 a . . . 408 n may comprise a single device or a plurality of devices. User interfaces 408 a . . . 408 n are used by end users for communicating with each other and computing system 410. For example, users may use the user interfaces 408 a . . . 408 n to confirm the consumption of a meal or that they smoked a cigarette at the meal time or smoke time, respectively, by communication with the processor 491. Additionally, users may input data, such as personal goals, body mass index, interval times, smoke times, meal times, daily caloric intake, target caloric intake, and other data associated with smoking cessation and weight managements Computing system 410 may comprise any type of computing system(s) including, inter alia, a personal computer (PC), a server computer, a database computer, etc. Computing system 410 is used to measure and monitor smoking cessation and weight management method implemented using devices 408 a . . . 408 n. Computing system 410 may comprise a memory system 414. Memory system 414 may comprise a single memory system. Alternatively, memory system 414 may comprise a plurality of memory systems. Memory system 414 may also comprise a software application 418 and a database 412. Database 412 may include all retrieved and calculated data associated with measuring and monitoring smoking cessation and/or weight management plan. Software application 418 enables a computer-implemented smoking cessation method and/or a weight management method 500, 600.
Referring now to FIG. 8, computing system 410 and/or software application 418 enables a computer-implemented smoking cessation method 500. For example, embodiments of a computer-implemented smoking cessation method 500 may comprise the steps of receiving, by a computer processor 491 of a computing system 410 from a user interface 408 a, a first input data 510, wherein the first input data is a personal goal chosen by a user, receiving, by the computer processor 491 from the user interface 408 a, a second input data 520, wherein the second input data includes a fixed interval of time determined by the user, transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a real-time notification indicating an occurrence of the second input data 530, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a confirmation of an occurrence of an event 540, wherein the event is the user smoking a cigarette, presenting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a plurality of life cards 550, wherein the plurality of life cards support the user in between the user smoking another cigarette, and transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface in response to a request from the user interface, an audio/visual file 560, wherein the audio/visual file, when played, quiets an internal dialogue of the user.
Referring now to FIG. 9, computing system 410 and/or software application 418 enables a computer-implemented weight management method 600. For example, embodiments of a computer-implemented weight management method 600 may comprise receiving, by a computer processor 491 of a computing system 410 from a user interface 408 a, a first input data 610, wherein the first input data is a personal goal chosen by a user, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a second input data 620, wherein the second input data includes a fixed interval of time determined by the user, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a third input data 630, wherein the third input data is a body mass index of the user, a target caloric intake, or a daily caloric intake, transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a real-time notification indicating an occurrence of the second input data 640, receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a confirmation of an occurrence of an event 650, wherein the event is the user consuming a meal at the fixed interval of time, the meal having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, further wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake, presenting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a plurality of life cards 660, wherein the plurality of life cards support the user in between the user consuming another meal, and transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface in response to a request from the user interface, an audio/visual file 670, wherein the audio/visual file, when played, quiets an internal dialogue of the user.
Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment of a computer apparatus 490 (e.g., computing system 401 of FIG. 7) used for a smoking cessation and weight management method, is now described. The computer system 490 comprises a processor 491, an input device 492 coupled to the processor 491, an output device 493 coupled to the processor 491, and memory devices 494 and 495 each coupled to the processor 491. The input device 492 may be, inter alia, a keyboard, a software application, a mouse, etc. The output device 493 may be, inter alia, a printer, a plotter, a computer screen, a magnetic tape, a removable hard disk, a floppy disk, a software application, etc. The memory devices 494 and 495 may be, inter alia, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical storage such as a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc (DVD), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The memory device 495 includes a computer code 497. The computer code 497 includes algorithms or steps (e.g., the algorithms and/or steps of FIGS. 1-9) for a smoking cessation and weight management method 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600. The processor 491 executes the computer code 497. The memory device 494 includes input data 496. The input data 496 includes input required by the computer code 497. The output device 493 displays output from the computer code 497. Either or both memory devices 494 and 495 (or one or more additional memory devices not shown in FIG. 7) may comprise the algorithms and/or steps of FIGS. 1-9 and may be used as a computer usable medium (or a computer readable medium or a program storage device) having a computer readable program code embodied therein and/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer readable program code comprises the computer code 497. Generally, a computer program product (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture) of the computer system 490 may comprise the computer usable medium (or said program storage device). While FIG. 7 shows the computer system 490 as a particular configuration of hardware and software, any configuration of hardware and software, as would be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, may be utilized for the purposes stated supra in conjunction with the particular computer system 490. For example, the memory devices 494 and 495 may be portions of a single memory device rather than separate memory devices.
With continued reference to the drawings, FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of a smoking cessation kit 700. Smoking cessation kit 700 may be used to help a user quit smoking cigarettes. Embodiments of smoking cessation kit 700 may include a plurality of life cards 710, wherein the life cards provide support to a user, at least one media component 720, a set of instructions 730, wherein the instructions include instructing the user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette, instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each of the fixed intervals of time rather than in response to a lower nicotine level in a bloodstream, and a publication 740, the publication including a plurality of personal success stories about quitting smoking.
Life cards 756 of kit 700 may help the user get through the time until the next cigarette. The provided life cards 756, as described supra, may include a multitude of topics, and may be organized into a plurality of sets 756 n, each set corresponding to a time period associated with the instructions provided in kit 700. For example, a first set of life cards may correspond to the first week a user is following instructions provided in kit 700, and a second set of life cards may correspond to a second week. In another embodiment, a third set of life cards may correspond to the third month into the smoking cessation method embodied by kit 700.
The at least one media component of kit 700 may be a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), Blu-Ray® Disc, a digital audio encoding format (mp3), a video file format, such as AWV, an audio file format, such as a WAV, or any other audio, visual, or audio/visual file. The media component may contain music, lyrics, images, videos, spoken words, narration, speeches, animal sounds, environmental sounds, soothing noise, or anything that may facilitate a user to slow down his or her heart rate, control their breathing, reach a level of comfortability and/or relaxation, etc. In one embodiment, the media components of the kit 700 may include a relaxation CD to facilitate the relaxation of the user, and a DVD containing audio/visual information, marketing strategy, inspirational stories, links, resources, and the like. The DVD or Blu-Ray® disc player may have wireless network capabilities to connect the user to a network to access additional kit 700 content via the World Wide Web.
The elements of kit 700 may be placed within a physical container, box, unit, kit, item, etc., for distribution to potential users. The physical box may include attractive designs, any trademarks associated with the distributor, and the design of the box may vary. In one embodiment, kit 700 may be purchased by a person seeking help with quitting smoking. The kit 700 may provide tangible resources for a user to utilize during the period of time associated with quitting smoking. Kit 700 may also include any tangible embodiment of an element of the smoking cessation method 200 described supra. In addition, kit 700 may also include a workbook, wherein the workbook includes exercises, listed goals, challenges, and the like.
Referring now to FIG. 12, a weight management kit 800 may be used to help a user manage his or her weight, or lose weight. Embodiments of a weight management kit 800 may include a plurality of life cards 810, wherein the life cards provide support to a user, a media component 820, a set of instructions 830, wherein the instructions include instructing the user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium, instructing the user to calculate a body mass index to determine a target caloric intake, instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between consuming a meal, instructing the user to consume the meal at each of the fixed intervals of time, the meal having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake, and a publication 840, the publication including a plurality of personal success stories with managing and losing weight.
Life cards 856 of kit 800 may help the user get through the time until consumption of more food. The provided life cards 856, as described supra, may include a multitude of topics, and may be organized into a plurality of sets 856 n, each set corresponding to a time period associated with the instructions provided in kit 800. For example, a first set of life cards may correspond to the first week a user is following instructions provided in kit 800, and a second set of life cards may correspond to a second week. In another embodiment, a third set of life cards may correspond to the third month into the weight management and/or loss method embodied by kit 800.
The at least one media component of kit 800 may be a compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), Blu-Ray® Disc, a digital audio encoding format (mp3), a video file format, such as AWV, an audio file format, such as a WAV, or any other audio, visual, or audio/visual file. The media component may contain music, lyrics, images, videos, spoken words, narration, speeches, animal sounds, environmental sounds, soothing noise, or anything that may facilitate a user to slow down his or her heart rate, control their breathing, reach a level of comfortability and/or relaxation, etc. In one embodiment, the media components of the kit 800 may include a relaxation CD to facilitate the relaxation of the user, and a DVD containing audio/visual information, marketing strategy, inspirational stories, links, resources, and the like. The DVD or Blu-Ray® disc player may have wireless network capabilities to connect the user to a network to access additional kit 800 content via the World Wide Web.
The elements of kit 800 may be placed within a physical container, box, unit, kit, item, etc., for distribution to potential users. The physical box may include attractive designs, any trademarks associated with the distributor, and the design of the box may vary. In one embodiment, kit 800 may be purchased by a person seeking help with managing and/or losing weight. The kit 800 may provide tangible resources for a user to utilize during the period of time associated with managing and/or losing weight. Kit 800 may also include any tangible embodiment of an element of the weight management method 300 described supra. In addition, kit 800 may also include a workbook, wherein the workbook includes exercises, listed goals, challenges, and the like.
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The claims provide the scope of the coverage of the invention and should not be limited to the specific examples provided herein.

Claims

1. A cessation and management method comprising:

removing a physical aspect of an addiction, wherein removing the physical aspect of an addiction includes instructing a user to manipulate a delivery time of a substance, and instructing the user to control an intake amount of the substance;

correcting a behavioral association, wherein correcting the behavioral associations includes instructing the user to determine a personal goal and fixing it to a medium, facilitating the user to reprogram thoughts and activities, and facilitating the user to replace an old negative behavior with a new positive behavior; and

providing a plurality of life cards to assist the removal of the physical aspect of the addiction and the correction of the behavioral associations.

2. The cessation and management method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the delivery time of the substance involves segmenting delivery time of nicotine to a body.

3. The cessation and management method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the delivery time of the substance involves segmenting delivery time of food to a body.

4. The cessation and management method of claim 1, wherein controlling a consumption amount of the substance involves consuming a number of calories proportionate to a fixed segment, wherein the total number of calories consumed are below a daily limit.

5. The cessation and management method of claim 1, wherein controlling a consumption amount of the substance involves smoking a cigarette at fixed segments to biochemically adjust the body's nicotine levels.

6. The cessation and management program of claim 1, wherein the plurality of life cards are remotely accessible over a network.

7. A smoking cessation method comprising:

instructing a user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium;

instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between smoking a cigarette;

instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each of the fixed intervals of time rather than in response to a lower nicotine level in a bloodstream;

providing a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support in between smoking another cigarette at a next interval time; and

providing at least one media component to facilitate a quieting of an internal dialogue.

8. The smoking cessation method of claim 7, wherein the medium is an electronic medium.

9. The smoking cessation method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of life cards are available over a network.

10. The smoking cessation method of claim 7, wherein the at least one media component is a compact disc including media that fosters meditation.

11. The smoking cessation method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of life cards are organized into a plurality of sets, each of the plurality of sets corresponding to a duration of user involvement in the smoking cessation method.

12. A weight management method comprising:

instructing a user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium;

instructing the user to calculate a body mass index to determine a target caloric intake;

instructing the user to determine a fixed interval of time in between consuming food;

instructing the user to consume food at each of the fixed intervals of time, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake;

providing a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support to the user in between consuming more food at a next interval time; and

13. The weight management method of claim 12, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are approximately equal to the daily caloric intake when maintaining a current weight.

14. The weight management of claim 12, wherein the plurality of life cards are available over a network.

15. The weight management method of claim 12, wherein the medium is an electronic medium.

16. The weight management method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of life cards are organized into a plurality of sets, each of the plurality of sets corresponding to a duration of user involvement in the weight management method.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor of a computing system from a user interface, a first input data, wherein the first input data is a personal goal chosen by a user;

receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a second input data, wherein the second input data includes a fixed interval of time determined by the user;

transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a real-time notification indicating an occurrence of the second input data;

receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a confirmation of an occurrence of an event, wherein the event is the user smoking a cigarette;

presenting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a plurality of life cards, wherein the plurality of life cards support the user in between the user smoking another cigarette; and

transmitting, by the computer processor to the user interface in response to a request from the user interface, at least one audio/visual file, wherein the at least one audio/visual file, when played, quiets an internal dialogue of the user.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a third input data, wherein the third input data is a body mass index of the user;

receiving, by the computer processor from the user interface, a confirmation of an occurrence of an event, wherein the event is the user consuming food at the fixed interval of time, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the daily caloric intake, further wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake;

presenting, by the computer processor to the user interface, a plurality of life cards, wherein the plurality of life cards support the user in between the user consuming more food; and

19. A kit comprising:

a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support to a user;

at least one media component;

a set of instructions, wherein the instructions include

instructing the user to determine a personal goal, wherein the personal goal is fixed in a medium;

instructing the user to smoke the cigarette at each of the fixed intervals of time rather than in response to a lower nicotine level in a bloodstream; and

at least one publication, the at least one publication including a plurality of personal success stories about quitting smoking.

20. A kit comprising:

a plurality of life cards, wherein the life cards provide support to a user;

at least one media component;

a set of instructions, wherein the instructions include

instructing the user to determine a personal goal and fixing the personal goal to a medium;

instructing the user to consume the food at each of the fixed intervals of time, the food having a number of calories proportionate to the target caloric intake, wherein the number of calories consumed at all of the fixed intervals in a day are below a daily caloric intake; and

at least one publication, the publication including a plurality of personal success stories about managing and losing weight.