Network coaching method

A method of obtaining advice pertaining to performance of an exercise by a user employing at least one exercise apparatus, the method comprising:

• accessing a central site on a communication network using a portable network access device;
• obtaining, with the portable network access device, GPS location information corresponding to a physical location at which at least one exercise apparatus is present;
• providing the GPS location information to the central site over the network with the portable network access device;
• receiving, at the portable network access device, from a particular exercise apparatus present at the physical location, information regarding the particular exercise apparatus;
• providing to the central site the information regarding the particular exercise apparatus;
• and
• receiving advice information on the portable network access device, over the network from the central site, wherein the advice information pertains to use by the user of the particular exercise apparatus.

A method of obtaining advice pertaining to an activity performed by a user on at least one piece of fitness equipment, the method comprising:

• accessing a central site on a communication network using a portable network access device carried by the user while visiting a physical location;
• obtaining, with the portable network access device, GPS location information corresponding to the physical location, while the user visits the physical location;
• while the user visits the physical location, providing the GPS location information to the central site over the network with the portable network access device, the location information being associated with a record of previous use, by the user, of fitness equipment located at the physical location;
• and
• while the user visits the physical location, receiving advice information on the portable network access device, over the network from the central site, wherein the advice information pertains to use of the fitness equipment located at the physical location, wherein the advice information is based on the record of previous use, by the user, of the fitness equipment located at the physical location, and wherein the advice information comprises advice pertaining to one or more of the following:
• a number of repetitions of exercise activities to perform using the fitness equipment located at the physical location,
• an amount of weight for the user to use when performing exercise activities using the fitness equipment located at the physical location, or
• an amount of time relating to exercise activities using the fitness equipment located at the physical location;
• accepting a signal to update the record of previous use, by the user, of the fitness equipment located at the physical location after completion of use of the fitness equipment located at the physical location;
• and
• transmitting to the central site via the network a request to update the record based on the user's completed use of the fitness equipment located at the physical location.

A method of providing advice over a communication network having a central site, the advice pertaining to a fitness-related activity performed by a network user using one or more pieces of fitness equipment, the network user having a communication device communicatively connected to the communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving GPS location information at the central site from a network user while the network user is visiting a physical location associated with a fitness-related activity;
• associating the network user with a piece of fitness equipment located at the physical location;
• associating the GPS location information with a record retained by the central site, the record including previously-stored information about the network user's previous use of the piece of fitness equipment located at the physical location;
• accessing the record;
• and
• transmitting advice information over the network from the central site to the network user's communication device, wherein the advice information pertains to use of the fitness equipment located at the physical location and wherein the advice information comprises information based on the record.

A method of providing advice over a communication network, the advice pertaining to a fitness-related activity performed by a network user using one or more pieces of fitness equipment, the network user having a communication device communicatively connected to the communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving GPS location information at a central site from the communication device while the network user is visiting a physical location associated with a fitness-related activity;
• receiving fitness equipment information at the central site from the communication device while the network user is visiting the physical location associated with the fitness-related activity;
• identifying fitness equipment at the physical location from one or more of the GPS location information and the fitness equipment information;
• accessing a record pertaining to prior use of the fitness equipment by the user;
• and
• transmitting advice information over the network from the central site to the network user's communication device, wherein the advice information pertains to use of the fitness equipment by the user and wherein the advice information is based on the record.