MySportTraining by Exposé Corp. is the type of software that just might inspire you to start exercising regularly. This inexpensive fitness program makes it easy to track your daily exercise activities on a Windows Powered Handheld or Pocket PC. The program provides support for both strength training and cardiovascular (aerobic) exercises. If your activity is not included among the 30-plus supported workouts, you can create your own custom activity. Although I only reviewed the Handheld PC 2000 version of MySportsTraining, screen shots for the Pocket PC version are also shown. The differences between the two versions are minor and relate mostly to the layout of the screen.
Daily view: health and workout data
When you start MySportTraining, you are presented with the "Health" section of the main "Daily view" screen (Screens 1 and 2). This lets you begin each daily workout by entering health-related data for that day, including the amount of sleep you got the previous night, the mood you are in, your resting heart rate, and your weight. You can also input body fat percentage, calories consumed, and blood pressure. It may seem like a lot of information to enter, but the data is used to provide you with the most accurate graphs and feedback possible. At the very minimum, the manual suggests that you should enter your resting heart rate and your body weight on a weekly basis.
Screens 1 and 2 (above) show the Handheld PC (top) and Pocket PC (bottom) views of the Daily view's Health screen, which lets you enter health-related information on a daily or weekly basis.
The next step is to select the type of workout(s) you wish to perform. Tap on the button labeled "New" (top of H/PC screen, bottom of P/PC) and you are presented with a list of activity types. Select one, tap OK, and it will appear as a tab on the Daily view screen (Screens 3 and 4).
Screens 3 and 4 (above) show the Daily view with tabs for each workout type. The H/PC screen (top) shows the Road cycling tab next to the Health tab in the upper left. The P/PC screen (bottom) shows the Road cycling tab next to the Upper body (workout) tab at the bottom of the screen.
The Daily view screen displays tabs for all the workouts on a particular day and lets you enter information about each workout. This information is the basis for the data and graphs presented in the other views, so it's important to be thorough. One of the best things about the program is that it automatically estimates the amount of calories and fat burned in each workout.
One function that would be useful, but is not included in this version, is the ability to schedule repeating workouts. For example, if you plan on swimming every Thursday, wouldn't it be great if you could set up the workout once and have it automatically repeat each Thursday over a specified time period. Perhaps the developer can take this into consideration for the next revision of this software.
Month, report, and graphic views
The rest of the program provides you with numeric and graphical data on the frequency and success of your workouts. The data in these views is based on the information you provide with each of your daily workouts. Most screens in the program have icons that let you quickly go to these other views. These icons are found along the top of the screen in the H/PC, and along the bottom in the P/PC.
The Month view displays a calendar with icons indicating each day you've trained, the activity, and the total duration of each workout. If you tap on a given date, the Daily view appears for that day. This view is great way to review your performance patterns and perhaps to plan future workout days.
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