I Exchanged My Own Fitness Coach for AI – With Great Results.
A runner
After a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people head into January aiming to get their fitness back on track.
However, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be changing the world of exercise by offering an alternative to personal trainers?
Tailored Programs and Flexible Timelines
Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
This young woman hailing from a town in Wales explained she liked the freedom to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she believed was not possible with a personal trainer.
Leah relied on an AI-powered fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.
She said she requested it to design a regimen combining cardio and the gym, and it produced an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives.
The user then adjusted the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.
Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish.
She said she did not want the pressure from a live instructor.
"Using AI you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she remarked.
A weightlifter
Significant Strength Gains
In a similar case, Another individual, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been using AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
Richard turned to a bot for assistance after being unable to run a running event.
"I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he said.
The free tool built a workout and diet plan personalized to his aims, and established organized workouts.
"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.
The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching
A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed prices for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard full-access plans.
Fees started at a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the highest-priced.
Based on further data, personal trainers set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session outside London and about £45-£65 in London.
Customers will often hire a coach one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, however these arrangements are completely flexible.
A personal trainer
The Essential Human Touch
Fitness coach one experienced professional, from the Welsh capital, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and accountability that live training offers.
The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his clients also employ technology.
"I think it's very valuable, additional information is good," he stated.
"I believe the more people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a computer," he added.
Dafydd explained AI can inform users and make coaching more effective.
However, he said real commitment comes when people appear in person for training.
"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," he concluded.
For many, he suggested, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.
