I successfully Swapped My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – With Great Results.

Leah Walsh

Following a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, could AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

Leah Walsh used an artificial intelligence application for impromptu preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to pose queries any time of day – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.

Leah used an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first long-distance race in 2024.

She said she asked it to create a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives.

Leah then adjusted the plan to fit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish.

She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a human personal trainer.

"With artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she remarked.

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Strength Gains

Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his chest press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

He resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a race.

"I realized I need to get myself in shape," he said.

The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and established organized workouts.

"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.

The Cost Contrast: AI vs. Traditional Training

One recent survey in the previous year compared prices for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, for standard memberships.

Fees started at £23 at the most affordable chain to £132 at the most expensive.

Based on industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about a similar range in London.

Customers typically hire a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, but these arrangements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Personal Touch

Personal trainer one experienced professional, based in Cardiff, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the human connection and responsibility that in-person coaching provides.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and recovery from injuries. He mentioned some of his clients also use AI.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he said.

"I think the more people are online the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the warmth from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he added.

The trainer explained AI can inform users and make coaching more effective.

However, he argued true dedication comes when people appear physically for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," Dafydd added.

For many, he said, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.