I successfully Swapped My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
Following a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, many people enter the new year looking to get their fitness back on track.
But, could AI be changing the fitness industry by providing an option to human coaches?
Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules
One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the a major running event.
The 21-year-old from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she believed was not possible with a personal trainer.
She relied on an AI-powered running app that gave her personalised plans with audio coaching and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.
She explained she requested it to design a plan combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and goals.
The user then tweaked the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she said was highly practical.
The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. Her result was a minute faster than her goal time.
She said she did not want the pressure from a live instructor.
"Using artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.
Richard Gallimore
Remarkable Strength Gains
Meanwhile, Another individual, in his twenties, based in a Welsh city, has been using AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
He resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being unable to run a race.
"I realized I had to sort myself out," he commented.
This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program tailored to his goals, and established structured routines.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Traditional Coaching
One recent study in late 2024 analyzed costs for numerous of the largest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, for basic memberships.
Prices ranged from a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the most expensive.
Based on industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually £30-£65 per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about a similar range in London.
Clients will often hire a coach once or twice a week and work with them for a short period, but these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Personal Touch
Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.
This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his clients also use AI.
"In my opinion it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he stated.
"I believe the more people are online the more they'll want human connection because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he continued.
Dafydd said Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more efficient.
However, he said real commitment comes when people show up in person for training.
"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," Dafydd added.
For many, he said, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.
