I successfully Exchanged My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Effective.

A runner

After a festive period packed with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals enter January aiming to get their fitness back on track.

However, is it possible that AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules

One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman hailing from a town in Wales explained she liked the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a traditional coach.

Leah relied on an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in 2024.

She said she asked it to create a regimen combining running and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and goals.

Leah then adjusted the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she described was convenient.

The following year, she chose a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.

She said she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"With artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Strength Gains

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has never felt stronger, boosting his bench press from 70kg to 110kg.

He turned to a bot for help after being forced to walk a running event.

"I realized I had to sort myself out," he said.

This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and established organized workouts.

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.

The Cost Contrast: AI vs. Conventional Training

A recent study in the previous year compared costs for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 a month, for standard memberships.

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

According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically £30-£65 per hour-long appointment in most areas and about a similar range in London.

Customers typically hire a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Personal Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that live training offers.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also use AI.

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

"I think the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they want the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he continued.

The trainer explained AI can educate users and make guidance more effective.

But, he said real commitment comes when people show up physically for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.