🔗 Share this article I successfully Swapped My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Effective. A runner Leah used artificial intelligence to prepare for her second half marathon and secured a personal best. After a holiday period packed with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals enter the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track. However, is it possible that AI be changing the fitness industry by providing an option to personal trainers? Personalized Programs and Adaptable Timelines Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon. This young woman from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a personal trainer. Leah relied on an AI-driven fitness application that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first long-distance race in recent years. She explained she requested it to create a regimen combining running and the gym, and it generated an multi-week plan customized to her race date and objectives. The user then adjusted the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she said was convenient. The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. Her result was a minute faster than her goal time. She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer. "Using AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been leveraging AI for his fitness and diet plans, and states he feels stronger than ever. Remarkable Strength Gains In a similar case, Another individual, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg. He turned to a bot for assistance after being unable to run a race. "I realized I need to get myself in shape," he commented. The free tool built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established structured routines. "I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added. The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Training A recent study in late 2024 analyzed costs for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, for standard full-access plans. Prices ranged from a lower price at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the most expensive. According to further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically £30-£65 per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about a similar range in the capital. Customers will often use a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a short period, but these arrangements are completely flexible. Dafydd Judd Fitness expert Dafydd Judd maintains AI will never replace the human connection that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Essential Human Touch Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be beneficial to speed up progress, but believes it will never replace the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching offers. This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also employ AI. "I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he said. "I think the more that people are online the more they'll desire human connection because they want the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he continued. Dafydd explained Artificial intelligence can educate clients and make coaching more efficient. However, he said true dedication comes when people appear physically for training. "No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded. In the view of many, he suggested, the fitness center is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.