I successfully Replaced My Fitness Coach for AI – With Great Results.
Leah Walsh
After a holiday period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter the new year aiming to regain their fitness momentum.
But, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by providing an alternative to human coaches?
Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines
One fitness enthusiast used an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the a major running event.
This young woman from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.
Leah relied on an AI-driven running app that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024.
She explained she asked it to design a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives.
The user then tweaked the plan 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 goal time.
She said she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer.
"With artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she added.
Richard Gallimore
Remarkable Fitness Improvements
In a similar case, Another individual, in his twenties, from a Welsh city, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has achieved peak strength, increasing his bench press from 70kg to a much heavier load.
Richard turned to a bot for help after being forced to walk a race.
"I just knew I had to sort myself out," he said.
This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan personalized to his aims, and established organized workouts.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching
One recent study in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, for standard memberships.
Prices ranged from a lower price at the cheapest provider to £132 at the most expensive.
According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in London.
Customers typically hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a few months, however these arrangements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Essential Personal Touch
Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, 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 coach, specialises in senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also use AI.
"I think it's very valuable, additional information is good," he stated.
"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want human connection because they crave the warmth from the understanding that is missing from a computer," he added.
The trainer explained Artificial intelligence can inform users and make guidance more effective.
However, he said real commitment comes when people appear physically for training.
"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.
For many, he said, the fitness center is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.
