I successfully Replaced My Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working.
A runner
Following a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter January looking to get their fitness back on track.
However, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?
Personalized Plans and Adaptable Timelines
One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the a major running event.
This young woman hailing from a town in Wales explained she liked the liberty to pose queries any time of day – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.
Leah relied on an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with audio coaching and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in recent years.
She said she asked it to design a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives.
The user then adjusted the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she said was convenient.
Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish.
She said she did not want the pressure from a human personal trainer.
"With AI you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.
Richard Gallimore
Significant Fitness Improvements
Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, based in 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 110kg.
He resorted to a bot for assistance after being unable to run a race.
"I just knew I had to sort myself out," he commented.
This no-cost application 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 said.
The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Training
One recent study in late 2024 compared prices for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard memberships.
Prices ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the most expensive.
Based on further data, personal trainers set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment in most areas and about a similar range in London.
Clients typically hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a few months, however these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Personal Touch
Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, acknowledged AI can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.
The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a coach, focuses on older adults and recovery from injuries. He said a number of his clients also use AI.
"I think it's extremely useful, additional information is good," he said.
"I think the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they want the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he continued.
Dafydd explained AI can inform clients and make guidance more efficient.
But, he argued true dedication comes when people show up physically for their sessions.
"As useful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," he concluded.
In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.
