I Replaced My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working.

A person using a mobile device for AI-driven fitness guidance A runner
Leah employed AI to train for her latest half marathon and achieved a personal best.

After a festive period filled with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals enter the new year aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

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

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from Aberdare explained she liked the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.

Leah used an AI-powered running app that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.

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

The user then tweaked the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

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

She noted she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"Using artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.
An individual working out with weights after using an AI plan Richard Gallimore
He has been using AI for his workout and nutrition, and says he feels stronger than ever.

Significant Fitness Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his bench press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

He resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a running event.

"I realized I need to get myself in shape," he commented.

This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established structured routines.

"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.

The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Traditional Coaching

One recent survey in the previous year compared costs for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, based on basic full-access plans.

Prices ranged from £23 at the most affordable provider to £132 at the highest-priced.

Based on further data, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session outside London and about a similar range in the capital.

Customers typically hire a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a short period, but these agreements are completely flexible.

A fitness coach assisting a client in a fitness studio A personal trainer
Fitness expert Dafydd Judd maintains AI will never replace the personal bond that comes from in-person training.

The Irreplaceable Personal Touch

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also employ technology.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he said.
"I think the more people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a computer," he added.

Dafydd said Artificial intelligence can educate clients and make guidance more effective.

But, he said true dedication comes when people appear in person for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," he added.

In the view of many, he said, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.

Joseph Chandler
Joseph Chandler

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering industry trends, game development, and esports events worldwide.