🔗 Share this article I Replaced My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – With Great Results. A runner She employed AI to prepare for her second 21km race and achieved a personal best. Following a holiday period filled with indulgent treats and relaxation, many people enter January looking to get their fitness back on track. However, could Artificial Intelligence be changing the world of exercise by providing an alternative to personal trainers? Personalized Programs and Adaptable Timelines Leah Walsh used an artificial intelligence application for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon. This young woman hailing from Aberdare said she appreciated the freedom to pose queries any time of day – something she believed was not possible with a personal trainer. Leah used an AI-powered running app that gave her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first long-distance race in 2024. She explained she requested it to design a regimen combining cardio and the gym, and it produced an 11-week programme customized to her event day and goals. The user then tweaked the plan to fit her daily routine, which she said was highly practical. The following year, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time. She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor. "With AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added. Richard Gallimore He has been using AI for his workout and nutrition, and states he has never been stronger. Remarkable Strength Gains Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been using AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg. He turned to a bot for help after being forced to walk a race. "I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented. This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and created structured routines. "I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he said. The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching A recent survey in the previous year compared costs for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 a month, for standard memberships. Prices ranged from a lower price at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the most expensive. According to further data, 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 trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a few months, however these agreements are completely flexible. A personal trainer Personal trainer Dafydd Judd maintains artificial intelligence will never replace the personal bond that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Irreplaceable Human Element Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training offers. This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his trainees also employ AI. "I think it's extremely useful, additional information is positive," he said. "I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he continued. Dafydd explained AI can inform clients and make coaching more efficient. But, he argued real commitment comes when people appear physically for training. "As useful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," he added. For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.