🔗 Share this article I successfully Replaced My Fitness Coach for AI – And It's Working. Leah Walsh Leah employed AI to prepare for her latest 21km race and secured a new record. After a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals head into January aiming to regain their fitness momentum. However, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be transforming the world of exercise by providing an option to personal trainers? Personalized Programs and Adaptable Schedules One fitness enthusiast used an artificial intelligence application for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon. The 21-year-old from Aberdare said she liked the liberty to pose queries at all hours – something she felt was not possible with a traditional coach. She relied on an AI-driven fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural long-distance race in recent years. She explained she requested it to create a regimen combining running and the weight training, and it generated an multi-week plan tailored to her event day and goals. The user then tweaked the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical. Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her goal time. She noted she did not want feeling pressure from a human personal trainer. "With AI you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she remarked. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been using AI for his workout and nutrition, and says he has never been stronger. Remarkable Strength Improvements Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, from a Welsh city, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg. He resorted to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a race. "I just knew I need to sort myself out," he said. This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and created structured routines. "I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he said. The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Training One recent survey in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, based on basic memberships. Fees ranged from a lower price at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced. Based on further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment outside London and about a similar range in the capital. Customers typically hire a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, but these agreements are completely flexible. A personal trainer Fitness expert one professional maintains artificial intelligence will cannot replicate the human connection that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Essential Human Element Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, said artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training offers. This expert, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his clients also use AI. "In my opinion it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he stated. "I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want human connection because they want the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he continued. The trainer explained AI can educate users and make guidance more efficient. However, he said true dedication comes when people show up in person for their sessions. "As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," he concluded. For many, he said, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.