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

Leah Walsh

Following a holiday period packed with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals head into January looking to get their fitness back on track.

However, could AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an artificial intelligence application for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman hailing from Aberdare explained she appreciated the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.

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

She explained she asked it to design a plan combining running and the gym, and it produced an multi-week plan tailored to her race date and goals.

The user then adjusted the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she said was convenient.

Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish.

She noted she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

He turned to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a race.

"I just knew I need to sort myself out," he said.

This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and created structured routines.

"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.

The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Training

A recent survey in the previous year analyzed prices for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard memberships.

Prices started at £23 at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.

Based on industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, usually £30-£65 per hour-long appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.

Clients will often hire a trainer once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, but these agreements are completely flexible.

A personal trainer

The Essential Personal Element

Fitness coach one experienced professional, from the Welsh capital, said AI can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the human connection and responsibility that live training offers.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his clients also employ AI.

"I think it's extremely useful, additional information is good," he stated.

"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he continued.

The trainer said AI can educate clients and make coaching more efficient.

But, he said real commitment comes when people show up physically for their sessions.

"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.