I Swapped My Fitness Coach for AI – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
Following a holiday period packed with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals head into January looking to regain their fitness momentum.
However, could AI be changing the fitness industry by providing an alternative to human coaches?
Personalized Plans and Adaptable Timelines
One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for impromptu training for the a major running event.
The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to pose queries at all hours – something she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.
She relied on an AI-powered fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first long-distance race in 2024.
She explained she requested it to create a regimen merging running and the gym, and it generated an multi-week plan customized to her race date and objectives.
Leah then adjusted the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical.
Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time.
She said she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor.
"Using artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.
Richard Gallimore
Significant Fitness Improvements
Meanwhile, Another individual, in his twenties, based in Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
He turned to a bot for help after being unable to run a race.
"I just knew I need to sort myself out," he commented.
This no-cost application constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his aims, and created organized workouts.
"I train for about two hours a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.
The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Coaching
A recent survey in late 2024 compared prices for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard memberships.
Fees ranged from a lower price at the cheapest provider to £132 at the highest-priced.
According to industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about a similar range in the capital.
Customers will often use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a short period, however these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Human Touch
Fitness coach one experienced professional, from Cardiff, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and accountability that live training provides.
This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his trainees also use technology.
"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he said.
"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he continued.
Dafydd said AI can educate users and make guidance more efficient.
But, he argued real commitment comes when people show up physically for training.
"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.
For many, he said, the fitness center is a place to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.
