I Exchanged My Fitness Coach for AI – With Great Results.

Leah Walsh

After a festive period filled with rich foods and relaxation, many people enter January looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, is it possible that AI be transforming the world of exercise by providing an alternative to personal trainers?

Tailored Programs and Flexible Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for last-minute training for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to pose queries any time of day – something she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.

Leah used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with audio coaching and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in recent years.

She explained she requested it to design a regimen combining running and the gym, and it produced an multi-week plan tailored to her event day and goals.

The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. Her result was a full minute quicker than her target finish.

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

"With AI you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she remarked.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Fitness Improvements

In a similar case, Another individual, 23, from Swansea, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

He resorted to a bot for help after being forced to walk a race.

"I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he commented.

This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program personalized to his aims, and created organized workouts.

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.

The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Training

One recent study in the previous year compared costs for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard memberships.

Prices ranged from £23 at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

According to 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 £45-£65 in the capital.

Clients will often hire a trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a few months, but these arrangements are often adaptable.

A personal trainer

The Essential Human Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be beneficial to accelerate results, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and recovery from injuries. He mentioned a number of his trainees also employ AI.

"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he said.

"I think the more people are online the more they'll want human connection because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is missing from a machine," he added.

The trainer explained Artificial intelligence can educate clients and make coaching more efficient.

But, he said real commitment comes when people appear in person for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.

For many, he suggested, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.