🔗 Share this article

A runner

Following a holiday period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter the new year looking to get their fitness back on track.

However, is it possible that AI be changing the world of exercise by offering an alternative to human coaches?

Tailored Programs and Adaptable Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to pose queries any time of day – a feature she believed was not possible with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered fitness application that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in 2024.

She said she asked it to design a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week plan customized to her race date and objectives.

The user then adjusted the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

The following year, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.

She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer.

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

Richard Gallimore

Significant Strength Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, from a Welsh city, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg.

Richard turned to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a race.

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

The free tool constructed a fitness and meal program personalized to his goals, and established organized workouts.

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.

The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Conventional Coaching

One recent study in late 2024 analyzed costs for numerous of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, based on basic memberships.

Fees started at a lower price at the most affordable provider to £132 at the most expensive.

According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment in most areas and about a similar range in London.

Clients will often hire a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a short period, however these agreements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Personal Element

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching provides.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his clients also use technology.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he said.

"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the warmth from the understanding that is absent from a computer," he continued.

Dafydd said AI can educate clients and make coaching more efficient.

But, he argued true dedication comes when people show up physically for their sessions.

"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he suggested, the fitness center is a place to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.