I successfully Swapped My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Effective.
A runner
After a holiday period packed with rich foods and relaxation, many people enter the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum.
However, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by providing an option to personal trainers?
Personalized Programs and Flexible Timelines
Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
This young woman from Aberdare explained she liked the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – something she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.
She used an AI-powered running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in 2024.
She said she requested it to design a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week plan tailored to her event day and objectives.
The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.
Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time.
She said she did not want the pressure from a live instructor.
"Using artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she remarked.
Richard Gallimore
Significant Fitness Gains
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from a Welsh city, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg.
He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a running event.
"I just knew I had to sort myself out," he commented.
This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan tailored to his aims, and created organized workouts.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Conventional Coaching
One recent survey in the previous year compared costs for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, based on basic memberships.
Prices ranged from a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the most expensive.
Based on further data, personal trainers set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about a similar range in London.
Clients will often hire a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, however these arrangements are often adaptable.
Dafydd Judd
The Essential Human Element
Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, said AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching provides.
This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He mentioned a number of his trainees also use technology.
"I think it's very valuable, additional information is good," he said.
"I believe the more people are online the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is missing from a machine," he added.
The trainer said AI can educate clients and make guidance more efficient.
But, he said real commitment comes when people appear physically for their sessions.
"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he concluded.
For many, he suggested, the gym is a place to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.
