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

A runner

After a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, many people head into the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, could AI be transforming the world of exercise by offering an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to pose queries at all hours – a feature she believed was not possible with a personal trainer.

Leah relied on an AI-powered fitness application that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.

She explained she requested it to create a regimen merging cardio and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan customized to her event day and objectives.

Leah then adjusted the plan to fit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.

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

"Using artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she remarked.

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Strength Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from a Welsh city, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg.

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

"I just knew I had to sort myself out," he commented.

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

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

The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Traditional Training

A recent survey in the previous year analyzed prices for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, for basic memberships.

Prices ranged from a lower price at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

According to further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually £30-£65 per hour-long appointment in most areas and about £45-£65 in London.

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

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Personal Touch

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching offers.

This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, specialises in senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also use technology.

"I think it's extremely useful, additional information is positive," he said.

"I think the more that people are online the more they'll want personal contact because they want the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he added.

Dafydd explained AI can inform clients and make coaching more efficient.

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

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," he concluded.

For many, he suggested, the fitness center is a place to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.