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A runner

After a festive period packed with rich foods and downtime, many people enter the new year aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

However, is it possible that AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an alternative to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Timelines

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

This young woman hailing from Aberdare said she liked the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

She relied on an AI-powered fitness application that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural half marathon in 2024.

She said she asked it to create a regimen combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week programme customized to her event day and goals.

The user then tweaked the plan to suit her daily routine, which she said was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. Her result was a minute faster than her goal time.

She said she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.

Richard Gallimore

Significant Fitness Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence 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 bot for assistance after being unable to run a race.

"I realized I need to sort myself out," he said.

The free tool built a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and created organized workouts.

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

The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching

A recent study in the previous year compared prices for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, for standard memberships.

Prices ranged from £23 at the most affordable provider to £132 at the highest-priced.

Based on industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, typically £30-£65 per 45-60 minute session outside London and about £45-£65 in London.

Customers will often use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these arrangements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Personal Touch

Personal trainer one experienced professional, from the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the human connection and responsibility that live training offers.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He mentioned a number of his trainees also employ technology.

"I think it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he said.

"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is missing from a machine," he continued.

Dafydd said Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more efficient.

However, he argued true dedication comes when people appear in person for their sessions.

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

For many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.