I successfully Replaced My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Effective.
Leah Walsh
Following a festive period packed with rich foods and relaxation, many people enter January looking to get their fitness back on track.
But, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be transforming 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 a major running event.
The 21-year-old from a town in Wales explained she appreciated the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.
She used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024.
She explained she requested it to design a plan combining running and the weight training, and it generated an multi-week programme tailored to her race date and objectives.
Leah then tweaked the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.
The following year, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time.
She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor.
"With artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.
Richard Gallimore
Significant Strength Improvements
Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, from Swansea, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has achieved peak strength, increasing his bench press from 70kg to 110kg.
Richard turned to a AI assistant for assistance after being unable to run a race.
"I realized I had to sort myself out," he said.
This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and created organized workouts.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Conventional Coaching
A recent survey in late 2024 compared costs for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard full-access plans.
Fees started at a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the most expensive.
Based on industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, usually £30-£65 per hour-long session outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.
Clients typically hire a trainer one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Essential Personal Element
Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and responsibility that in-person coaching offers.
This expert, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He said some of his clients also employ technology.
"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he stated.
"I think the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he added.
The trainer explained AI can educate users and make guidance more effective.
But, he said real commitment comes when people appear in person for training.
"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.
For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.
