I successfully Swapped My Own Fitness Coach for AI – And It's Effective.
Leah Walsh
After a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals enter January aiming to get their fitness back on track.
However, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to personal trainers?
Tailored Programs and Flexible Schedules
One fitness enthusiast used an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
The 21-year-old from a town in Wales explained she liked the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.
She used an AI-driven running app that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural half marathon in 2024.
She explained she requested it to design a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives.
The user then adjusted the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical.
Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.
She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor.
"Using artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.
A weightlifter
Significant Fitness Improvements
Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from 70kg to 110kg.
He resorted to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a race.
"I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented.
The free tool built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, 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: Technology vs. Conventional Training
One recent survey in the previous year compared costs for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 a month, for basic memberships.
Fees started at £23 at the most affordable provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced.
Based on industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about a similar range in the capital.
Customers will often hire a trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a short period, but these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Personal Element
Personal trainer one experienced professional, from Cardiff, said artificial intelligence can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching offers.
The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a coach, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his clients also employ technology.
"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he stated.
"I think the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want human connection because they want the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a computer," he added.
The trainer said Artificial intelligence can inform clients and make guidance 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 digital tool cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd added.
For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.
