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Leah Walsh

After a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people head into January aiming to get their fitness back on track.

But, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be changing the fitness industry by providing an option to human coaches?

Tailored Plans and Adaptable Schedules

One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for last-minute training for the a major running event.

This young woman from a town in Wales explained she appreciated the freedom to pose queries any time of day – a feature she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.

Leah used an AI-driven fitness application that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first long-distance race in 2024.

She said she asked it to design a plan combining running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week programme customized to her race date and objectives.

Leah then tweaked the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she said was convenient.

Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. Her result was a minute faster than her goal time.

She noted she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor.

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

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Strength Gains

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, based in Swansea, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

Richard resorted to a bot for assistance after being unable to run a running event.

"I just knew I need to get myself in shape," he said.

This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established organized workouts.

"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said.

The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Training

One recent study in the previous year compared costs for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard full-access plans.

Fees started at a lower price at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session outside London and about a similar range in London.

Customers will often hire a trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a few months, however these agreements are completely flexible.

A personal trainer

The Essential Human Touch

Personal trainer one experienced professional, based in Cardiff, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that live training provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also employ AI.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he stated.

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

Dafydd said Artificial intelligence can educate clients and make coaching more efficient.

However, he argued real commitment comes when people appear physically for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.