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Leah Walsh

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

However, is it possible that AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules

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

This young woman from Aberdare said she liked the freedom to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she believed was not possible with a personal trainer.

Leah relied on an AI-driven fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.

She explained she asked it to create a regimen merging cardio and the gym, and it produced an 11-week programme tailored to her event day and goals.

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

Subsequently, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.

She said she did not want the pressure from a human personal trainer.

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

A weightlifter

Significant Fitness Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in 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 a much heavier load.

Richard turned to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a race.

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

This no-cost application constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and established organized workouts.

"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.

The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Training

A recent study in the previous year analyzed prices for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard full-access plans.

Prices started at a lower price at the most affordable provider to £132 at the most expensive.

According to further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds 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 work with them for a few months, but these arrangements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Human Touch

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, 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 provides.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also use AI.

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

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

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

However, he argued true dedication comes when people appear in person 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," he concluded.

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