I successfully Replaced My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
Following a festive period filled with indulgent treats and relaxation, many people enter the new year looking to get their fitness back on track.
However, is it possible that AI be transforming the fitness industry by providing an alternative to personal trainers?
Tailored Plans and Adaptable Timelines
One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu preparation for the a major running event.
The 21-year-old from a town in Wales explained she liked the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – something she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.
Leah used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.
She explained she asked it to design a plan combining cardio and the weight training, and it generated an multi-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives.
The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she said was highly practical.
The following year, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions at any time. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish.
She noted she did not want the pressure from a live instructor.
"Using AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.
Richard Gallimore
Significant Fitness Gains
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, based in a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
He turned to a bot for help after being unable to run a race.
"I realized I had to get myself in shape," he said.
The free tool built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established structured routines.
"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching
A recent survey in late 2024 compared prices for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, for standard full-access plans.
Prices started at £23 at the cheapest chain to £132 at the highest-priced.
According to further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.
Clients will often use a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, but these agreements are completely flexible.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Personal Element
Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that live training offers.
This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his clients also employ technology.
"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is positive," he said.
"I think the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he added.
The trainer explained Artificial intelligence can inform clients and make guidance more effective.
However, he argued real commitment comes when people show up physically for their sessions.
"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," he concluded.
In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.
