🔗 Share this article

A runner

After a festive period filled with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals head into the new year aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

However, could AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?

Tailored Plans and Flexible Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales explained she appreciated the freedom to pose queries any time of day – something she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered running app that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first long-distance race in 2024.

She said she requested it to design a plan merging running and the gym, and it generated an multi-week plan customized to her event day and goals.

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

The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could consult it whenever she wanted. She finished a full minute quicker than her goal time.

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

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

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Fitness Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

He turned to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a running event.

"I realized I had to get myself in shape," he said.

The free tool constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and created organized workouts.

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

The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Training

A recent survey in the previous year analyzed prices for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, based on standard memberships.

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

Based on industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically £30-£65 per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about £45-£65 in the capital.

Clients will often hire a coach one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Human Touch

Personal trainer one experienced professional, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching provides.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He mentioned a number of his clients also use technology.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, additional information is good," he stated.

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

The trainer said AI can inform users and make coaching more effective.

However, he said real commitment comes when people appear in person for their sessions.

"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.

For many, he said, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.