I successfully Swapped My Fitness Coach for AI – With Great Results.
Leah Walsh
After a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people head into the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track.
But, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by providing an option to human coaches?
Tailored Plans and Flexible Timelines
Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
This young woman hailing from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to pose queries any time of day – a feature she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.
Leah relied on an AI-driven running app that gave her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.
She explained she requested it to create a regimen combining running and the gym, and it produced an 11-week plan customized to her event day and objectives.
The user then tweaked the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.
The following year, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.
She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor.
"Using AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.
A weightlifter
Significant Fitness Improvements
Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, based in a Welsh city, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
Richard resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being unable to run a race.
"I realized I had to get myself in shape," he commented.
This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and created structured routines.
"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.
The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching
A recent study in late 2024 compared costs for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, based on basic full-access plans.
Fees ranged from a lower price at the cheapest provider to £132 at the most expensive.
According to industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment outside London and about a similar range in the capital.
Clients typically hire a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are completely flexible.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Human Element
Fitness coach one experienced professional, from Cardiff, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.
The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his trainees also use AI.
"In my opinion it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he said.
"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll desire human connection because they want the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he continued.
Dafydd explained AI can inform users and make guidance more effective.
However, he argued real commitment comes when people appear in person for their sessions.
"As useful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd added.
In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.
