🔗 Share this article I Replaced My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Working. Leah Walsh She used AI to train for her latest 21km race and achieved a new record. Following a holiday period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter January aiming to regain their fitness momentum. However, could AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an alternative to human coaches? Personalized Plans and Flexible Schedules One fitness enthusiast employed an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon. The 21-year-old from Aberdare said she appreciated the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer. Leah used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in 2024. She said she asked it to design a regimen combining cardio and the gym, and it generated an multi-week plan tailored to her event day and objectives. The user then adjusted the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she described was convenient. The following year, she chose a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish. She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor. "With AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been leveraging AI for his workout and nutrition, and says he has never been stronger. Remarkable Strength Gains In a similar case, Another individual, in his twenties, from a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg. He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a race. "I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he said. The free tool built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and established structured routines. "I train for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he added. The Cost Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching One recent study in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, for standard full-access plans. Prices started at a lower price at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the most expensive. According to industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually £30-£65 per hour-long session in most areas and about £45-£65 in the capital. Customers will often hire a trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a short period, but these arrangements are often adaptable. Dafydd Judd Personal trainer one professional maintains AI will never replace the human connection that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Essential Human Element Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and responsibility that live training provides. This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He mentioned a number of his clients also use AI. "In my opinion it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he stated. "I think the more that people are online the more they'll want human connection because they want the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he continued. Dafydd explained AI can educate users and make guidance more efficient. However, he said true dedication comes when people show up 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 suggested, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.