🔗 Share this article

Leah Walsh

After a festive period packed with rich foods and relaxation, many people head into the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track.

However, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be transforming the fitness industry by providing an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Programs and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast used an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to ask it questions any time of day – something she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.

She used an AI-driven running app that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in 2024.

She said she asked it to create a plan merging running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week programme tailored to her race date and objectives.

The user then adjusted the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical.

The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish.

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

"With AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Strength Gains

In a similar case, Another individual, in his twenties, based in a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg.

He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a running event.

"I realized I had to sort myself out," he said.

The free tool constructed a fitness and meal program personalized to his aims, and established structured routines.

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

The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching

One recent study in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, based on standard memberships.

Prices ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the most expensive.

According to industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, 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 will often use a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, however these arrangements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Personal Element

Fitness coach one experienced professional, based in Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and accountability that live training provides.

This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his clients also employ AI.

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

"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he added.

Dafydd explained AI can inform clients and make guidance more efficient.

But, 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 computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.