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A runner

After a festive period filled with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals enter January looking to regain their fitness momentum.

But, could AI be changing the fitness industry by providing an alternative to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast employed an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman hailing from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first half marathon in 2024.

She said she requested it to design a regimen combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives.

Leah then adjusted the plan to suit her daily routine, which she said was convenient.

The following year, she chose a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. She finished a full minute quicker than her goal time.

She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer.

"Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she added.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Fitness Gains

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg.

He resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a running event.

"I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he commented.

This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established structured routines.

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.

The Expense Contrast: Technology vs. Traditional Training

One recent study in the previous year analyzed costs for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, for standard full-access plans.

Prices ranged from a lower price at the most affordable chain to £132 at the highest-priced.

According to industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session outside London and about a similar range in London.

Customers typically use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a short period, however these agreements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Human Touch

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, said AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.

The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and recovery from injuries. He mentioned some of his trainees also use AI.

"In my opinion it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he stated.

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

Dafydd said Artificial intelligence can inform clients and make coaching more efficient.

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

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," he concluded.

For many, he said, the gym is a place to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.