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A runner

After a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter January aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

But, is it possible that AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules

One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for impromptu training for the a major running event.

This young woman hailing from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.

She used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her first long-distance race in 2024.

She explained she asked it to design a regimen merging running and the gym, and it produced an 11-week plan customized to her event day and goals.

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

Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.

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

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

Richard Gallimore

Significant Strength Gains

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, from a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from 70kg to 110kg.

Richard turned to a AI assistant for assistance after being unable to run a race.

"I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented.

This no-cost application constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his aims, and established organized workouts.

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

The Cost Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Training

A recent survey in the previous year compared prices for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, for basic full-access plans.

Fees ranged from £23 at the cheapest chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.

According to further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually £30-£65 per 45-60 minute session outside London and about a similar range in the capital.

Customers will often use a trainer one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Personal Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged AI 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 over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and recovery from injuries. He mentioned some of his trainees also employ AI.

"I think it's extremely useful, additional information is positive," he said.

"I think the more that people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the empathy from the comprehension that is missing from a computer," he added.

The trainer said AI can educate users and make guidance more efficient.

However, he argued true dedication comes when people appear physically for their sessions.

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

For many, he said, the fitness center is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.