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Leah Walsh

After a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter January aiming to get their fitness back on track.

However, could Artificial Intelligence be changing the fitness industry by offering an alternative to human coaches?

Tailored Plans and Flexible Schedules

One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old hailing from Aberdare said she liked the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

Leah relied on an AI-powered fitness application that gave her customized schedules with audio coaching and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.

She explained she requested it to create a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan customized to her event day and goals.

Leah then tweaked the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions at any time. Her result was a minute faster 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 actually prefer," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Improvements

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from 70kg to 110kg.

Richard turned to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a running event.

"I just knew I need to sort myself out," he commented.

This no-cost application constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his aims, and created structured routines.

"I train for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.

The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Conventional Coaching

One recent study in the previous year compared prices for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, for basic full-access plans.

Fees ranged from a lower price at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

Based on industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about £45-£65 in London.

Clients typically use a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, however these arrangements are often adaptable.

A personal trainer

The Irreplaceable Personal Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but is convinced it will never replace the human connection and responsibility that in-person coaching offers.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his trainees also use AI.

"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he said.

"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll want personal contact because they want the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he continued.

The trainer explained AI can educate clients and make guidance more efficient.

But, he argued true dedication comes when people appear physically for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he added.

In the view of many, he suggested, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.