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Leah Walsh

After a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter January looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, could AI be changing the world of exercise by providing an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

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

The 21-year-old hailing from Aberdare explained she appreciated the liberty to pose queries at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.

She relied on an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024.

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

Leah then tweaked the plan to suit her daily routine, which she described was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could consult it whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.

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

"With artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Gains

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

He turned to a bot for help after being forced to walk a race.

"I just knew I need to get myself in shape," he said.

This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and created structured routines.

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

The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Coaching

One recent study in late 2024 analyzed prices for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, for basic full-access plans.

Fees started at a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the highest-priced.

Based on industry research, personal trainers 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 will often use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, however these agreements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Personal Touch

Fitness coach one experienced professional, from Cardiff, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the human connection and accountability that live training offers.

This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also employ AI.

"In my opinion it's extremely useful, additional information is good," he stated.

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

The trainer explained AI can inform users and make guidance more effective.

However, he said real commitment comes when people show up in person for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," he concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.