🔗 Share this article

A runner

After a holiday period packed with rich foods and downtime, many people enter the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track.

But, is it possible that AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman from a town in Wales said she liked the freedom to pose queries any time of day – a feature she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.

Leah relied on an AI-driven running app that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.

She explained she requested it to design a regimen merging running and the gym, and it generated an multi-week plan tailored to her race date and goals.

The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

The following year, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time.

She noted she did not want the pressure from a live instructor.

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

A weightlifter

Remarkable Fitness Gains

In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, boosting his bench press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

Richard resorted to a bot for assistance after being unable to run a running event.

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

This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program personalized to his goals, and created organized workouts.

"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said.

The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching

One recent study in late 2024 compared costs for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 per month, for standard full-access plans.

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

According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in London.

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

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Human Touch

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be beneficial to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that live training provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his clients also use AI.

"In my opinion it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he said.

"I think the more people are online the more they'll want human connection because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he added.

The trainer said Artificial intelligence can educate clients and make coaching more efficient.

However, he argued true dedication comes when people show up in person for training.

"As useful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd added.

For many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.