I successfully Swapped My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
Following a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter January aiming to regain their fitness momentum.
However, is it possible that AI be transforming the world of exercise by offering an option to personal trainers?
Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules
One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for impromptu training for the a major running event.
This young woman from Aberdare said she liked the liberty to pose queries any time of day – something she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.
She used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with audio coaching and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.
She explained she asked it to create a plan merging cardio and the weight training, and it generated an multi-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives.
Leah then adjusted the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.
Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. Her result was a minute faster than her goal time.
She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a human personal trainer.
"With AI you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she added.
A weightlifter
Remarkable Strength Improvements
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in Swansea, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from 70kg to 110kg.
Richard turned to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a race.
"I realized I had to sort myself out," he commented.
This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and established organized workouts.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said.
The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Training
One recent survey in late 2024 compared costs for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, based on basic full-access plans.
Fees ranged from a lower price at the most affordable provider to £132 at the highest-priced.
Based on industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session in most areas and about £45-£65 in the capital.
Clients typically hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a few months, but these arrangements are completely flexible.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Personal Touch
Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be beneficial to accelerate results, but is convinced it will never replace the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.
This expert, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his clients also employ technology.
"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he stated.
"I think the more people are online the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is missing from a machine," he added.
Dafydd explained AI can educate clients and make coaching more efficient.
However, he argued real commitment comes when people show up physically for training.
"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd added.
For many, he suggested, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.
