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A runner

Following a festive period packed with indulgent treats and relaxation, numerous individuals enter the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track.

However, could AI be transforming the world of exercise by providing an alternative to human coaches?

Tailored Plans and Flexible Schedules

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the a major running event.

This young woman from Aberdare said she liked the liberty to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.

She used an AI-driven running app that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in 2024.

She said she requested it to design a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week programme tailored to her race date and goals.

Leah then tweaked the plan to fit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical.

Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish.

She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor.

"With artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she remarked.

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Gains

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, based in Swansea, has been employing artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

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

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

The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his aims, and created organized workouts.

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

The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Training

A recent study in the previous year analyzed costs for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, based on basic memberships.

Fees ranged from £23 at the most affordable provider to £132 at the most expensive.

According to further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment in most areas and about a similar range in London.

Customers will often hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, but these agreements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Personal Touch

Personal trainer one experienced professional, from the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be useful to accelerate results, but is convinced it will not supplant the human connection and responsibility that live training offers.

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

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

"I think the more that people are online the more they'll want personal contact because they want the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he continued.

The trainer said Artificial intelligence can inform clients and make guidance more effective.

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

"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.