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A runner

Following a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people head into January looking to get their fitness back on track.

However, could AI be changing the fitness industry by providing an alternative to personal trainers?

Tailored Plans and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old from a town in Wales explained she appreciated the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.

Leah relied on an AI-driven fitness application that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.

She said 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.

The user then tweaked the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she described was convenient.

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

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

"Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Fitness Improvements

In a similar case, Another individual, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his bench press from 70kg to 110kg.

He turned to a bot for help after being unable to run a running event.

"I realized I had to sort myself out," he commented.

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

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.

The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Conventional Training

A recent study in the previous year compared costs for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, for standard full-access plans.

Fees started at a lower price at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the most expensive.

According to industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session outside London and about £45-£65 in London.

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

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Human Touch

Fitness coach one experienced professional, from the Welsh capital, said AI can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and accountability that live training provides.

This expert, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his clients also employ technology.

"I think it's extremely useful, additional information is good," he said.

"I think the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he continued.

Dafydd explained Artificial intelligence can inform users and make guidance more efficient.

However, he said true dedication comes when people appear physically for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd added.

For many, he said, the gym is a place to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.