🔗 Share this article I successfully Exchanged My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – With Great Results. A runner She used artificial intelligence to train for her latest half marathon and achieved a personal best. After a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter January looking to get their fitness back on track. However, could AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches? Tailored Plans and Adaptable Timelines Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the a major running event. The 21-year-old from a town in Wales explained she appreciated the liberty to pose queries any time of day – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer. She relied on an AI-driven running app that provided her customized schedules with audio coaching and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in 2024. She said she requested it to design a plan combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives. The user then adjusted the plan to fit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical. Subsequently, she opted for a alternative application 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 artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added. Richard Gallimore He has been using AI for his fitness and diet plans, and states he has never been stronger. Remarkable Fitness Gains In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in Swansea, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to a much heavier load. He resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a race. "I just knew I had to sort myself out," he said. The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and created organized workouts. "I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said. The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed costs for 17 of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, for basic memberships. Prices ranged from a lower price at the cheapest chain to £132 at the most expensive. According to further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment in most areas and about £45-£65 in London. Customers will often hire a trainer one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, however these arrangements are completely flexible. Dafydd Judd Fitness expert Dafydd Judd maintains AI will never replace the personal bond that comes from in-person training. The Irreplaceable Human Element Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the personal interaction and accountability that live training offers. The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his clients also employ AI. "In my opinion it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he stated. "I believe the more people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he continued. Dafydd said AI can educate clients and make guidance more efficient. However, he said true dedication comes when people show up physically for training. "No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he added. In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.