🔗 Share this article I successfully Swapped My Own Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Effective. A runner Leah employed AI to train for her latest 21km race and secured a personal best. Following a holiday period filled with rich foods and relaxation, many people head into the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum. However, is it possible that Artificial Intelligence be transforming the world of exercise by providing an alternative to personal trainers? Tailored Programs and Adaptable Schedules Leah Walsh employed an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon. The 21-year-old from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a traditional coach. She relied on an AI-powered running app that provided her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in recent years. She explained she asked it to design a plan combining cardio and the gym, and it generated an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives. Leah then tweaked the plan to fit her daily routine, which she said was convenient. The following year, she opted for 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 target finish. She said she did not want the pressure from a live instructor. "Using artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been leveraging artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and says he has never been stronger. Remarkable Fitness Improvements In a similar case, Another individual, in his twenties, based in Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg. He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a running event. "I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he said. The free tool constructed a fitness and meal program personalized to his goals, and created structured routines. "I train for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he added. The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching One recent study in late 2024 compared costs for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 per month, for standard full-access plans. Prices ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the most expensive. Based on industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital. Clients will often use a coach once or twice a week and work with them for a short period, however these arrangements are often adaptable. Dafydd Judd Personal trainer Dafydd Judd believes AI will cannot replicate the personal bond that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Essential Human Touch Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, said artificial intelligence can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching offers. This expert, 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 employ AI. "I think 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 crave the empathy from the understanding that is missing from a machine," he added. The trainer explained Artificial intelligence can educate clients and make coaching more effective. But, he said true dedication comes when people show up physically for training. "As useful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," he added. In the view of many, he said, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.