I Replaced My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
After a festive period packed with rich foods and relaxation, many people enter the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum.
However, could AI be transforming the world of exercise by providing an option to human coaches?
Tailored Plans and Flexible Schedules
Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a personal trainer.
Leah relied on an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural long-distance race in 2024.
She explained she asked it to design a regimen combining running and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives.
Leah then adjusted the schedule to suit her lifestyle, which she said was highly practical.
Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish.
She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer.
"With AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked.
Richard Gallimore
Significant Strength Improvements
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from a Welsh city, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his bench press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
He resorted to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a running event.
"I realized I need to sort myself out," he said.
The free tool built a fitness and meal program tailored to his goals, and established organized workouts.
"I train for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.
The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching
A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on basic full-access plans.
Fees ranged from £23 at the most affordable chain to £132 at the most expensive.
Based on industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.
Clients will often hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, but these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Human Touch
Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and accountability that live training provides.
The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his clients also use AI.
"I think it's very valuable, additional information is good," he said.
"I think the more that people are online the more they'll want human connection because they want the warmth from the comprehension that is missing from a computer," he continued.
The trainer explained Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more effective.
But, he said real commitment comes when people appear physically for their sessions.
"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," he added.
For many, he said, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.
