🔗 Share this article I successfully Replaced My Own Fitness Coach for AI – With Great Results. Leah Walsh She used AI to prepare for her second 21km race and secured a new record. After a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people head into the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track. However, could AI be transforming the world of exercise by offering an alternative to personal trainers? Tailored Plans and Flexible Schedules Leah Walsh employed an artificial intelligence application for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon. This young woman hailing from Aberdare explained she liked the freedom to pose queries at all hours – something she believed was not possible with a personal trainer. She used an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her inaugural half marathon in recent years. She explained she asked it to design a plan combining cardio and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives. The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical. The following year, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish. She said she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor. "With AI you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and states he feels stronger than ever. Remarkable Fitness Improvements Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been employing artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg. He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a running event. "I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented. The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and established structured routines. "I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said. The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed costs for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard full-access plans. Prices started at a lower price at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced. According to further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually £30-£65 per hour-long session in most areas and about a similar range in the capital. Clients typically hire a trainer once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, but these arrangements are completely flexible. Dafydd Judd Fitness expert Dafydd Judd maintains AI will cannot replicate the human connection that comes from in-person training. The Irreplaceable Human Touch Fitness coach 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 live training offers. This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his clients also employ AI. "In my opinion it's extremely useful, additional information is good," he stated. "I believe the more people are online the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the empathy from the comprehension that is missing from a computer," he added. Dafydd explained Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more efficient. However, he said real commitment comes when people appear physically for training. "As useful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded. For many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.