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A runner

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

However, is it possible that AI be changing the world of exercise by offering an alternative to personal trainers?

Personalized Programs and Flexible Timelines

Leah Walsh used an AI tool for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old from Aberdare explained she liked the freedom to pose queries any time of day – a feature she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered fitness application that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.

She said she asked it to create a plan combining cardio and the gym, and it generated an 11-week programme customized to her event day and goals.

The user then adjusted the plan to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.

She noted she did not want feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she remarked.

A weightlifter

Significant Fitness Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, in his twenties, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

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.

This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program tailored to his aims, and created structured routines.

"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.

The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Training

One recent survey in the previous year analyzed costs for numerous of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 per month, for standard full-access plans.

Fees ranged from £23 at the cheapest chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

Based on industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically £30-£65 per hour-long session outside London and about a similar range in London.

Clients typically hire a trainer once or twice a week and work with them for a few months, but these agreements are completely flexible.

A personal trainer

The Essential Personal Touch

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged AI can be useful to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching provides.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned some of his trainees also employ technology.

"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he said.

"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll want human connection because they want the warmth from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he continued.

Dafydd said AI can educate users and make coaching more effective.

However, he argued real commitment comes when people appear in person for their sessions.

"As useful as it is at 2am, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the fitness center is a place to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.