🔗 Share this article I successfully Replaced My Own Fitness Coach for AI – And It's Working. Leah Walsh Leah employed artificial intelligence to prepare for her second half marathon and achieved a new record. After a holiday period packed with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals enter the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track. However, is it possible that AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an option to personal trainers? Tailored Plans and Adaptable Schedules Leah Walsh used an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon. This young woman from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to pose queries at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a traditional coach. She relied on an AI-powered running app that provided her personalised plans with voice guidance and speed targets for her first long-distance race in recent years. She said she requested it to design a regimen merging cardio and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week plan customized to her event day and goals. The user then tweaked the plan to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical. The following year, she chose a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish. She noted she did not want the pressure from a human personal trainer. "With AI you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she remarked. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been leveraging artificial intelligence for his workout and nutrition, and says he has never been stronger. Remarkable Strength Gains In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, in his twenties, based in a Welsh city, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his bench press from 70kg to 110kg. He turned to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a race. "I just knew I need to get myself in shape," he said. The free tool built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and established organized workouts. "I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added. The Cost Contrast: AI vs. Conventional Coaching A recent survey in the previous year compared costs for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard memberships. Fees ranged from £23 at the cheapest chain to £132 at the highest-priced. Based on industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session in most areas and about a similar range in the capital. Customers typically hire a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a few months, but these arrangements are often adaptable. A personal trainer Personal trainer one professional maintains AI will never replace the personal bond that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Irreplaceable Personal Touch Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching offers. The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his trainees also employ AI. "I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he stated. "I think the more people are connected digitally the more they'll want human connection because they crave the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a computer," he added. Dafydd said AI can educate clients and make coaching more efficient. But, he argued true dedication comes when people show up in person for training. "As useful as it is at 2am, a computer cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," he added. In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.