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A runner

After a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, could AI be transforming the fitness industry by offering an alternative to human coaches?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the a major running event.

This young woman from Aberdare explained she appreciated the liberty to pose queries any time of day – a feature she felt 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 requested it to design a regimen combining running 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 lifestyle, which she said was highly practical.

Subsequently, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.

She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a live instructor.

"With artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Improvements

In a similar case, Another individual, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been employing AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.

Richard turned to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a race.

"I just knew I had to get myself in shape," he commented.

This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and established organized workouts.

"I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he said.

The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Traditional Training

A recent study in late 2024 analyzed costs for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, based on standard full-access plans.

Prices ranged from a lower price at the most affordable chain to £132 at the highest-priced.

According to further data, fitness coaches 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 will often hire a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Essential Personal Element

Personal trainer one experienced professional, based in the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also use AI.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is positive," he said.

"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire human connection because they crave the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he added.

The trainer said AI can inform users and make guidance more efficient.

However, he said true dedication comes when people appear physically for their sessions.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," Dafydd added.

For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.