🔗 Share this article I Swapped My Personal Trainer for AI – With Great Results. Leah Walsh She used AI to train for her latest half marathon and achieved a new record. Following a holiday period filled with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals head into the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track. But, is it possible that AI be transforming the fitness industry by providing an alternative to personal trainers? Tailored Programs and Flexible Schedules Leah Walsh used an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon. The 21-year-old from Aberdare said she liked the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was unavailable with a traditional coach. 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 said she asked it to create a regimen merging running and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week programme customized to her race date and goals. The user then adjusted the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she said was highly practical. The following year, she chose a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. She finished a full minute quicker than her target finish. She said she did not want feeling pressure from a human personal trainer. "Using AI you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she added. A weightlifter He has been leveraging artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and says he feels stronger than ever. Remarkable Fitness Gains In a similar case, Another individual, 23, from a Welsh city, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, increasing his bench press from a lower weight to a much heavier load. He turned to a AI assistant for assistance after being unable to run a race. "I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented. The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and created structured routines. "I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added. The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Traditional Coaching A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed costs for numerous of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds a month, based on basic full-access plans. Fees ranged from £23 at the cheapest chain to £132 at the highest-priced. Based on further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital. Customers typically use a trainer once or twice a week and collaborate for a few months, but these arrangements are often adaptable. Dafydd Judd Personal trainer one professional believes artificial intelligence will cannot replicate the personal bond that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Essential Personal Element Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the human connection 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 technology. "In my opinion it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he said. "I think the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he added. Dafydd said AI can inform clients and make guidance more effective. However, he said real commitment comes when people show up physically for training. "As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," he concluded. For many, he said, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.