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A runner

After a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter January aiming to get their fitness back on track.

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

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Timelines

Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she liked the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she believed was not possible with a traditional coach.

Leah used an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and pace setting for her first half marathon in 2024.

She explained she requested it to design a regimen merging running and the gym, and it generated an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and objectives.

The user then tweaked the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she said was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions 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 artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Strength Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, from Swansea, has been using AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to 110kg.

Richard resorted to a AI assistant for assistance after being forced to walk a race.

"I realized I had to sort myself out," he commented.

This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program tailored to his goals, and created organized workouts.

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

The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Conventional Coaching

One recent survey in late 2024 analyzed costs for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was around £38 a month, for standard full-access plans.

Prices ranged from £23 at the most affordable chain to £132 at the most expensive.

According to industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically £30-£65 per 45-60 minute appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.

Customers typically use a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a short period, but these agreements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Human Element

Personal trainer one experienced professional, based in the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but believes 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 coach, focuses on older adults and recovery from injuries. He said some of his clients also employ AI.

"In my opinion it's extremely useful, more knowledge is positive," he said.

"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they crave the warmth from the understanding that is missing from a computer," he continued.

The trainer said Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more efficient.

However, he argued real commitment comes when people show up physically for training.

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

For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.