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A runner

Following a holiday period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter the new year aiming to get their fitness back on track.

However, could Artificial Intelligence be changing the world of exercise by offering an option to personal trainers?

Personalized Plans and Adaptable Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu preparation for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales explained she liked the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – something she felt was unavailable with a traditional coach.

Leah relied on an AI-powered fitness application that gave her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.

She said she asked it to design a regimen merging cardio and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan tailored to her race date and goals.

The user then adjusted the plan to suit her daily routine, which she said was convenient.

The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions at any time. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish.

She noted she did not want feeling pressure from a human personal trainer.

"With artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she remarked.

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Fitness Gains

Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 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 chest press from a lower weight to 110kg.

He resorted to a bot for help after being forced to walk a race.

"I realized I need to sort myself out," he said.

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

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

The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Traditional Coaching

A recent study in the previous year compared prices for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, for basic full-access plans.

Fees started at a lower price at the most affordable provider to a premium rate at the most expensive.

Based on further data, fitness coaches set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute session outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.

Customers will often hire a trainer one or two times a week and work with them for a short period, however these agreements are completely flexible.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Personal Touch

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the personal interaction and responsibility that live training offers.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his trainees also use AI.

"I think it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he said.

"I think the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a machine," he continued.

The trainer said AI can educate users and make coaching more effective.

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

"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," he concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.