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A runner

Following a festive period packed with rich foods and relaxation, numerous individuals head into January aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

But, could AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an alternative to personal trainers?

Tailored Plans and Flexible Schedules

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for last-minute training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she liked the liberty to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she felt was unavailable with a personal trainer.

She used an AI-driven running app that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years.

She explained she requested it to design a regimen merging cardio and the gym, and it generated an multi-week programme tailored to her race date and goals.

Leah then adjusted the plan to suit her lifestyle, which she described was convenient.

Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. She finished a full minute quicker than her goal time.

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

"With AI you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Fitness Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, based in Swansea, has been employing AI for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has never felt stronger, boosting his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg.

He turned to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a running event.

"I just knew I had to sort myself out," he commented.

This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program personalized to his aims, and created structured routines.

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

The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Coaching

One recent study in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard full-access plans.

Prices ranged from £23 at the most affordable provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

Based on industry research, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session in most areas and about a similar range in London.

Clients 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 Human Touch

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will never replace the human connection and responsibility that in-person coaching provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and recovery from injuries. He said a number of his trainees also employ technology.

"I think it's very valuable, additional information is good," he stated.

"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll want human connection because they want the warmth from the understanding that is absent from a computer," he added.

The trainer explained AI can inform users and make guidance more effective.

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

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd concluded.

For many, he suggested, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.