I successfully Swapped My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Working.

A runner

After a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people enter January aiming to regain their fitness momentum.

But, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the world of exercise by providing an alternative to human coaches?

Tailored Programs and Flexible Timelines

One fitness enthusiast employed an AI tool for last-minute preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-driven fitness application that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in recent years.

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

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

The following year, she opted for a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. Her result was a full minute quicker than her target finish.

She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor.

"Using artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she remarked.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Strength Gains

Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been employing artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his bench press from a lower weight to 110kg.

Richard turned to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a running event.

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

This no-cost application constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and created structured routines.

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

The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Traditional Coaching

A recent survey in late 2024 analyzed costs for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, for standard full-access plans.

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

According to industry research, fitness coaches set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about a similar range in London.

Clients will often use a trainer one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, however these agreements are often adaptable.

A personal trainer

The Essential Personal Element

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, said AI can be useful to speed up progress, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that in-person coaching offers.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his trainees also use AI.

"In my opinion it's very valuable, more knowledge is good," he stated.

"I believe the more people are online the more they'll want human connection because they crave the empathy from the comprehension that is missing from a computer," he continued.

Dafydd explained Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more effective.

But, he said true dedication comes when people show up in person for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd added.

For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.