🔗 Share this article I successfully Replaced My Fitness Coach for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Working. Leah Walsh She used artificial intelligence to train for her latest half marathon and achieved a personal best. After a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals head into January looking to get their fitness back on track. However, is it possible that AI be changing the world of exercise by offering an option to human coaches? Tailored Plans and Flexible Timelines One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon. This young woman from Aberdare said she liked the liberty to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she believed was not possible with a traditional coach. Leah relied on an AI-powered running app that provided her personalised plans with audio coaching and speed targets for her first half marathon in recent years. She said she asked it to design a regimen combining cardio and the gym, and it generated an 11-week programme tailored to her race date and objectives. The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she described was highly practical. Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was more affordable and she could consult it at any time. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish. She noted she did not want the pressure from a human personal trainer. "With artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I quite like," she added. A weightlifter Richard Gallimore has been leveraging AI for his workout and nutrition, and says he has never been stronger. Significant Fitness Gains Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 23, based in Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and said he has never felt stronger, increasing his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load. He turned to a bot for help after being forced to walk a running event. "I realized I had to get myself in shape," he said. The free tool built a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and established structured routines. "I work out for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said. The Cost Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Training A recent study in the previous year compared prices for numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds per month, for basic memberships. Fees ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced. According to industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, usually a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment in most areas and about a similar range in London. Customers will often hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a few months, however these arrangements are completely flexible. A personal trainer Personal trainer Dafydd Judd maintains AI will never replace the human connection that comes from face-to-face coaching. The Irreplaceable Human Element Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from Cardiff, said AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and accountability that live training provides. The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his clients also use AI. "In my opinion it's very valuable, additional information is good," he said. "I think the more that people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they want the empathy from the comprehension that is missing from a computer," he continued. Dafydd said AI can educate users and make coaching more effective. However, he said real commitment comes when people show up in person 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 added. For many, he suggested, the gym is a place to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.