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Leah Walsh

Following a festive period packed with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals enter January looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, could AI be changing the fitness industry by offering an option to human coaches?

Personalized Programs and Adaptable Schedules

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for last-minute training for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.

She used an AI-powered running app that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her first long-distance race in recent years.

She explained she requested it to design a plan merging cardio and the gym, and it generated an 11-week plan customized to her event day and goals.

The user then adjusted the plan to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

Subsequently, she opted for a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could ask it questions at any time. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.

She noted she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer.

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

A weightlifter

Remarkable Fitness Gains

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, based in a Welsh city, has been using AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his bench press from 70kg to 110kg.

He resorted to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a running event.

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

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

"I work out for about two hours a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.

The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Traditional Training

A recent study in late 2024 analyzed prices for 17 of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was approximately forty pounds a month, based on standard memberships.

Fees ranged from a lower price at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.

Based on further data, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long appointment outside London and about £45-£65 in the capital.

Customers will often hire a coach once or twice a week and work with them for a few months, however these arrangements are completely flexible.

A personal trainer

The Irreplaceable Human Touch

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged AI can be beneficial to speed up progress, but is convinced it will never replace the human connection and accountability that in-person coaching provides.

The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He said a number of his trainees also employ AI.

"I think it's extremely useful, more knowledge is good," he said.

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

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

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

"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," he added.

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