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A runner

After a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, many people head into January looking to regain their fitness momentum.

However, is it possible that AI be changing the world of exercise by offering an option to human coaches?

Personalized Programs and Flexible Schedules

One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

The 21-year-old hailing from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered running app that gave her customized schedules with audio coaching and speed targets for her inaugural half marathon in recent years.

She explained she requested it to design a regimen combining running and the gym, and it produced an 11-week plan customized to her race date and objectives.

Leah then tweaked the schedule to fit her daily routine, which she described was convenient.

Subsequently, she chose 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 the pressure from a live instructor.

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

Richard Gallimore

Remarkable Strength Improvements

Meanwhile, Another individual, 23, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and said he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

He turned to a AI assistant for help after being forced to walk a race.

"I just knew I need to sort myself out," he said.

This no-cost application constructed a fitness and meal program personalized to his goals, and created 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 numerous of the largest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, based on basic full-access plans.

Prices ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to £132 at the most expensive.

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

Clients typically use a coach once or twice a week and work with them for a short period, however these arrangements are often adaptable.

A personal trainer

The Essential Personal Element

Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, based in Cardiff, said AI can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and responsibility that live training provides.

The 37-year-old, who has 12 years experience as a trainer, focuses on senior clients and injury rehabilitation. He said some of his clients also employ technology.

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

"I think the more people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they want the empathy from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he added.

Dafydd explained AI can educate users and make guidance more efficient.

However, he argued real commitment comes when people show up in person for training.

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

In the view of many, he suggested, the fitness center is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.