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Leah Walsh

After a festive period filled with rich foods and relaxation, many people head into the new year looking to get their fitness back on track.

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

Tailored Plans and Adaptable Schedules

One fitness enthusiast used an AI tool for impromptu training for the a major running event.

The 21-year-old from Aberdare explained she appreciated the freedom to pose queries at all hours – a feature she believed was not possible with a traditional coach.

Leah relied on an AI-powered running app that gave her personalised plans with voice guidance and pace setting for her first half marathon in recent years.

She explained she asked it to design a regimen combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an multi-week programme tailored to her race date and objectives.

Leah then tweaked the plan to suit her daily routine, which she described was highly practical.

Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. Her result was a minute faster than her target finish.

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

"Using artificial intelligence you have to motivate yourself, which I actually prefer," she added.

A weightlifter

Significant Fitness Gains

Meanwhile, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been using artificial intelligence for his exercise and nutrition programs, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his bench press from 70kg to a much heavier load.

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

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

The free tool built a fitness and meal program tailored to his goals, and established structured routines.

"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he added.

The Expense Comparison: AI vs. Conventional Training

One recent survey in late 2024 compared prices for 17 of the biggest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard memberships.

Prices ranged from £23 at the cheapest chain to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

Based on further data, personal trainers determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment outside London and about a similar range in London.

Clients will often hire a coach once or twice a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are completely flexible.

A personal trainer

The Irreplaceable Personal Element

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be beneficial to accelerate results, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that live training offers.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and recovery from injuries. He mentioned some of his clients also employ technology.

"In my opinion it's extremely useful, additional information is positive," he stated.

"I believe the more that people are online the more they'll desire 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 coaching more efficient.

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

"No matter how helpful as it is at 2am, a computer cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," Dafydd added.

For many, he said, the fitness center is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.