I successfully Swapped My Own Personal Trainer for AI – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
Following a festive period packed with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals head into January looking to get their fitness back on track.
However, could AI be changing the world of exercise by providing an option to personal trainers?
Tailored Plans and Flexible Timelines
One fitness enthusiast employed an artificial intelligence application for last-minute training for the a major running event.
The 21-year-old hailing from Aberdare explained she appreciated the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – a feature she believed was unavailable with a personal trainer.
Leah used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with audio coaching and pace setting for her first half marathon in recent years.
She explained she requested it to design a regimen merging running and the gym, and it produced an 11-week programme tailored to her event day and objectives.
The user then adjusted the schedule to suit her daily routine, which she said was convenient.
Subsequently, she chose a alternative application because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her goal time.
She said she wanted to avoid the pressure from a human personal trainer.
"Using AI you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she added.
A weightlifter
Significant Strength Improvements
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from Swansea, has been employing AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, increasing his chest press from 70kg to a much heavier load.
He turned to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a race.
"I realized I need to sort myself out," he commented.
This no-cost application built a workout and diet plan tailored to his aims, and established structured routines.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a noticeable change," he said.
The Expense Contrast: AI vs. Traditional Coaching
A recent survey in the previous year analyzed prices for 17 of the largest fitness chains and found the typical monthly fee was approximately forty pounds per month, based on standard full-access plans.
Fees ranged from £23 at the cheapest provider to £132 at the highest-priced.
According to industry research, personal trainers set their own rates, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per hour-long session in most areas and about £45-£65 in the capital.
Customers typically hire a trainer once or twice a week and collaborate for a short period, however these agreements are often adaptable.
A personal trainer
The Irreplaceable Personal Element
Personal trainer Dafydd Judd, from the Welsh capital, acknowledged AI can be beneficial to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the human connection and responsibility that in-person coaching provides.
This expert, who has 12 years experience as a coach, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his trainees also employ AI.
"I think it's very valuable, additional information is positive," he stated.
"I think the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll want personal contact because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is absent from a computer," he continued.
Dafydd explained AI can inform clients and make coaching more efficient.
But, he argued real commitment comes when people appear physically for training.
"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer won't keep you accountable at 7am before work," Dafydd added.
In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a space to disconnect from devices and take a break from technology.
