I Replaced My Personal Trainer for Artificial Intelligence – And It's Effective.

Leah Walsh

After a holiday period filled with rich foods and downtime, numerous individuals head into January looking to get their fitness back on track.

But, could AI be transforming the fitness industry by providing an alternative to personal trainers?

Tailored Programs and Adaptable Timelines

Leah Walsh employed an AI tool for impromptu preparation for the Cardiff Half Marathon.

This young woman hailing from Aberdare said she liked the freedom to ask it questions any time of day – a feature she felt was not possible with a traditional coach.

She used an AI-powered fitness application that provided her customized schedules with voice guidance and pace setting for her first long-distance race in recent years.

She said she requested it to design a regimen combining cardio and the weight training, and it produced an 11-week plan customized to her event day and goals.

Leah then tweaked the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she said was highly practical.

Subsequently, she opted for a different tool because it was cheaper and she could consult it whenever she wanted. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time.

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

"With artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she remarked.

A weightlifter

Remarkable Strength Gains

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

He resorted to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a race.

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

The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan tailored to his goals, and created structured routines.

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

The Expense Comparison: Technology vs. Conventional Training

One recent study in late 2024 compared prices for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, based on standard full-access plans.

Prices started at a lower price at the most affordable provider to a premium rate at the highest-priced.

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

Customers will often hire a coach once or twice a week and work with them for a short period, however these arrangements are often adaptable.

Dafydd Judd

The Irreplaceable Human Touch

Fitness coach Dafydd Judd, based in the Welsh capital, acknowledged artificial intelligence can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will never replace the personal interaction and responsibility that live training provides.

This expert, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, specialises in older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his trainees also use AI.

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

"I think the more that people are online the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the warmth from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he added.

The trainer said Artificial intelligence can inform users and make guidance more efficient.

However, he said true dedication comes when people appear in person for training.

"No matter how helpful as it is at the middle of the night, a digital tool won't keep you accountable at early morning before work," Dafydd concluded.

In the view of many, he said, the gym is a place to leave phones behind and take a break from technology.