I Exchanged My Fitness Coach for AI – And It's Effective.
Leah Walsh
Following a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, many people head into the new year looking to regain their fitness momentum.
However, is it possible that AI be transforming the world of exercise by providing an option to personal trainers?
Tailored Programs and Adaptable Timelines
Leah Walsh used an AI tool for impromptu training for the Cardiff Half Marathon.
This young woman hailing from Aberdare said she appreciated the liberty to ask it questions at all hours – something she believed was unavailable with a traditional coach.
Leah relied on an AI-driven running app that provided her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in recent years.
She said she requested it to create a regimen merging running and the gym, and it generated an 11-week programme customized to her event day and goals.
Leah then adjusted the plan to suit her daily routine, which she described was convenient.
Subsequently, she chose a different tool because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions whenever she wanted. She finished a minute faster than her target finish.
She noted she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a human personal trainer.
"With AI you have to find your own drive, which I actually prefer," she added.
A weightlifter
Remarkable Fitness Improvements
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from a Welsh city, has been using AI for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has never felt stronger, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
He resorted to a bot for assistance after being forced to walk a running event.
"I realized I had to get myself in shape," he commented.
This no-cost application built a fitness and meal program tailored to his goals, and created organized workouts.
"I train for about 120 minutes a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Conventional Training
One recent survey in the previous year analyzed prices for numerous of the biggest gym brands and found the average membership cost was around £38 per month, based on basic memberships.
Fees started at £23 at the most affordable chain to a premium rate at the most expensive.
According to industry research, 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 the capital.
Customers will often hire a coach one or two times a week and work with them for a short period, however these arrangements are completely flexible.
Dafydd Judd
The Essential Personal Element
Fitness coach one experienced professional, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but is convinced it will not supplant the personal interaction and responsibility that live training offers.
The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a trainer, focuses on older adults and injury rehabilitation. He mentioned a number of his clients also use technology.
"I think it's extremely useful, additional information is positive," he stated.
"I believe the more people are connected digitally the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the warmth from the comprehension that is missing from a machine," he continued.
The trainer explained Artificial intelligence can inform users and make coaching more effective.
However, he said real commitment comes when people appear in person for training.
"As useful as it is at the middle of the night, a computer cannot ensure you show up at early morning before work," Dafydd added.
For many, he suggested, the gym is a space to leave phones behind and stop being glued to screens.
