I successfully Replaced My Fitness Coach for AI – And It's Working.
Leah Walsh
After a festive period filled with indulgent treats and downtime, numerous individuals enter the new year aiming to regain their fitness momentum.
However, could Artificial Intelligence be transforming the world of exercise by offering an option to human coaches?
Personalized Plans and Adaptable Schedules
Leah Walsh employed an artificial intelligence application for impromptu training for the a major running event.
This young woman from a town in Wales said she appreciated the freedom to pose queries at all hours – something she felt was unavailable with a traditional coach.
She relied on an AI-driven fitness application that gave her customized schedules with voice guidance and speed targets for her inaugural long-distance race in recent years.
She said she asked it to create a regimen combining running and the weight training, and it generated an 11-week plan customized to her race date and goals.
The user then tweaked the schedule to fit her lifestyle, which she said was highly practical.
The following year, she opted for a alternative application because it was more affordable and she could ask it questions at any time. Her result was a full minute quicker than her goal time.
She said she wanted to avoid feeling pressure from a live instructor.
"Using artificial intelligence you have to find your own drive, which I quite like," she added.
A weightlifter
Remarkable Strength Gains
In a similar case, Richard Gallimore, 23, from a Welsh city, has been using artificial intelligence for his fitness and diet plans, and reported he has achieved peak strength, boosting his chest press from a lower weight to a much heavier load.
He resorted to a AI assistant for help after being unable to run a running event.
"I just knew I need to get myself in shape," he said.
The free tool constructed a workout and diet plan personalized to his goals, and established structured routines.
"I train for about two hours a day and I've seen a real difference," he added.
The Cost Contrast: Technology vs. Traditional Coaching
One recent survey in the previous year compared costs for numerous of the biggest fitness chains and found the average membership cost was around £38 a month, for standard full-access plans.
Fees started at a lower price at the cheapest provider to £132 at the most expensive.
According to industry research, fitness coaches determine their own fees, typically a range of thirty to sixty-five pounds per 45-60 minute appointment in most areas and about a similar range in the capital.
Clients typically hire a coach one or two times a week and collaborate for a few months, but these agreements are often adaptable.
Dafydd Judd
The Essential Personal Touch
Fitness coach one experienced professional, from Cardiff, acknowledged AI can be useful to accelerate results, but believes it will not supplant the personal interaction and accountability that in-person coaching offers.
The 37-year-old, who has over a decade of experience as a coach, focuses on senior clients and recovery from injuries. He said some of his trainees also use AI.
"I think it's very valuable, more knowledge is positive," he said.
"I believe the more that people are connected digitally the more they'll desire personal contact because they crave the warmth from the understanding that is absent from a machine," he continued.
Dafydd explained AI can inform users and make coaching more effective.
However, he said true dedication comes when people show up in person for their sessions.
"As useful as it is at 2am, a digital tool cannot ensure you show up at 7am before work," he added.
In the view of many, he suggested, the gym is a place to disconnect from devices and stop being glued to screens.
