I Trained With AI Fitness Apps for 6 Months—and This Is the Surprising Result
In January, like every year, I make resolutions and I promise myself to keep them this time. Finally, this will be the year I exercise regularly, live healthier, and establish a routine! But this time, I actually had a strategy: AI fitness apps.
Since June of last year, I’ve been testing whether artificial intelligence can help me not only set my fitness goals, but also achieve them. And spoiler: it’s possible, but not in the way I thought.
The beginning: Somewhere between skepticism and curiosity
When I decided to try AI fitness apps last summer, I was honestly skeptical. Can an algorithm really know what motivates me? Up until then, I had been painstakingly crafting my own fitness programs using a handful of different workouts, often without really knowing what was good for my body at the time. For example, I did a lot of HIIT training, even though it turns out I was actually doing the exact opposite from a cyclical standpoint. The result: I had little energy, even less motivation, and the feeling of constantly working against my own body.
My configuration for this self-test was therefore relatively simple. I decided to use my Apple Watch and Oura Ring as a base for various AI fitness apps and other digital workout formats. The idea was to find out if the data-driven assessments and reminders promised would really make a difference and maybe even finally find training that was encouraging instead of overwhelming.
AI in the fitness industry
Over the first few weeks, I noticed that these tools are very effective in one area in particular: recognizing patterns. My Apple Watch and Oura Ring not only tracked my workouts, but also my rest periods, sleep, and stress levels. After about three weeks, the Apple Fitness+ app started offering workout suggestions that better suited my daily routine. On a particularly hectic Wednesday in July, the app suggested a short 10-minute yoga session instead of the 45-minute HIIT workout I had planned. At first I was disappointed – what’s the point? – until I realized it was Exactly the point.
This is what personalized training plans are all about
What particularly surprised me: the longer I used the tools, the more appropriate the suggestions became. When I started incorporating regular strength training in August, I noticed that I was being recommended more and more varied workouts. Little by little, everything became fun because everything is not always the same. Based on my previous sessions and activity data, the app suggested more balanced workout combinations covering different areas of the body and taking me out of my usual routine. This structure eliminated a lot of the decision fatigue that had often held me back from getting started in the past.
The boundary between motivation and follow-up
Of course, there were also times when I found the constant presence of technology annoying. The daily reminders felt more like added pressure. What really helped me, however, was when the app showed me specific data instead of generic motivational phrases. I found reminders like “You were active three times last week, would you like to continue this week?” » much more motivating than vague workout reminders that only added to my stress.
Virtual Training Partners Are Surprisingly Accessible
One aspect I initially underestimated was the feeling of reality of virtual coaches. Actually, I’m one of those people who doesn’t like jogging. But with an AI trainer in my ear and a motivational audio guide entertaining me with motivational music, running suddenly started to feel good.
In addition, over time the recommendations have become better and better adapted to my habits. In October, for example, I noticed that quiet yoga sessions in the morning worked much better for me, while I had more energy for more intensive workouts in the evening. Suggestions were adapted accordingly, without pressure.
