In January, like every year, I make resolutions and promise myself I’ll really stick to 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 can, just not in the way I would have thought.
The beginning: Somewhere between skepticism and curiosity
When I decided to try out AI fitness apps last summer, I was honestly skeptical. Can an algorithm really know what motivates me? Until then, I would painstakingly put together my own fitness programs using a smattering of different workouts, often without truly knowing what was good for my body in that moment. For example, I did a lot of HIIT training, even though it turns out I actually needed the exact opposite from a cyclical perspective. The result: I had little energy, even less motivation, and the feeling that I was constantly working against my own body.
So my set-up for this self-test was relatively simple. I decided to use my Apple Watch and Oura Ring as a base for various AI fitness apps and other digital training formats. The idea was to find out whether the data-based assessments and reminders they promised would really make a difference and maybe even finally find training that was supportive instead of overwhelming.
AI in the fitness sector
In the first few weeks, I noticed that these tools are very good at one thing in particular: recognizing patterns. My Apple Watch and Oura Ring not only tracked my training sessions, but also my rest periods, sleep, and stress levels. After about three weeks, the Apple Fitness+ app began to make 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. I was disappointed at first—what’s the point?—until I realized that was exactly the point.
Here’s the thing about personalized training plans
What particularly surprised me: The longer I used the tools, the more appropriate the suggestions became. When I started integrating regular strength training in August, I noticed that I was being recommended more and more varied workouts. Slowly, the whole thing became fun because not everything is always the same. Based on my previous sessions and activity data, the app suggested more balanced workout combinations that covered different areas of the body and got me out of my usual routine. This structure took away a lot of the decision fatigue that had often stopped me from getting started in the past.
The line between motivation and monitoring
Of course, there were also moments 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 reminders to workout that only added to my stress.
Virtual training partners are surprisingly approachable
One aspect that I initially underestimated was how real the virtual trainers can feel. I’m actually one of those people who doesn’t love jogging. But with an AI trainer in my ear with a motivating audio guide keeping me entertained with motivating music, running suddenly started to feel good.
What’s more, over time the recommendations adapted better and better to my habits. In October, for example, I noticed that quiet yoga sessions in the morning suited me much better, while I had more energy for more intensive workouts in the evening. The suggestions adapted accordingly, without pressure.