In January, like every year, I make resolutions and promise myself I’ll really stick to them this time. This will finally 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? Before 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 at that moment. For example, I always opted for HIIT training, even though it turns out I sometimes needed low-impact options to align with my body’s energy availability at certain phases of my menstrual cycle. The result: I had little energy, even less motivation, and the feeling that I was constantly working against my own body.
“Will an app actually get me to work out when all I really want to do after a long day at work is lie on the couch?”
My setup for this self-test was relatively simple. I decided to use both my Apple Watch and my 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 my 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.
“I’d often taken on too much in the past and failed at exactly that.”
Here’s the thing about personalized training plans
What particularly surprised me was the longer I used the tools, the more appropriate their suggestions became. When I started integrating regular strength training into my routine around August, I noticed that I was being recommended more and more varied workouts. Slowly, the whole thing became fun because not everything was always the same. Based on my previous sessions and activity data, the apps 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.
“I had a stressful period in September and just wanted my rest.”
The line between motivation and monitoring
Of course, there were also moments when I found the constant presence of technology annoying. Sometimes the daily reminders felt more like added pressure. What really helped me, however, was when the apps 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 work out 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 offering an encouraging audio guide and motivating music, running suddenly started to feel good.
Over time the recommendations adapted better and better to my habits. Around October, for example, I noticed that quiet yoga sessions suited me much better in the mornings while I had energy for more intense workouts in the evening. The suggestions adapted accordingly and without pressure.