Abandoning AI Fitness Plans: A Journey to Freedom

An AI-powered fitness trainer proved a less-than-ideal partner for staying accountable. At times, the wisest decision is to simply tune out its advice.

Reflecting on a Year of Change

Twelve months ago, I was on top of the world with my fitness achievements. Managing to shave 16 minutes off my four-mile run time, sticking to a weightlifting regimen three to four times weekly, and dropping 10 pounds after six solid months of dedication left me feeling fantastic.

But as life would have it, one year on, my activity level plummeted. I hadn’t clocked more than a 5K in three months, regained the weight I’d lost due to sheer stress, and faced a slew of injuries and health hiccups. Destined for a change, I turned to three AI fitness apps, Peloton IQ and Runna among them, to train for a 5K race and chip away at my fading time, which had worsened from around 31 minutes to a sluggish 38 to 40 minutes.

Concluding the race last week, slicing five minutes from my previous time felt like a win. Nevertheless, I firmly dismissed all three AI advisors.

Navigating the AI Coaching Experience

AI’s ability to manage a fitness routine isn't inherently bad, provided with the right guidance. Yet, the process can be taxing. As someone who constantly battles with knowing their limits, the idea of having a digital mentor to remind me when I'm being too ambitious or spiraling into negativity seemed helpful. But it’s never as straightforward in practice.

These AI trainers boast they can simplify training and tailor it to your personal needs. By sharing goals like shedding pounds or quickening a run, and details such as new medication or proclivity for shin splints, the AI allegedly fine-tunes its advice in return.

For example, Fitbit’s AI responded to my recovery from illness by suggesting gentle exercises. It's an alright plan, but that’s not enough alone.

The Accountability Gap

Crucially, none of these AI platforms did much to keep me on track. If you’re in need of stern encouragement, that has to be explicitly mentioned to the AI, which can still be overridden.

As a committed individual who sometimes finds loopholes, even I could manipulate Fitbit’s AI into letting me off the hook without a word of skepticism. Similarly, Runna made switching plans as easy as pie. And despite Peloton IQ's strength training guides, opting out was just too tempting due to muscle ache aversion.

The Human Touch

Comparatively, real-life mentors add accountability through their presence. A spouse’s mild prodding to go for a short run or a friend’s reminder of why a daunting cold-weather race bears significance drives me in a way AI cannot. It's an emotional intricate maze AI does not navigate well, often lacking the psychological intuition of a human trainer.

Starting with a motivational prompt, AI coaching can dry up to repetitive basics for more seasoned athletes. Runna's insights echoed what I’ve known for ages about my pacing habits, and generic advice from Fitbit about sleep routines was far from groundbreaking.

Worse still, AI often recommended misaligned activities that, while considering external factors, seemed at odds with my inclinations.

Rediscovering Passion and Personal Drive

Leading up to the holiday 5K, managing both discipline and AI interruptions proved exhausting. Race day, however, was liberating, uninformed by digital metrics, and I accomplished a stunningly better time of 36 minutes.

Ultimately, the journey of self-improvement calls for internal motivation beyond binary metrics AI interprets. Taking charge of my path involved shutting down relentless AI input in favor of intuition.

Breaking away from calculated AI plans, my focus shifted to reclaiming the joy in running, reminding me of the mental aspect deeply intertwined in the pursuit of health.