Fitness phenomenon Joe Wicks has offered a refreshingly honest glimpse into his life as a hands-on father of four, admitting that parenting is far tougher than running his multi-million pound fitness empire.
The juggling act of a hands-on dad
Speaking from the living room floor of his Surrey home, Joe Wicks was briefly interrupted by his 18-month-old son, Dusty, during a Zoom call. The 40-year-old, who shot to fame with his YouTube workouts in 2014 and became a lockdown saviour for millions, confessed that his day job is the easy part. "Raising kids is definitely harder," he grinned. "It takes so much patience."
Joe, who is married to former model Rosie Jones, explained how he and his wife tag-team to manage their busy family life, which includes home-schooling their seven-year-old Indie, six-year-old Marley, three-year-old Leni, and toddler Dusty. He stressed that maintaining his own healthy routine is non-negotiable for coping with the demands. "When I'm well-rested, eating well and exercising, I find parenting so much easier. I'm a lot calmer," he said.
The constant battle against sugar and ultra-processed foods
Despite being The Body Coach and a champion of nutrition, Wicks revealed the uphill struggle he faces getting his children to eat healthily outside the home. He highlighted the pervasive marketing of unhealthy products aimed at children. "Your kids are given them at nursery, at school, on the way home... it's everywhere all the time," he stated, referring to ultra-processed foods.
His approach is educational rather than militant. "I say, 'Look, you can have a little. How are you going to feel after too much?'" he explained, aiming to help his children make informed decisions about their bodies. He admitted that his kids "love sugar" and that the more they have, the more they crave it, a challenge he believes is universal for modern parents.
New Year resolutions and a busy start to 2026
Looking ahead, Joe has a personal resolution to be more present and spend less time on his phone. Professionally, he is gearing up for a major January fitness push. He will host a live YouTube workout on New Year's Day and appear on ITV twice: first in his own special, 'Joe Wicks New Year's Day', and later on the 'Gladiators: Celebrity Special'.
His hour-long ITV show will feature chats about fitness and wellness with singer Olly Murs, Strictly star Tilly Ramsay, and TV cook Nisha Katona, culminating in an eight-minute workout with Olly. Despite initial nerves about scripted TV, Wicks said he relaxed into the role. "It's not my natural environment... but you've got to do it," he admitted.
When asked about potential future TV challenges like Strictly Come Dancing, he was unequivocal. "Put me in a little leotard and make me dance in front of millions? That would be my worst nightmare," he laughed, confirming he prefers to stick to what he loves. For now, his focus remains on his family and his mission to inspire the nation's health in 2026.
