He recently published his fifth book, boasts two million Instagram followers and is stopped in the street ‘once or twice a day’ by excited fans eager for a selfie.
So it’s safe to say Joe Wicks has transcended the fitness world to become a bona fide celebrity.
So much so he’s the cover star of the latest issue of Men’s Fitness, which sees him lifting his t-shirt to reveal his rippling torso – and exactly how effective his ‘Lean in 15’ lifestyle can really be.
Joe also shares his top three tips for following in his footsteps; urging people to set a tangible fitness goal like signing up for a 5K run, to make the effort to prepare their own meals, and to practice ‘simplicity and consistency’ when implementing a new, healthy routine.
Staying grounded: Joe Wicks insists he ‘doesn’t feel famous’ despite his growing health empire
Camera ready: Wicks, also known as the Body Coach, on the set of the Men’s Fitness shoot
Despite his enormous social media following and success in the publishing world, Surrey-born Joe insists he doesn’t feel like a celebrity.
Cover star: Wicks’ interview in Men’s Fitness
‘Maybe it’s because I’m not in that celebrity world of falling out of nightclubs or going to red carpet events,’ he said in an interview with Joe Warner at Men’s Fitness.
‘I’m not in that world and never will be, so I don’t feel like a celebrity.’
Wicks, 31, who is originally from Epsom, opened up about his success and how much his life has changed in the two years since his first book was released back in December 2015.
Since then it has sold a total of two million copies – although the trainer admitted it took him some time to understand just how extraordinary the figures were.
‘What’s mad is that I always saw such big numbers that I thought that it was normal to sell that many books a week,’ he said.
‘It’s only when I saw what other people were selling that it really sank in – I was selling in a week what they were selling in a year.
Finding success: Wicks said he has used the money he’s earned to buy his own house
Carefully crafted: Wicks said thinking of Instagram story posts was like directing a short film
Bigger aim: Wicks has ambitions to become the ‘Jamie Oliver of kids’ fitness’ in the future
The trainer is in a long-term relationship with the brunette model Rosie Jones
‘Lean In 15, my first book, the red one – I call it “Little Red” – is the best-selling product on Amazon Prime ever. Over JK Rowling and mobile phone cases. Little Red even now still outsells my other books since. It’s very consistent. It’s just surreal.’
The success has allowed Wicks, who is in a long-term relationship with model Rosie Jones, to splash out on his own house, a source of particular pride.
He continued: ‘I come from a family where no-one ever owned their own house. We all lived in council houses, no-one ever had a mortgage.’
Followers first: The Body Coach keeps more than 2 million fans up-to-date on Instagram
Active lifestyle: Wicks also offered his tips for those looking to burn fat fast
Wicks also signed a three-year lease on The Body Coach HQ in Richmond, south-west London, which he described as ‘scary s***’.
But personal success only accounts for a small amount of what Wicks has planned for his future, much of which centres around becoming the ‘Jamie Oliver of kids’ fitness’.
‘What Jamie did with school dinners was great, and I want to have a similar impact on kids’ fitness and exercise,’ he said.
‘I know the power of exercise, as do you, and if I can help get kids to exercise, even for just 20 minutes, then I know it can have a really big impact on their health, fitness, productivity and so much more…
‘I can contribute – I have stuff to say and I know I can make a change. I am absolutely convinced that if kids do half an hour of exercise a day then their grades will go up.’
Read Wicks’ full interview in the new issue of Men’s Fitness, out now. Get 5 issues for just £5 here: http://subscribe.mensfitness.co.uk/