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Joe Wicks suffering hip pain from 'draining' efforts keeping nation fit during lockdown

Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, during one of his online PE lessons - Getty
Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, during one of his online PE lessons - Getty

During lockdown Joe Wicks was the Adonis-like paragon of physical fitness that millions aspired to emulate as they followed his energetic daily workouts.

Yet, the 35-year-old has now admitted his body has been left “tired and aching” and that he is struggling with hip pain due to his "draining" efforts leading around four virtual routines a day.

Mr Wicks, who was awarded an MBE for his efforts helping the national stay fit during the pandemic, said he still felt a duty to carry on for the "millions of children" that watch him even though he doesn’t want to keep up such a grueling workout schedule.

Speaking on Chris Evans's How To Wow podcast, he said: “I'm 35 now and I'm still doing three or four workouts a day. My body is tired and I'm aching.

“Someone said to me 'why do you keep doing it? Why don't you just chill out on the exercise stuff and focus on your books?'

“I still feel like I want to be there for people and I feel like I've just started and I've got so many more people to help.”

Mr Wicks is the author of several cookbooks and ran his PE With Joe workout videos throughout the coronavirus lockdown restrictions earlier this year, which were viewed by more than a million users worldwide.

In the interview, the fitness instructor said the part of his body causing the most pain is his hips due to the amount of squats, press-ups and lunges he does in his routines.

He said he was doing "a lot of stretching" to ease the tension in his muscles and maintain his schedule of online workouts.

“There comes a point where you're not driven by money, it can't be the motivator,” added Mr Wicks.

“Because when I'm tired and my hips hurt and I don't want to exercise, money's not going to get me doing that workout.

“But when I know that a million people might do that video, and a million kids might take part or whatever it may be, that truly motivates me. It's the only thing left that keeps me going, really.”

Mr Wicks also talked about the joy his mother, Raquela Mosquera, felt on learning he was being awarded the MBE, which he disclosed after taking her to one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants to celebrate.

He said he didn’t reveal he was in line for the honor until during the meal, with his mother initially thinking he had booked it to celebrate his birthday.

“I said 'actually there's something else to celebrate',” Mr Wicks said. “And then I told her [about the MBE] and she burst into tears and was really proud of me.”