Joe Wicks Featured image credit: Conor McDonnell

Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, is a British fitness coach who has turned his personal training business into a bestselling book and a social media craze in the space of just four years. With his latest book ‘30 Minute Meals’ out in September, Joe reveals to us his tips for cheap and quick fitness, as well as his must-try meals…

Hi Joe Wicks, could you tell us a little bit about your story and how you’ve achieved such success as The Body Coach?
I just started posting short ‘Lean in 15’ videos online, and it took off from there. We’re all busy people, so I wanted to post videos which were honest and realistic to get people eating lean foods and exercising more. I could never have imaged that one day I would be talking about my sixth book. I started off with Lean in 15 recipes, but sometimes 15 minutes isn’t enough; that’s why I’ve come up with the 30 Minute Meals.

Joe Wicks The Body Coach

Credit: Conor McDonnell

What are your best eating healthier and working out tips?
Prep like a Boss! Sometimes when you get home from a long day, you just want to be able to have food quickly. If you take some time to prepare some healthy meals, and pop them in the fridge or freezer, you’ll have no excuse to eat unhealthily. That’s one of the perks of 30 Minute Meals: the recipes all taste incredible, but don’t take long to make. For working out, all it takes is 20-30 minutes a couple of times a week. Even if you’re tired, some quick HIIT (high-intensity interval training) will give you lots more energy.

Do you have strict rules when it comes to your diet, or is it important to not be so hard on yourself?
You should never be hard on yourself. I always try to make my meals lean, but I treat myself from time to time. Diets don’t work. You need to eat food which isn’t boring but also tastes great and is good for you. That’s why I’ve packed 30 Minute Meals with loads of tasty recipes – Bangin’ Chicken Balti, Kofta-stuffed Romano peppers – those will make you want to change how you eat!

What would be your advice to students who are struggling with having enough time and money to eat healthily and exercise?
I wanted to create recipes which you can make quickly and don’t cost too much. I always feel much better after having a home cooked meal, so I wanted to make it easy for other people to be able to do it. Eating a good meal gives you new energy. If you’re short on time, even if you get a 20 minute HIIT workout in at the start of the morning, it will set you up for the rest of the day. You’ll find you’re more likely to eat healthier food for the rest of the day, too.

What is your favourite recipe from your latest book ‘30 Minute Meals’ and why?
The Masala Eggy Bread from the All-Day Breakfast section of the book tastes amazing; you’ve got all your spices in there. Serve it up with a quick tomato relish. It doesn’t cost a lot to make either, which is a bonus. That’ll set you right for the morning.


Check out Joe Wicks’ latest book: Joe’s 30 Minute Meals

Joe Wicks The Body Coach 30 Minute Meals Cover


Joe Wicks (The Body Coach) Interview by Lucy Rix