Health and fitness expert Joe Wicks has said it was growing up in a “challenging home” which first sparked his passion for exercise.

Best known as the “nation’s PE teacher” after hosting daily YouTube workouts during the pandemic, raising more than £1million for charity and earning an MBE, Wicks has been building an online fitness following since 2014 and now has more than 4.7 million followers on Instagram alone.

However, speaking to the Irish News, the Epsom-born fitness coach said physical activity has served as a form of therapy since he was six years old.

“As a young child I lived in quite a challenging home,” he said.

“My parents both had mental health issues. My dad was a heroin addict and my mum suffered from anxiety, eating disorders and extreme OCD so I had these two very difficult people to live with.

“It was quite chaotic but I realised when I exercised, played sport, ran or did any kind of movement I could soothe and calm myself and take away some of that stress.

“And that’s really where my love for physical exercise and movement comes from. It’s been my therapy really since I was about six or seven years old.”

In addition to his fitness programmes, Wicks has also authored numerous best-selling cookbooks, although he said his relationship with food was also affected by his upbringing.

“In terms of the food side of it, I was exposed to a very unhealthy diet. We were on benefits and any money that came through the house was really funding my dad’s addiction.

“So there wasn’t lots of fruit, veg or homemade meals – it was things like crispy pancakes, potato waffles, chicken nuggets, frozen chicken pies, and lots of sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks.

“I had a very unhealthy diet and even now I sometimes struggle to eat junk food in moderation.”

A turning point came at the age of 13 when he was invited to visit St Mary’s University in Twickenham.

“It was an outreach between the school and the university.

“Lots of the children who went along were on the border of going down the wrong path or came from a difficult home life.

“I knew they were trying to inspire me and get me thinking more positively – that I could actually go to university one day.

“So I did a tour and spent a day there.

Read more: ‘It was an insane hormone disaster’: Newry fitness influencer on how health struggles inspired a thriving wellness platform

“When I got home, I said to my mum that I was going to do a degree in sports science and become a PE teacher.

“And I did actually end up going to that university.”

Although Wicks always had ambitions of becoming a PE teacher, he said he never expected the scale his career would reach.

“I’ve had an amazing career, but it’s been very unintentional.

“I’m not someone who had a big plan or strategy – everything has happened quite organically.

“It’s always been a natural progression and I couldn’t have imagined it going the way it has.

“I’m very grateful for all of it and I don’t ever take it for granted.”

One of his most recent and unexpected highlights has been training children’s TV character Daddy Pig ahead of this year’s London Marathon.

“The PR for Hasbro, who own Peppa Pig, reached out and I actually really love Peppa Pig – we’ve always watched it with the kids.

“They said, ‘we’ve got this campaign with Daddy Pig’s son George, who’s now moderately deaf, so Daddy Pig is running the marathon for his son and for the National Deaf Children’s Society’.

“So I said I’d do it but I really wanted to run on the day with him. So they got me a spot and I’m running with him.

“And it’s obviously Daddy Pig in full character and I’m there coaching and motivating him. It’s been really fun and the kids have obviously seen the videos and think it’s hilarious.”

Read more: Joe Wicks: ‘Don’t convince yourself you haven’t got time to cook and that you can’t, because you can’

Wicks added that he is looking forward to bringing that same energy to Belfast where he will headline the inaugural Wellfest on September 12 and 13.

“There are talks, a nutrition and wellness area and discussions around mental health, as well as workouts from trainers across the board.

“It’s going to be really good fun.”

He will be joined by his wife, Rosie, for the session.

“Because I’ve done the workout so many times, they wanted something a little bit different.

“And it wasn’t like Rosie jumped at it – she’s quite shy. But I said it would be fun and we could make a weekend of it.

“We’re going to go on stage, do a 30-minute workout and it’s going to be great.

“It’s basically a high-energy session where we’ll be chatting and laughing and hopefully people will get involved and feel energised at the end.”

It will be the first time the couple have worked out together on stage.

“I don’t know what to expect,” he laughed.

“We’ve never worked out on a stage together before. I’ve done my workouts and videos and the kids have joined in but they don’t really talk.

“So having Rosie there, mic’d up, we can have a bit of banter and I think it will be more engaging than just me on my own.

“I want it to feel relaxed. People aren’t there to be judged – they’re there to enjoy it. So I think it’s going to be good.”

He said a key part of Wellfest’s appeal is its accessibility, with an emphasis on inclusivity rather than elite fitness.

“The good thing about Wellfest is that you’ll have people of all ages and all different body types.

“You can have kids in the crowd and grandparents as well.

Read more: Joe Wicks to run London marathon alongside Daddy Pig for deaf charity

“It’s essentially a PE with Joe-style workout with music and if you miss something or need to stop, that’s fine.

“You’re not there to compete, just to take part and enjoy it.”

First established in 2015 in Herbert Park in Dublin, the event is designed to appeal to all levels, particularly those at the beginning of their fitness journey.

“Wellfest is an experience – you’re going there to learn something new and you’ll come away feeling energised and positive,” Wicks added.

“It might be a talk on nutrition, stress or mental health or a workout where you realise you can do something you didn’t think you could.

“It’s about taking part, enjoying it and then maybe continuing some of those habits at home.”

Tickets for WellFest NI, which will take place at Belfast’s Ormeau Park on September 12-13, are on sale now via WellFestNI.com.

Short, no-equipment workouts are racking up billions of views as consumers ditch traditional gym routines for fast, accessible fitness that fits into everyday life

Gym membership might be at an all-time high, but there’s a whole population of people going after their workout goals without a a traditional location or routine.

Just as people are drawn to short-form content on social media, they’re also gravitating toward short-form fitness — also known as “exercise snacks.”

Data from AI-powered analytics platform Virlo scoured more than 1,000 online videos with more than 2.2 billion views, finding that 5–15 minute routines on social media are outperforming traditional gym content, achieving higher engagement as they lower friction and make fitness feel immediately achievable.

Over three-quarters (76%) of trending fitness content across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube was no-equipment workouts that catered to audiences short on time, the report found.

Within that content, videos pushing specific body part targeting and transformation — especially abs, glutes and arms — had three to five times more engagement, while phrases like “no equipment,” “home workout” and “do anywhere” amplified shares. Videos that promised results within a certain number of days or expressed urgency (“lose fat fast” or “10 days to abs”) also saw higher views, especially repeat visits.

The trend reflects a broader shift online toward low-commitment, accessible and quick-results fitness that can seamlessly fit into the confines of everyday life. The videos are typically being posted by “micro-creators” without huge followings who post relatively simple routines.

These mini workouts appeal to the ubiquitous desire for instant gratification, while reducing the intimidation of structured gym routines, potentially increasing the chance of people who might not work out at all engaging in some form of exercise.

While the credibility of these creators’ claims to transform body composition in short windows with these movements is up unknown, there is science backing the effectiveness of exercise snacks.

A meta-analysis from last year found that short, structured bouts of movement — about five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise — significantly improved cardiovascular fitness in adults, and slightly improved endurance among older adults, supporting the idea that any movement is better than none, especially if it lowers the barrier to entry to exercise.

Elaine LaLanne is spending the days since her 100th birthday with the same healthy habits she’s been cultivating for decades: exercising every day and eating a nutritious diet.

She starts each morning with abdominal exercises, leg lifts and and pushups, noting she’s “very strong in the core.”

The widow of famed fitness guru Jack LaLanne credits her husband for turning her life around. He hosted the first TV exercise show starting in the 1950s and has been called the “father of the modern fitness movement.”

She recalls initially dismissing him as “this muscle man” when they first met in 1951 — LaLanne booked him to perform pushups during a TV program she was producing — but becoming intrigued by his healthy lifestyle.

“I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t met Jack LaLanne. I was always eating chocolate donuts and smoking cigarettes and eating candy bars for lunch,” the centenarian, who lives in California, tells TODAY.com.

“He told me, ‘You should be eating apples and bananas and oranges.’ I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ Then I changed my tune, and I’ve been a convert ever since. I know that’s why I lived to be 100.”

She stopped smoking, started eating healthier and began exercising. The couple married in 1959. She says most women didn’t work out in those days, but the “The Jack LaLanne Show” got many female viewers interested in exercise.

Elaine LaLanne was a regular part of the program, and became an author and public speaker, touting the benefits of exercise and good nutrition and earning the nickname “The first lady of fitness.”

She was married to Jack LaLanne until his death at 96 in 2011.

The Health & Fitness Association inducted the couple into its Hall of Fame in March.

Here are Elaine LaLanne’s simple tips for living a long and healthy life:

Exercise Every Day

The centenarian has been exercising daily for most of her life.

At 100, before LaLanne gets out of bed, she still does 20 “jackknife” ab exercises every day, a routine she’s followed for years. The core workout involves starting in a lying position, then lifting the torso and legs at the same time, ending up in a V-shaped position.

She also does leg lifts and other leg exercises while lying down, then gets up to do pushups against a wall or sink.

When LaLanne was younger, she used to be able to do 50 full-body pushups. She also worked out with weights and used a treadmill. Her workout sessions usually lasted 30 minutes.

Swimming was another favorite form of exercise. “Jack said swimming is probably one of the best all over exercises one can do,” she notes. Swimming is one of the best sports for a long healthy life, studies confirm.

Eat a Healthy Diet

LaLanne doesn’t follow any particular eating plan, like the Mediterranean diet or a low-carb diet. She calls her approach “just plain old watching what you want to put in your mouth.”

When you eat, ask yourself: “What is this going to do for me?” she advises.

Her typical breakfast might be yogurt mixed with protein powder and topped with blueberries, strawberries and other fruit. She’s never been a coffee drinker, so she prefers to have a cup of cocoa. Cocoa has antioxidant properties, enhances cognition and boosts positive mood, studies have found.

For dinner, she loves to eat salmon or chicken, but otherwise doesn’t consume a lot of meat. The rest of her plate is filled with a lot of vegetables, plus rice or potatoes.

“I love potatoes. I grew up in the Midwest, and I’m still a potato lover,” she says. “It’s just simple, simple things. I eat like most people.”

She eats just enough so that her stomach is full without overindulging.

Live Life in Moderation

Her husband was extremely disciplined and didn’t eat dessert, opting for fruit and figs to satisfy any sugar cravings.

She followed suit and didn’t have any cake or ice cream for decades, but then rebelled.

“I said, ‘Jack, I’m 80 years old, and if I want a piece of cake, I want to have a piece of cake,’” she recalled.

“One candy bar is not going to kill you. … When you overindulge, that’s the downfall. And if you just have a little of this, a little of that, it’s not going to kill you. That’s what I believe.”

She has the same approach to alcohol, enjoying an occasional glass of wine.

Be Consistent

Jack LaLanne said, “It’s not what you do some of the time that counts. It’s what you do most of the time,” his wife points out.

She sums up her own philosophy as the acronym ARCH.

• A for attitude.
• R for resistance — “If you resist that muscle, it’s going to work for you. If you resist the food that’s undermining your health, you’re going to be healthier,” she says.
• C for consistency.
• H for harmony.

Think Positive

“I’m a very positive person, and I don’t let anything bother me,” LaLanne says.

“If people could get rid of negativity, they would be a lot happier.”

Her husband encouraged that mindset, always reminding the family, “We do not talk negative in this house,” she recalls. He was also a believer in visualizing a positive outcome before it happened.

Accept and Persevere

When LaLanne’s 21-year-old daughter died in a car accident, she got through the tragedy by telling herself she couldn’t change things, so she had to accept what had happened.

“Just before I turned 100, I was thinking, how can I sum this whole thing up in all my life? I thought about my acceptance,” LaLanne says.

“Through my life, I’ve accepted what I’m handed, and then I persevere. … Those two things are my mantra.”

She’s still applying that mantra today as she deals with macular degeneration that’s caused her to lose sight in one eye. LaLanne accepts her worsening vision but looks for ways to work around it. She can still see her computer screen and keep writing, so she perseveres.