New dad Joe Wicks talks Instagram 'addiction': 'I’m trying to stop my daughter from thinking the back of the phone is my face.'

Joe Wicks, 32, has amassed a global following from his social media alter-ego, The Body Coach, his #LeanIn15 recipe videos and his series of cookbooks – not mention his viral HIIT training videos.

But despite his success, he still struggles with aspects of parenthood like the rest of us.

A first-time father to daughter Indie, four months old, Joe admits to finding it difficult to balance maintaining his million-strong Instagram following with being a dad.

“My screen time is so bad, it’s appalling. I’m on it an average of five hours a day – I’m addicted,” he tells Yahoo UK.

Joe’s career owes a lot to social media, with his before and after photos and #LeanIn15 recipe videos being viewed and shared across the world – and he has amassed a total of 2.4 million followers on Instagram.

But this level of social media fame has caused tension since he became a father, he admits. “I’m consciously trying to prevent Indie from thinking the back of the phone is my face,” he says. “Before it was just me and [partner] Rosie being selfish, but now our whole world revolves around our baby.”

But has life changed much since Indie was born? Not really, says Joe.

“She’s amazing at sleeping. We take her everywhere: bowling, cinema, restaurants. We just get her drunk on milk then put her in the buggy and she falls asleep then we do the things we love doing together.”

Despite his dad duties, Joe still finds the time to rustle up healthy meals. While he likes to try different recipes, he always returns to six staples.

“I always buy coconut milk, chopped tomatoes, Thai green curry paste or powder, Greek yoghurt and eggs – you can make so many different things if you just have these, plus a lot of different fruit and vegetables,” he tells us.

But, despite Joe’s healthy food philosophy, he does admit to one serious vice. “I love bread – toast and butter. I can steam through a whole loaf in two days if it’s there.”

He has also let go a bit after spending a month in America, admitting: “My main blow out is burger and chips, pint of coke and Ben and Jerry’s for dessert.”

However, he does add that this is only an occasional indulgence, and that he normally maintains the healthy lifestyle his abs are testament to.

“I love the feeling of controlling what i’m eating and waking up the next day energised for work. When I do have a blow out I always feel rough the next day, sluggish and your body’s tired.”

A Gousto recipe box brand spokesperson, Joe has been working with the recipe box service to encourage people in the UK to cook from scratch – a philosophy he firmly subscribes to. Learn more about the collaboration here.

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