Joe Wicks threw himself into fitness over fears of becoming alcoholic or drug addict

Joe Wicks has admitted his concerns for the UK’s mental health (Picture: Chris Floyd/Men’s Health)

Joe Wicks ended up as a fitness fiend because he was terrified of turning into an alcoholic or drug addict like his dad and granddad, he revealed.

The lockdown YouTube sensation — aka The Body Coach — has confessed he was nervous to join his mates getting wasted on his council estate in Epsom, Surrey, so he worked out instead.

‘I’m not teetotal but definitely, as a teenager, I was scared, because my granddad was an alcoholic and my dad was a heroin addict,’ Joe said.

Now a dad of two himself with wife Rosie, the 34-year-old explained: ‘I thought, “If I drink, I might like it.” I used to think I might become an addict.

‘When everyone else was drinking down the park, I was doing two hours in the gym and the sauna. It was a safe space.’ And after making it as a TV star and entrepreneur, he added he hates it when trolls call his success ‘lucky’.

Joe also admitted he has concerns for the UK’s mental health, and is ‘aware of the energy of the nation’.

Joe appears on the front cover for the July/August issue of Men’s Health UK (Picture: Chris Floyd/Men’s Health)

Joe wants to be able to help others with his presence on social media (Picture: Chris Floyd/Men’s Health)

The Body Coach star said he understands that many people across the country are struggling to cope at times, but he wants to be able to help with his presence on social media.

Appearing on the front cover of the July/August issue of Men’s Health UK, he explained on his thoughts on the nation’s mental health, adding: ‘I do worry about it. It is something I think about. I am aware of the energy of the nation.

‘I am aware of the fact that people are struggling. That’s why I’m always promoting communication, talking about how you feel.

‘I did an Instagram live where I burst into tears. I didn’t mean to. But I had messages afterwards from people saying they felt relieved that I’d shown that side, that it’s OK to feel emotional.’

The 34-year-old also revealed that his workouts are shifting from physical to psychological, as he realised that some people exercise not to lose weight, but to help deal with stress and anxiety.

Joe also revealed that his workouts are shifting from physical to psychological (Picture: Chris Floyd/Men’s Health)

Joe added that one of the main reasons why he exercises now is to ‘help me feel calmer’ and to enable him to be ‘more patient’ with his children – Indie, three, and Marley, 18 months.

Read the full Joe Wicks interview in the July/August issue of Men’s Health UK, on sale from 30th June.

More Guilty Pleasures…

Stop the racket! Andy on getting kids to behave

No new bawls please! Andy Murray reckons his campaign for a third Wimbledon crown isn’t as hard as trying to get his four kids to sleep.

The tennis knight, who made it through round one yesterday, opened up on getting his and wife Kim’s army of youngsters — Sophia, Edie, Teddie and a baby daughter — to behave themselves.

‘Seeing the kids sitting at the table behaving and eating their food and going to bed at the right time, those sort of things make me proud,’ Sir Andy said — dismissing his haul of three grand slams as he returned for a starry first day on centre court following his hip replacement.

The 34-year-old Scot was cheered on by an array of famous faces at the tournament.

Romeo Beckham and his girlfriend Mia Regan — as well as Noel Gallagher’s model daughter Anais — turned up to watch his win.

Andy Murray celebrates victory after winning his Men’s Singles First Round match against Nikoloz Basilashvili (Picture: Getty)

And Bed singer Raye and Anne-Marie were among a wave of popstars getting the VIP treatment from sponsors such as Evian and Lanson Champagne.

Meanwhile, Sir Andy revealed why he might freak out his opponents after the match.

‘My superstition at Wimbledon is that I tend to use the same shower,’ he told This Morning.

Romeo Beckham and Mia Regan pose in evian’s VIP suite at Wimbledon (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s a bit weird, especially if there’s something else in there. It’s a bit odd standing outside the cubicle.’

And he hinted there could be another Wimbledon champ in the making. ‘My eldest daughter plays once a week and if she wanted to I’d be happy,’ he said.

Only way is up for rapper Gashi

Gashi has gone from being a janitor to the star they all want to pose with — including friend Dua Lipa.

The Kosovan-American’s life was turned on its head when Jay-Z snapped him up after his late pal, rapper Nipsey Hussle, convinced him to drop out of school and follow his dream.

Gashi posing with pal Dua Lipa

The rapper, 31, will drop track Don’t Pass On Love today after already landing hits with French Montana and DJ Snake. And his fame could go through the roof after announcing his upcoming album for later this year will fittingly be called Elevators.

Meanwhile, his countrywoman Dua, 25, left fans gutted this week.

The Levitating singer has been forced to can her Future Nostalgia tour until 2022, and said she is ‘utterly heartbroken’ to be moving the shows again due to the pandemic.

Nas-ty trolls don’t bother me…

Lil Nas X didn’t mind the threat of being cancelled by some after he snogged a guy during another sizzling performance of Montero (Call Me By Your Name) at the BET Awards.

The gay singer got up close and personal to his male backing dancers in LA’s Microsoft Theater on Sunday. The 22-year-old had arrived in a spectacular gown — before stripping off to perform his follow-up smash to Old Town Road.

Lil Nas X kisses a dancer at the conclusion of his performance at the BET Awards on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

And after one viewer tweeted he was disrespecting African culture, he replied: ‘Y’all really like to pretend homosexuality didn’t exist in African culture.’

Meanwhile rapper Cardi B, 28, revealed at the event she is expecting her second baby with hubby Offset. The pair once separated after the birth of their daughter Kulture.

Maya thinks inside box for new gig

Maya Jama is boxing clever when it comes to grabbing sports gigs.

After presenting football shows Save Our Summer and Year-Late Euros with Peter Crouch, the 26-year-old will host DAZN and Matchroom’s boxing coverage.

The former Radio 1 star and Stormzy’s ex — who is also pals with boxing champ Anthony Joshua — said she was ‘thrilled’.

‘I’ve always loved boxing and this is a whole new adventure for me which I can’t wait to begin,’ Maya added. ‘I’m hoping to bring a new energy, flavour and vibe to one of my favourite sports and couldn’t be more excited to be working alongside such a fantastic and world class team.’

Ewan & Mary welcome their 1st baby

Ewan McGregor has become a father for a fifth time at age 50.

The Star Wars actor let his daughter Clara, 25, break the news that his partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 36, had given birth to Laurie, their first child together.

More: Metro newspaper

Clara, whose mum is Ewan’s ex-wife Eve Mavrakis, posted: ‘Welcome to the world little brother. Congratulations

to my Dad & Mary.’

But it seemed a strange way for the couple to let the world know — as during her parent’s separation, Clara called Winstead ‘a piece of trash’. She later admitted: ‘It wasn’t the most mature way to go about things.’

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