Joe Wicks has experienced backlash after posting videos to Instagram that showed his wife Rosie’s postpartum workout routine.
One video shows Rosie doing weights, with the on-screen writing ‘strength training with Rosie 10 weeks postpartum slow controlled movements.’ Another shows Rosie doing pull ups with the writing ‘upper body strength with Rosie’ and a third says ‘lower body strength workout with Rosie.’
Joe and Rosie have four children and welcomed their youngest son Dusty in June this year. Throughout Rosie's pregnancy, Joe regularly posted workout videos to show how she stays in shape.
However, not everyone was impressed by the content. Some of Wicks' followers pointed out that the workout regime was unrealistic for most postpartum women, because Rosie is lucky enough to have a ‘home gym’ and a ‘PT for a husband’.
One user wrote: ‘I mean this is great for you but other women who have had a baby don’t have the privilege of an at home top of the range gym you guys are smashing it too!! Not everyone who has had a new baby has a supportive husband or personal pt, home gym some women are just making it through the day so if you can’t do this – walking with the pram with your baby is just as good. I’m sure Rosie knows she looks amazing and other mums you do too regardless of size or shape.’
Another user wrote: ‘A quick reminder to all those postpartum women who are nowhere near this and are just about making it through the day… you are just as incredible! This is fantastic if it’s right for you, but it’s not a benchmark for comparison.’ A third user commented: ‘Not everyone is blessed with a full state of the art gym at home and a husband who is a personal trainer. Very unrealistic ambition for 10 weeks postpartum.’
Another comment said: ‘This is amazing, but I hope a lot of new mums realise that Rosie was incredibly strong pre her pregnancy and was doing this kind of training in her pregnancy. She is a seasoned pro at these exercises so will be able to feel if her body is coping with them. It's good to see but I also think @thebodycoach you both have a responsibility to set the picture as a lots of new mums are incredibly vulnerable at this point post pregnancy.’
However, other people took another view of his posts, acknowledging that every new mother’s journey is different. One user wrote: ‘Well done Rosie! Every pregnancy and postnatal is different and unique so please avoid comparing yourself to anyone. Slow and steady wins the race as and when you feel ready! I always recommend Pelvic floor rehab as the foundation to any postnatal journey.’
Another user wrote: ‘currently 4 weeks postpartum and would love to see more content like this.’ A third simply posted a comment that will feel relatable to lots of new mothers, writing: ‘feel my insides falling out watching this. Go Rosie.’
This isn’t the first time Wicks has come under fire from new mothers. Last year, he received backlash from his followers after a post about Rosie's postpartum body and her training regime, six months after she gave birth to their third child, Leni. At the time, women called out Wicks not only for not understanding the privilege the post inferred, but for his comments that the weight loss was 'more impressive' because their child wasn't sleeping through the night.