Josh Brookes, better known as That PT Guy, gave up some of his precious lunch hour to talk to me about quitting your job to follow your passion, his work within the community and why the simple things always work.
Josh hasn’t always been That PT Guy but he has always been into fitness. He first started exploring the fitness world around sixteen years ago, when he would go to the gym with his friends. Social media wasn’t around like it is now, especially with TikTok and Instragram reels showing all sorts of fitness content. "The gym was just fun," Josh said about how he knew what to do back then.
When did you become that PT Guy?
I eventually started to turn something I enjoyed into something that could earn me a living. I was supposed to go into fulltime mode before the first bout of covid but that ultimately halted progress because, well, what’s the point in starting something in a place that isn’t open? Then, during covid, we fell pregnant.
We got to a point where the gyms reopened and I thought bollocks to it, let’s do it. I was working as an engineer with a small client base on the side, but it got to a point where I couldn’t sustain doing the two jobs as well as looking after our son.
I made the jump in April 2021 and at that point I was just Josh Brookes the personal trainer. As my client base grew, I needed a brand and I thought, what better name than what describes me as what I am? Who do you have PT with? Oh, that PT guy. And there I am!
As you’ve developed in the fitness industry, is there anyone you’re taking inspiration from?
Ross Edgely - he was my god for a few years. I’d say he was a genetic freak (and I think he’d accept that!). The bloke looks like an absolute god. He’s a person that sees fitness all around us. His first book was something that really got my head into it. It was called The World’s Fittest Book and it was just everyday people around the world who were training without realising it e.g. people on a farm moving the hay or people in a tribe running a marathon each day to catch their food. The whole ethos was that you can train wherever you are.
A cushion falls off behind me and I pick it up. It’s a blank Mr Potato Head missing his facial features that I assume Josh’s son has hidden somewhere around the house.
I believe you can train no matter what you’re doing. If you like to hit things with hammers or flip tyres then you can train with that. It’s proper functional fitness – you can train with anything anywhere – and that’s what really got me into it.
Josh has recently developed his social media presence and started to create videos with helpful fitness content. In a recent video, Josh talks about finding fitness in the things that you enjoy doing – whether that’s dancing, yoga, running or anything else.
What do you think is the most important thing you want anyone to take away from any engagement with you and your platform.
Move however you like to move – there are plenty of ways to get fit. We will find something that you enjoy doing. It doesn’t have to be a chore. Body composition comes from the type of training you do. If you want to look like a body builder, then that’s the route we’ll have to go down, but we will find a way to make it enjoyable.
What do you think are the main benefits for people exercising?
Prolong life. There’s loads of studies that show you will prolong your life because you’re essentially burning off rubbish. If you’re sat there not moving, your joints will hurt, your muscles will ache. I’ve got people as old as 70 in my classes that move their bodies better than some 30-year-olds because they aren’t moving their bodies. The longer you stay active and well, the longer the life you lead. You’ll live longer and live better.
Josh works alongside Staffs Weightlifting Club as part of a community project to teach young people the fundamentals of weightlifting. “When I was growing up, it was either football or cross-country at school”. Josh and the team are helping to provide a solution for getting children into sports and getting them fit and active. “Anyone can pick up a barbell,” he says, “any size, any age. We have kids from ages six and seven to final year of sixth form”.
Are the children receptive to weightlifting?
I’d love to say we live in a perfect world where every kid enjoys it as much as me but there is the odd one. I’d say 90% enjoy it. It’s very trendy at the minute – again, with social media. They may not necessarily like weightlifting but it’s a sport you can take into everyday life. We’re just building strength fundamentals through exercise.
What about families at a financial disadvantage?
The other community work I do is normally during school holiday time. Intu Health and Wellbeing works alongside The Hub Foundation across Staffordshire. We provide sessions for kids that qualify for Free School Meals and it’s completely free for them. We do fitness classes and smoothie/healthy snack making. We try and give them all the knowledge they will need to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
Do you find a correlation between lower income and poorer fitness?
I wouldn’t say so, no. I’d say it’s more what they’ve been exposed to. You could have the richest kid vs the poorest kid and the poorest kid could run laps around them – you just don’t know. If healthy food costs too much money, then we’re failing as a country. If you follow healthy food like social media wants you to – eating quinoa and chia seeds – then maybe. I think everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel.
What is your opinion on the anti-bloating craze at the minute? There are products everywhere.
The simple things work. Move. Drink water. Water flushes out your waste. It’s great for your skin and your joints.
What do you have to say to people who are sat watching Love Island, for example, and comparing themselves?
It’s toxic. You’re comparing yourself to someone who, more than likely; has a nutritionist, trains two hours a day, goes to the gym six times a week, eats four perfect meals and hasn't got a lot else going on. You might have a fulltime job, a family, have only got time to train twice a week. You’re comparing to someoneone has time relevant to them. It’s apples and oranges! I’m a fulltime PT and I only train four times a week – my hours are long and I want to spend time with my wife and son.
Josh has dreams of opening up his own PT space to train clients and run sessions. He is enjoying putting out his content on social media but doesn’t feel like he needs a big following to justify it. “I’ve seen people with 10k followers that are bellends. I’m just a happy family guy. There’s information there if you want it.”
What are your words of wisdom to someone who is scared or nervous about taking their first steps into fitness?
Reach out – and it doesn’t have to be me. Reach out to someone you know, like and trust and ask for help. It costs nothing. Motivation comes from actions. You don’t gain it. You won’t just wake up one day and be motivated. Motivation comes form your previous day’s actions. It is something you earn. It grows. From actions comes motivation. From motivation comes results. From results comes more motivation.
The Final Three on Tea with G
A teach who has inspired you:
Josh describes himself as a mischievous boy when he was at school - a 'lovable rogue' if you will.
Mr Maydew was a sound guy and Mr Reid was a top dog PE teacher. I feel like my mischievous side wasn't seen as a bad thing to those guys. Mr Maydew loved Lost so we always talked about that and Mr Reid was a great football coach.
A book that you love:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – that is the GOAT HP book. The story is amazing. I think as well, I’m the same age as HP. When he was 11, I was 11.
Your favourite song:
It’s impossible to not do to the 1234! At the start of this song…
Really loved this. Josh comes over brilliantly, even a couch potato like myself wants to sign up.., though I think I’m hanging everything on the word ‘dance’ in one of his sentences🤣🤣