Welcome to another episode of Stripping Off with Matt Haycox! This week, I’m stripping down one of the biggest and most built guests to grace the podcast - my good friend, reality TV heartthrob, Essex geezer, and personal trainer, James "Lockie" Lock. Get ready for a deep dive into James' life, from his childhood struggles with his parents' separation to his journey towards self-awareness and success in business.

We'll also explore James' passion for fitness, including his battle with body dysmorphia and his creation of a fitness app. Plus, don't miss out on the inside scoop on reality TV drama and James' aspirations beyond the small screen. This episode is packed with juicy topics about losing friends, being selfish, and women!!

Who is James Lock:

Meet James Lock, or as his pals call him, Lockie. This London-born lad burst onto the scene back in 2013 when he joined the cast of The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE). But before he was rubbing shoulders with reality TV royalty, Lockie was your regular guy, working as a supervisor at an electrical company.

Since then, he's become more than just a TV star – Lockie's dabbled in modelling and entrepreneurship, showing off his business side as a personal trainer, alongside his on-screen charm.

And let's not forget his romantic escapades that have kept everyone glued to our screens. Besides TOWIE, James has also starred in Celebs Go Dating, Eating With My Ex, and Ex On A Beach. However, after 10 years of TOWIE, he has quit the show and won't return for the next series. Is he going into acting? I guess you'll have to watch the episode to find out!

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:18 - James' Mum Left When He Was 5 - Parents and Single Parents
6:57 - What would have been different if James' parents were still together?
10:45 - Self-awareness and Downfalls
13:35 - Learning to Say No
18:43 - What do you mean by "I invest in girls first"
21:54 - James' Relationship with his Mum
22:44 - Let's Talk Business - Where did it stem from? Failures?
26:20 - What do you think are the traits of a good business partner?
30:06 - Let's Talk Exercise - When did you get into it all? Diet?
33:47 - How did the fitness app come about?
39:23 - Ja

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Who Is Matt Haycox? - Click for BADASS Trailer

As an entrepreneur, investor, funding expert and mentor who has been building and growing businesses for both myself and my clients for more than 20 years, my fundamental principles are suitable for all industries and businesses of all stages and size.

I’m constantly involved in funding and advising multiple business ventures and successful entrepreneurs.

My goal is to help YOU achieve YOUR financial success! I know how to spot and nurture great business opportunities and as someone who has ‘been there and got the t-shirt’ many times, overall strategies and advice are honest, tangible and grounded in reality.

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Who is James Lock:

Since then, he's become more than just a TV star – Lockie's dabbled in modelling and entrepreneurship, showing off his business side as a personal trainer, alongside his on-screen charm.

Speaker 1: 0:00

If you don't like me, don't invite me on your podcast. The concern off, fuck them.

Speaker 2: 0:04

Mr James Locke, what's happening? Thank you for having me. I want to delve deep and try and find the real James Locke.

Speaker 1: 0:08

It's very hard your mum left you when you were five years old, it's fundamental that you do need two parents. If your mum and dad are split up, it does have a knock-on effect. You said that one of as a person is that I'm very self-aware. It doesn't mean I don't make the same mistakes.

Speaker 2: 0:25

You've always got your fingers in different pies. I imagine your dad's an influence in this respect Every day when you work for yourself, you wake up with nothing.

Speaker 1: 0:31

It's down to you to go out and get it. You've got to take control of your own life. You said that when you were a kid, you were a little fatty. When did that? It's good for your mind.

Speaker 2: 0:42

You've been quite open with your battles with body dysmorphia.

Speaker 1: 0:45

You're finding fault in yourself. I look shit there. No, you don't. And obviously it's emphasized when you're on TV or in the public eye the better you look, the more money you make.

Speaker 2: 0:58

Hey, matt Haycox, here with a quick interruption, just to say I hope you're liking the show, but please, please, like, subscribe or comment. That's how we can bring you better guests, that's how we can make the show better each week. So please, please, that's all I ever ask of you. We never charge, we never ask anything else. Just please, give it a few moments of your time. But I want, I want to do something a bit. I want to try and find a different angle, okay, uh, because, uh, I guess you I'm sure you talk a lot Tower, you talk a lot about reality and that kind of stuff, but I want to delve deep and try and find the real James Locke. You know who's the man?

Speaker 1: 1:32

behind the screen. Many people, especially women, have tried.

Speaker 2: 1:37

Well, maybe we can help them get a few percent along the road. But I want to go back to the beginning and you know, you and I went for dinner last night. We were talking a little bit and we were kind of talking about this a bit off camera and you told me that your mom left you when you were five years old and that was kind of almost like the lead into a conversation where I think you think there's probably some lingering after effects from that and you know that you're a lot more fragile or vulnerable than people think or that you would come across, and you probably date that back to when your mum first left. So let's go back to little five-year-old James. He probably still had pecs and big thighs A little fat kid Really.

Speaker 1: 2:19

Oh, we'll talk about that separately.

Speaker 2: 2:20

We'll talk about that separately. But yeah, I mean mean, you know, can you remember?

Speaker 1: 2:24

your mum leaving to this day. I just feel like, look, we were chatting yesterday and I was. It's a bit of a. It's a weird one and a sensitive subject in the sense that people don't really think too much into. I don't know they do think into, like their parents and stuff. But look, we got, we got very deep yesterday, last night but over a couple of bottles of wine. But you do need it's fundamental that you do need two parents. You do need the two parents there. I'm not saying that people are not well-rounded or well-grounded people and people that ain't gone on to do X, y and Z, having either no parents or a mum or a dad. But having two parents there is fundamental for me. I feel like you do need. You benefit from both, having a mum and a dad, do you?

Speaker 2: 3:09

know what I'm saying, but are you saying needing both parents in the same house in a relationship, or you just need the support of them?

Speaker 1: 3:17

Yeah, I think having them in the same house, in the same environment, you know how it's, you know traditionally how it's meant to be. I think having them parents there is fundamental. It does make a big difference if your mom and dad are split up. You come from a they call it a broken home, but it sounds worse than it is. But it does have a knock-on effect to the person. You know whether you accept that, acknowledge that, however, you may do that. However you deal with that as a person, that is you, everyone's an individual. So how you deal with that I'm not trying to say you're, isn't you need to be a certain type of person, or that will sculpt you as a certain type of person. Having a mum or you're, having a mum and dad there have been in the same environment or not been in the same environment, or not having them at all, does that make sense? But what?

Speaker 2: 4:00

would you say that it's more important to have your mum and dad together at the expense of them even getting on. So I've got a 17-year-old daughter. She I mean me and her mum haven't been together under the same roof since she was probably two, yeah, but you know she's a great woman, her mum. She's been a great mum to my daughter and she's been a very easy ex-wife for me to have which is probably one in a billion really.

Speaker 2: 4:24

And we've always gotten on separately. We've always very properly co-parented, have never had any issues whatsoever, and you know she really is. I mean every parent says it, but I mean that daughter really is a credit to the pair of us and people laugh and say how the fuck has she come out like she's come out?

Speaker 2: 4:41

You know as your kid, if I'd have stayed with her mum and I was listen when my daughter was two I was 25, 26, 27, running the strip clubs and stuff, listen I'd have carried on my behaviour as a horrible husband and misbehaved. We'd have been arguing and mum was going batty with me all the time. If she'd have had another 10 or 15 years of that, I would imagine that would have hurt her more than the fact that she didn't have a mom and dad living in the same house. Does that make sense?

Speaker 1: 5:07

Yeah, but again, this is to do with circumstances and each story, each person as an individual. Do you know what I'm saying? This is becoming very particular because you used to work in strip clubs but then at the same time you say, did you need to work in the strip clubs and then being there drinking and socializing If you went down, just treat it as a job. Obviously it's a very unsociable job. It's a sociable in the aspect for the punters, but it's unsociable for your family. Does that make sense? Absolutely yeah. So it's like, for instance, I'm always up london in the week networking. I'm having meetings. You know there's another after this. I've got another meeting with my business partner. So I'm having, I'm at meetings and I'll probably pop out, go for dinner. Then when my family want to see me over the weekend, I'm shattered by the weekend. So I end up chilling when most people work all week nights or fires or whatever. That's when they party or that's when they indulge in whatever they hobbies seeing friends and family going out, whatever. That's what I'm saying. It's a very reverse. Everything depends on circumstances and the person, if that makes sense.

Speaker 1: 6:07

But I do strongly believe. Look, I can't speak from a parent's perspective because I haven't got any children, but what I'm saying is from the perspective of being a child from, you know, a so-called broken home, I feel, even though, listen, I've been brought up by my dad and I feel like he's done a very good job, still had contact with my mum. I feel I'm very well rounded as a person, you know. Anyone that knows me would know I'm very well rounded, but I'm not. Look, there's definitely factors there where things would have been different had my mum and dad been together. You know Things would have been different. I'm not trying to say it's taken anything away from me as a person, you know, but I back myself 100%. I'm saying that it takes there will be something lacking of being brought up or a certain outlook.

Speaker 2: 6:56

I'm using you as a specific example. I mean, what do you think is lacking or would have been different?

Speaker 1: 7:05

I'm brought up very tough, tough love, so in a sense I'm a very much. I'm very old. Look how I'm brought up. Anyway is a very old school. East End values.

Speaker 2: 7:13

You were living with your dad. Your mum left and you were just living with your dad.

Speaker 1: 7:15

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So my brother and sister was with my mum and I stayed with my dad Because the split when the split happened, as a kid I didn't want to leave my dad. All the kids went with their mum. That's natural for all the kids to go with their mum. I didn't want to leave my dad, so I stayed with him.

Speaker 1: 7:33

But you can definitely see a difference. If you met me and my siblings, you can see a difference between me and my brother. There's a lot of similarities, we're very similar looking how we talk, but then there's a lot of differences. There's a lot of differences and you'd have to meet my brother for me to to acknowledge that and you can see what. Whereas one's been brought up softer and once we're right, more you know more as a, as a man it's very tough love or more sensitive, you can tell the difference. My brothers are very, a lot more sensitive than me.

Speaker 1: 8:04

You know absolutely and see, sometimes people misperceive me, thinking that I'm a little bit arrogant or I don't give a fuck. A lot's happened to me in my life. I like a lot's happened to a lot of people. I don't sit here, obviously, cry about it. I don't talk about it, I just get on with it. But again, loads of someone as a person, you know and I think people sometimes forget you know, especially when you're in in in this industry, like people will, um, you know, judge. So everyone thinks I'm I'm born with a silver. You know, I'm some rich kid born with a silver spoon in my mouth from, from chigwell. I'm not. I'm not. I'm not from essex. Do you know what I'm saying? So I'm not and I'm definitely not from, uh, chigwell. Or born like if I foul, it's all on me. Do you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 1: 8:44

So people have a misperception and then see what we find in everyday life people, you know, you don't know what people are going through. Do you know what I'm saying? You don't know what people go through on a daily basis. You don't know what their background, what their circumstances are. It is what it is. I'm not sitting there trying to cry about it is what is its life. Get on with it. But I'm just saying that as a whole, there's a lot of factors that sculpt a person in general, whether you acknowledge it or accept it or you don't. There's a lot of things, even me, as much as I might think I'm well grounded. I'm happy who I am. Yeah, I'm very, I'm very happy, I'm very, I'm a very contempt place in my life. Yeah, there's still things that could have been better. You can't say there's always things that could have been done better or could have been better. You can't say there's always things that could have been done better or could have been a better situation. Do you know what?

Speaker 2: 9:27

I'm saying, and you say that you're a well-rounded person, were there times that you look back at where you were less well-rounded than you are now because of that background and things that you've had to work on?

Speaker 1: 9:39

I think sometimes, especially in relationships, you're sitting here now you're saying at the beginning oh look, he's the ladies' man. Yes, I can go out, I can socialise. Listen, I'm not just a ladies' man, I'm a very sociable person. I've got a lot of friends, I've got a lot of acquaintances. I'm a sociable person. You know, whether you're a male, female, whatever, but when it comes to actually being in relationships with people, especially with a girl, sometimes being, sometimes when you need that sensitive side, I don't think I'm that sensitive. Sometimes, see, sometimes I'm awkward in situations. I'm awkward and it's not through being cold, it's just through.

Speaker 1: 10:18

Well, I've brought up very tough love and just with a one man's dynamic. Do you know what I mean? Even though my dad is affectionate, I mean my dad have a cuddle he doesn't. It's affectionate, it's a weird one. Again, it's like people. I feel like people can relate to it. It's a weird one, but you're, you're listening, I think everyone will get it. I says and I think you understand what I'm saying where, if you're more affectionate, women are listen, they are the, the fairer sex, they are a lot more emotional and that's not a bad thing, you know. I think that, if anything, that makes them stronger, than us.

Speaker 2: 10:45

So but you say that, um, that in relationships you maybe haven't been as sensitive as you could have been or you would have liked to have been yeah, but that's been a.

Speaker 1: 10:53

That's been a um, that's been a very um, what's the word?

Speaker 2: 10:58

that's been a very holding you back in relationships, but what? But then you also said to me last night you said that probably one of your downfalls is that you invest in girls first. Yeah, um, I mean, which I mean? For a lot of men, though, they sound a bit contradictory those two things, because I guess you, you know you might not be sensitive, but you are so because I'm not putting that girl first, I over invest.

Speaker 1: 11:20

So basically because I I'm aware that what gives me, what makes me very powerful as a person, is that I'm very self-aware. Self-awareness is like acknowledgement is powerful. I know this is the thing as well, because, as much as it's powerful it also is, it's like it doesn't mean I don't make the same mistakes. Do you know what I mean? Even though I'm self aware, like I know my downfalls. What are they? I think my downfalls are that sometimes look a lot of people, I think are people pleased I can't sit here why?

Speaker 2: 11:59

for their benefit or for yours do you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 1: 12:01

it's like it comes from a place of, it comes from a place of um. It comes from a good place because, like I, genuinely didn't, everyone's gonna sit and say they're a good person, but I've got a big heart where my heart must leave. That's why, you know, I look, I don't know, I over. This is on from. I over invest, I over invest in things and do become a bit of a yes man, a bit of a people pleaser, which is bad for you. You can't, you can never win being a yes man or being a people pleaser, which is bad for you. You can never win being a yes man or being a people pleaser. Do you know what I'm saying? And then sometimes, because of that, you get taken advantage of. So, as much as I might be, not as affectionate, it doesn't mean I don't overinvest in other ways.

Speaker 2: 12:38

I think for me the biggest downfall of being a people pleaser because I don't know if I'd necessarily exactly use those words, but I can completely relate to what you're talking about. Historically, I've always said yes to too many things, helped too many people out.

Speaker 2: 12:52

But, then you say help too many people out. I like to be helpful, I like to be generous, I like to give people what they want, and if I get let down or fucked over, that doesn't really bother's. Just I just look at that as part of the course. I think my biggest regret in doing, let's say, too much for too many people is you have no fucking time for yourself and one of the best things of being able to say no or not being able to learning to say no, because I think it is a.

Speaker 2: 13:15

It's maybe not a skill, but it's certainly a muscle. You know, like learning to say no, it's a powerful muscle is. Is that you get? You know, you get that time back, either for yourself or for the ones you want to concentrate on, because I spend so much time doing things for other people that I can't remember. I'm just fucked and you know, barely got time for the missus, certainly no time for myself, and um, you know, and then it's not healthy.

Speaker 1: 13:35

See that it's not healthy. See, like now, I'm at a point where you know, saying no. I'm at a point where what's coming back, what's obviously what we're talking about over the years, what's having back is over investing. Being a bit of a yes man, I think a lot of people being a people pleaser, I think a lot of people the last couple of years been a massive transition for me. So now, if I look, we can go out, like you said I got yesterday and socialize. I'm still that same person, but I just don't say yes to everything. Say no is a power itself, because do you know what I'm saying when? Look, when you, when it comes to a point where you want something, these people that you're saying yes to let them, let's see if they come and help you. Do you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 1: 14:14

And lately, the last few years have been a massive transition for me because I've actually started saying no them people. I've actually lost a lot of the people around me, but they're the fake people, they're the people you don't want around you. I'm a lot happier, you know, see these things, you see these memes on you know, instagram or wherever online being on my own, going for a drink, eating on my own. I actually love being on my own. I train on my own, I eat on my own. You know I'm on my own most days, most of the time, and that's okay. I go to my meetings, do my thing when I'm meeting, when I'm doing things now, it's business. If things ain't serving me, I am selfish.

Speaker 2: 14:57

But selfish in a good way, because that's a sign of self-respect.

Speaker 1: 15:00

Do you know what I'm saying? Absolutely yeah. When you're overly pleasing, look someone to go at you. You know, I don't know. We could be. I could be. I'm hearing that this is what like nothing. We're friends, but this is work. We're doing something productive. Yeah, we're talking about productive things. I think us men talking about things like this is is a productive thing. Or I could be, uh, on the piss talking shit with a load of fucking people who just want me there for a good time paying the bill. Yeah, because I make a few richards, do you know? I mean mean, do you know what?

Speaker 1: 15:24

I'm saying it's a naked thing Next to like where's that going to get me? But when you start saying no to people, they say oh, he's changed. Who does he think he is? Do you know what I'm saying? It's you can't. Pleasing people is not the answer.

Speaker 2: 15:39

And I guess, well, have you seen? You must have seen a big difference in that, from the time that you weren't on the telly to the time you were in the telly I mean, I mean pre TV were you, you know? Were you still that people pleaser?

Speaker 1: 15:49

Yeah, pre TV, I think everyone is trying to say. I think everyone is a victim of it. Even your pals are calling you up. You don't even really want to go out, but you're out and that's people pleasing at some level. Obviously it's emphasised and it's, you know, times 10, since I've been on the TV, because everyone wants to come out and party with me. You know what I'm saying. And that's another problem in relationships. You know you're on this show or you know you're in reality TV and people want to be wrapped around you.

Speaker 1: 16:20

Most of the people I meet in this day and age, I would never meet if I hadn't been on TV. Most of the people I meet in this day and age I would never meet if I hadn't been on TV. Do you know what I'm saying? They're not the people I grew up with. You know, not people I was socialized with or would have, you know, would have been in any environment where I would have met them.

Speaker 1: 16:35

You know, again, this is pros and cons of the industry. Yes, there's a lot. Obviously there's more pros and cons, otherwise I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be doing it. It's opened so many doors but there is a dark side to it. Do you know what I'm saying? As much as you might go to an event and meet 10 potential you know potential clients in a sense that you know I might meet a couple of agents. I might meet people that you know, producers for shows or people that you know have, you know, own brands, want who in doors want to work for me. There's also negative where there's people there that just want to party and it's not on them, it's down to you as an individual.

Speaker 2: 17:09

You say about being self-aware, but as long as you're aware, or self-aware, I mean, I guess yes, it's more amplified in the media situation, but it's the same in everyday life, isn't it?

Speaker 1: 17:18

You walk into the room there's good people.

Speaker 2: 17:19

There's good people, there's bad people, and I guess you get better at reading people over time and it's probably not too hard for you now to see a couple of guys in a room and think you know what they're not for me.

Speaker 1: 17:31

They're not necessarily always bad. I'm trying to say like, see, this is giving a vague explanation for something that's a lot more in depth. Now, when you're at people, just because they want to part with you doesn't necessarily mean they're a negative or a bad person. But maybe bad for you, bad for me in that situation. But that's down to you as a person saying no, no, not for me. You know, I'm not, yeah, I'm not drinking tonight. I'm having an early one and then having a willpower to tell them that be firm with it and then leave.

Speaker 1: 18:00

But what I'm saying is that just because they want to part with you doesn't make them bad people. You know they're not seeing the negative, they're not doing something malicious. You know what I'm saying. They're just like thinking look, we're going to, if anything, it's coming from maybe a place of endearment. You know, again, you've got to take control of your own life. No one's here, no one's coming to rescue you. You know what I look at a situation, analyse it and then make your own decisions for yourself, because no one is here, no one's here to rescue you. No one's here to mother you or baby you. You've got to look after yourself.

Speaker 2: 18:43

So when you say that you invest in girls first, what do you mean?

Speaker 1: 18:48

by that Not invest in girls first. So what happens with me? When are you having a relationship? No, but anyone in in girls. So what happens?

Speaker 2: 18:52

with me? When are you having a relationship?

Speaker 1: 18:53

anyone in general. So what happens? I have a lot of acquaintances girls, boys or girls. You know I'm a social, I'm a very social person. What happens is when someone when I do invest in someone, so with me I'm very like might come across as a bit standoffish or cold. It's not cold, I am standoffish because I, you know, I'm standoffish, right, this sounds a bit, it doesn't. It contradicts itself. As much as I can be sociable, I don't invest. I don't like. I might be out, we might go out, have a great night, or we'll be in the gym. You know what I'm saying. We'll be chatting or whatever. Get on the ass on fire. That doesn't mean I'm going to invest. I'm not then ringing you going. What are you doing? Do you want to come and chill? I'll do it.

Speaker 1: 19:34

When you go past the point where it's not just you're not socializing, you're not an acquaintance, you're invested in a person where you know you're seeing someone on a regular basis, whether it's a man or a woman. You, rather than just you know, spare the moment sort of thing or bumping into someone when you're actually making time for someone, you're investing in someone. You know when you're changing your plans, whether it's look the weekend, whether I'm going to speak to a lady and going, look, what are you doing on the weekend, I'm putting her, making her a priority. Or I'm speaking to my pals. I'm like, look, so what are you doing tonight? You're, you're, and then, oh, you're not free to this time, you're changing your schedule.

Speaker 2: 20:13

I'll stay around you. Does that make sense?

Speaker 1: 20:14

Absolutely yeah. So when you invest in someone like that, that's, that's an investment. Do you know what I'm saying? You're, you're making, you're freeing up time. Your time is precious.

Speaker 1: 20:27

Being with one of your pals, that's, that's a mine, obviously. Like just, you know, changing arrangements for them. Um, it's like tonight I'm I'll just sing in at sheesh, so I don't need to be going out tonight, but I'm going there. So you're, I'm changing my plans. You know, to go and support someone at restaurant, yes, I'll be there having a great time, but I'm changing, I'm altering my plans, which is not too, listen, you're still doing it to some degree, but it's not, you know, it's not life-changing. Whereas with a woman, when I'm invested, I'll literally invest everything, all my time, into that person. Do you know what I'm saying? And I forget.

Speaker 1: 21:00

I think a lot of men are like this where you're, you won't? Um, you know, they come first in regards to business. I'm not funny, but if I was with someone now and they're going through, they're struggling, I would literally have turned up today, which is, which is a great thing. People think, oh, listen, that's, that's a gentleman's, a nice guy, but you know something, it's that itself. This is work, this is business. I'm saying like not going to the meeting after because I've got to go back and someone's a bit upset. That has a knock-on effect. Do you know what I saying?

Speaker 2: 21:30

But I think, as much as it's important to be able to say no, you've also got to do what makes you happy and feels right. And you know, sometimes it's very easy to say, well, would they do the same for me? And the reality is, if you're a good person, if you're a generous person, probably eight times out of ten that person wouldn't do the same for you. Does that mean you want to change who you are?

Speaker 1: 21:49

No, you don't change who you are.

Speaker 2: 21:51

I don't think it ever changes who you are Exactly, and just going back to your parents for a minute. So when your mum left at five, did you maintain a relationship with her growing up or did she disappear for a while?

Speaker 1: 22:02

No, no, I've maintained, like we've all maintained a relationship. Oh, it's just that you weren't living together. No, it wasn't lived together. But again, you'd have to know me and my family more Obviously. You know me as a person, but you could see the difference between me and my brother. Whereas one's brought up in one house and the other's brought up in the other, you can see a massive. There's a very it's a massive difference. I'm not saying that people can't be different being brought up in the same house, but there's a noticeable difference between me and my brother. You know Both done well, we're both well-rounded individuals, but you can see in traits of personality, a lot of difference.

Speaker 2: 22:43

Well, let's talk a bit about business and doing well. I mean, obviously you know, as I know, you know you're you're a hungry guy, you're a duck and a diver, you've, you've, you've always got your fingers in different pies. I mean I would imagine that dates back to back to your early childhood. I mean I imagine your dad's an influence in this respect as well. I mean did money.

Speaker 1: 23:16

I think look people to say money doesn't make you happy, that's all bullshit money is. I'm not saying money itself makes you happy, but it enables you to live a life that makes you happy, it gives you freedom. So to say that money doesn't make you happy is bollocks. And when you come from nothing, uh, listen, like yourself, when you come from nothing and you have money, you can't go back. It's like when you've experienced something and in the industry I'm in or listen, listen. Even in real life, I think a lot of people. You're up, you're down. Do you know what I'm saying? If you're not, if you are like you've got that entrepreneur mindset, you know where, you want better, you know and you take that gamble. You're at risk. You're not doing your nine to five. Now, fair play to people who do nine to fives. My mum does a nine to five. My mom always done a nine to five. My dad always worked for himself. Now, you gotta remember.

Speaker 1: 23:56

Every day, when you work for yourself, you wake up with nothing. Do you know what I'm saying? Every day you wake up, you, it's down to you to go out and get it. What makes you hungry? That mindset. I like that mindset because it makes you hungry in life. And I'm still hungry now. I'm still. You know, I've had various businesses and I've tried various things. The people who understand is that I've had loads of things that I've done well from, but loads of things that I've failed from, probably more that I've failed from than I've done well from. But that's part of the journey, that's part of that, the whole journey, the struggle, you know, that is that's what builds character.

Speaker 2: 24:24

How do you feel about those failures? You know when they happened at the time. Yeah, I mean, have you had some failures which have been public as well, since you've been in the public eye Of?

Speaker 1: 24:32

course, there's been loads of failures since I've been in public, but this is the thing it's like. Obviously, in the tabloids I'm always the front guy, I'm the full guy. So these businesses sometimes when they fail, they actually haven't failed because they're bad businesses. It's been a breakdown of these other things. It's a lot deeper issue Breakdown with communication with the partners, lack of effort from certain people.

Speaker 1: 24:58

Listen, I'm not trying to say I'm, you know, I'm adding sugar and everything I touch turns to gold, because it obviously doesn't. But and there's been some failures down to me, down to lack of effort from me. But I can hand on heart say that most of the time the businesses that I've had have been good businesses, even dating back to when I've had bars, the restaurants, they've all been good businesses. But certain people haven't stepped up and they've caused me problems Like it's not me. They haven't done what they are meant to do. You've got to remember, obviously, when people get into business with me, whether to do. You've got to remember, obviously I'm, when people get into business with me, we'll be a restaurant, bar, endorsing a brand. I'm the face, my, my job is to for, for exposure, marketing, getting it out. There is that typically?

Speaker 2: 25:39

is that typically your only only role at the time? I mean, I mean, do you, do you ever put capital into these businesses? Do you ever get involved in the operations or do you just? You're the marketing, you're the brand face.

Speaker 1: 25:49

Right. So see, in terms of capital, in the past I have. But that's not smart business. I'm a commodity myself. You know what I bring to the table is otherwise someone wouldn't invest in me. There's no point in me going into business with someone if I'm going to put the money in and I don't need that person. Does that make sense? If me and you was to get it out there, why am I going 50-50 with you? What are you bringing to the table? Do you know what I'm saying? I don't need you. I might as well just pay the whole thing myself. Do you know what?

Speaker 2: 26:17

I'm saying no, no, no, okay. So, fleshing on from that, then, as someone who's had multiple partnerships, and multiple partners which break down as well, if you're looking to partner up with someone now, if you're looking to, you know, to go into business, what do you think are the traits of a good business partner Traits Right, you need someone in the trenches.

Speaker 1: 26:36

So yes, listen, I'm very hands-on.

Speaker 1: 26:38

Someone will put the graft in when it counts but I'm very hands-on anyway, as you know, I if it's my business, it's when I've not been hands-on or not, when I've just tried to sit back thinking I'm just going to be the face, if you like, that's caused me problems, and then when it all goes, peaks on, all fucks up, it's all on me, that other person no one knows who, fucking who I had the kitchen with, or no one knows who I had this bar with, or the brand or whatever else. No one knows that always, oh, lockie's, lockie's, lockie's kitchen, lockie's bar, it's all me. So it makes it look like I've had loads of foul businesses when the people that I've actually invested in they haven't pulled their finger at and listen, I can again, I can hand on heart and say that not put all the blame, but they haven't done what they're, what they're meant to do. I'm not the details person, so you see a lot of time with these influencers. People say, oh, it's this business foul or used business is foul. Tata was notorious for it. All the girls set up shops or bars and it was fairly.

Speaker 1: 27:35

No, we use our voice to face. We're busy filming. People think I'm just sitting here and someone's following me around with a camera and they think I don't do fuck all day. That's what makes me die. People think I don't do anything all day. They ring like I'm literally just sitting at home or I'm going to the gym. I'm busy, we're still active. Do you know what I'm saying? Running errands, doing whatever you're doing, your day-to-day business is working Today. Like people are ringing me, bugging me, nah, like as if I'm not doing anything. Do you know what I'm saying? So when I'm investing in someone, yes, I've got time to sit there to market whether it be a brand, you know whatever type of business but they've got all the detailed stuff, like the stuff that's in the trenches. The reason why I would invest in someone is that they are a business person in, you know, in that field.

Speaker 1: 28:24

So, whether it be a bar or restaurant, I never had a kitchen. For instance, just to talk about Lockie's kitchen, I never had a kitchen. I haven't got a background working in a restaurant. The person I got involved with they invested the money and they had a background he's an Italian guy. He had a background in kitchen, you know, in restaurants. Then, when it comes to it, he was never there. He'd never been to the restaurant, been to the restaurant twice come to it on opening night. He was never there.

Speaker 1: 28:53

How can I, how am I supposed to run a business that I've never even a completely different industry that I don't know about and I've never worked in? Do you know what I'm saying? I have no background in it at all. I had an idea. I was there all the time. People coming down want to see me Lockie Lockie's Kitchen. I'm there all the time meeting people like you know being who I am. They want to meet me. They see me on the telly. They want to come and meet me. People are coming down to see me. I'm not there cooking. I'm not there cooking. I'm not there serving people. You know I'm just there. You know being the host, if you like. Everything else was meant to be down to someone else. That was left to me Because I you will never employ me to come run your business when I've got no background in it. You're setting yourself up to fail. Does that make sense?

Speaker 1: 29:34

But then when it all goes to shit. Who do people look at? They look at me, oh look at, oh look, oh, they're fucking his kitchen flop. No, it didn't flop. The kitchen was a great idea. It's still a great idea now. I'd love to else. Who's a proper businessman with who's proper you know, who knows about that business? Who's got the time to invest in a business? Does that make sense? Absolutely not wasting my time. See that now I'm a lot more because what we're going back to, I'm a lot more selective with my time.

Speaker 2: 30:00

I ain't got time to waste, so when people are not putting their finger out, fuck them let's talk about, uh, let's talk about exercise, which is obviously massive, massive part of your life and also one of your businesses as well. Uh, you said that when you were a kid, you were a little fatty. Uh, when did um, when, when did that change? When did you get into exercise, health, fitness?

Speaker 1: 30:22

so I've always, always, liked sports. Um, you're either one of them kids or you're not. I've always liked sports. I played every sport when I was at school. Uh, as I got a bit older I moved more into the gym. But I like, you know, I like mixing it up. You know I don't do weights every day. I used to. At one point I got mad on the weights and you know you do get a bit obsessed with it, a bit carried away. But I like to mix it up. I'm playing tennis, I'm playing squash. Do it up. I'm playing tennis, I'm playing squash. I like to mix things. I'll go swimming. I do a bit of weights, I do a bit of running. I mix it up.

Speaker 1: 30:55

You know, either jiu-jitsu, a bit of boxing. I like to keep active because keeping active fundamentally it's good for your mind, it's good for your body, it keeps you healthy. Yes, and obviously you know you train the right way, especially with what I do. It's very like aesthetic. And how's your eating? I'm very disciplined. I'm very disciplined. Obviously, last night, when I went out, we had a bit of food. I still go out. I have a cheat meal. I go out and I eat. If I'm out, I'm in company. I'll have a few drinks or I'll go and eat what I want, but you know, 90% of the time I'm very disciplined with my diet and this is the problem. I've got people messaging me day in, day out asking me about you know, about their diet, about their workouts. There's no quick fix. You know there's no quick fix. Even people talk about steroids. See steroids. You don't just do a steroid and you all of a sudden get muscly.

Speaker 2: 31:44

You've still got to train.

Speaker 1: 31:45

There's loads of guys down at're fat People. Oh, he's on the roids or she's, you know, doing some crazy diet. It still takes discipline, you know it takes discipline to stay away from the. You know to eat regimented meals. You know, keep it like a low, a well-balanced diet. You know which isn't, which is like you carb, high protein diet. You find, do you know? I'm saying yeah, that's that's, that's a well balanced diet. A lot of people know you know you go out and sit there eating pizza. You know, burgers, pasta. They're wondering why they're not losing weight eating bread. You can't, you can't be eating bread. You know bread is the worst thing in the world to eat. If you're, if you're looking to lose weight, you're not. You know whether you're sitting in this little thin bread going to a Turkish, going to a, wherever you're going, bread is that is.

Speaker 2: 32:34

I do find, when I'm trying to go on because I don't really do diets, I just try and eat better because you know like with my lifestyle similar to yours going out a lot, entertaining, seeing clients you know you can't say no to going out to restaurants. It'd be very easy to sit.

Speaker 1: 32:47

I sit at home with a meal plan.

Speaker 2: 32:48

Right, I mean, I wasn't as well behaved as you last night, but you know, I find if I cut bread out if I cut puddings out. I mean that's half the fucking battle. It's probably saved me six, seven, 800 calories a day, just that.

Speaker 1: 33:02

If you cut out bread, it's a game changer. I tell people this all day. There's other things. When you start sitting there talking about diets and stuff, I carb cycle. I keep my carbs low. People need to realize that I still eat carbs. I don't do like what this eddie fella does and just completely not eat carbs. I eat carbs. You need to eat carbs because, basically, if you cut anything out completely, um, when you start eating that again, it will have a negative effect on your body. You know these people that do these crash diets like you got not funny. You go and do these starts when you're just having a couple of juices or you know you still need to look. You still need to be balanced in what you're eating. It's like being balanced in life. Everything's about balance. Balance is the key with, with everything, um yeah, not for me.

Speaker 2: 33:45

So how did the fitness?

Speaker 1: 33:47

app come about, the fitness that come back, because, again, a lot of people are asking me about training and I see a lot of these apps out there. A lot of these. A lot of these people do these apps. They're just. They're just money spinners. You know, um, and these guys, a lot, of, a lot of these. You know these, these pts, walter, respect, mention no names. A lot of them are just genetically gifted or they are just taking x, y and z and they are having a. Again, they still have to work hard to get into the position where they are.

Speaker 1: 34:15

There's no quick fix. Whether you're doing steroids or any sort of diet, there's no quick fix. It takes discipline. So you can't take that away from anyone. Don't get me wrong, but some people are more genetically gifted than others. You know some people, you know you see these people who go out, eat whatever they want and they literally just don't put on any weight and you get other people on the other end of the spectrum. But it still takes discipline and for me there's so much bollocks out there and I had so many people asking me. You know so many people.

Speaker 1: 34:41

I've been on TV a long time. I've got so many people that look up amount of downloads has been crazy. You know I've kept it. Um, I've done. I started with a free um, listen, the app's free to download. There's a free trial and in the after trial it's only 7.49, which is very cheap for an app. A lot of people are charging. You know, double, three times that, and with that you're getting, you know, cali trackers. You're getting a breakdown. You, and with that you're getting, you know, cali trackers, you're getting a breakdown. You're getting nutrition plans, you're getting workout plans. You've got an online community. You've got everything there. You've got a lot of content and a lot within that app. You know, for a very cheap price. And the reason for that? Of course you've still got to run it. It can't be run for free because it takes time, so, so I can't run it for free, but the price I'm doing it for is pretty much for fuck all.

Speaker 2: 35:36

Just for anyone who doesn't quite make it to the end of the podcast, where we'll put all the notes anyway, just give it a little shout out where they can find it from.

Speaker 1: 35:42

Okay, so, yeah, I've got an app called Locky's Kitchen. Locky's Kitchen. I've got an app called Locky's Fitness. Yeah, it's my work app. It's my work app, it's my fitness app. Um, if you go and download it, it's got everything you need pretty much to get in shape. It's very, it's very real. It's very simple. You know, it's the thing is it's simple things, but ultimately I can tell you exactly what I'm doing in this app is everything is how I live.

Speaker 1: 36:04

You know I I use, um, I use a calorie tracker and I track all my macros. Because if you don't track it, you can say how can you maintain or get into shape when you don't actually know what you're? You know you need to know where you're starting from. So you go in and you put in your credentials, find out where you're starting from and you can map from there whether you want to. You know tone up, build muscle or lose weight. Okay, if that makes sense, yeah, and then you can. Obviously you track what you're doing. You need to track what you're eating on a daily basis your proteins, your fats and your carbs. That's the main three things. You can calorie count I'm not a massive calorie count-er but the fats, the carbs and your protein. You need to monitor that. You know, and people like listen. This day and age, people overindulge in carbs. Everything is carbs, even bits of fruit. You know vegetables, they're all carbs. Do you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 2: 37:03

And it's £7.49 a month £7.49 a month and there's some add-ons or some upgrades. You can pay for more. There's some upgrades as well.

Speaker 1: 37:09

So at the minute the app's quite new. So for £7.49, it just gives you an in-depth perspective of what I actually do on a daily basis Literally all the work, all the nutrition plans, the workout plans, everything that I do on a daily basis. This is what I live by. So that app is very personal to me. It's not one of these apps I just put my name to. So that app is very personal to me. It's not one of these apps I just put my name to. It's my app If you want to know what I'm doing and how I keep in shape. How I can you know yo-yo at one minute where I can overindulge and go out last night, have a few drinks, eat what I want, but then I can still get up and do a photo shoot the next day. It's because I'm living by what I'm doing within this app. I said it's very new.

Speaker 1: 37:48

At the minute I'm going to start. There's going to be upgrades. There's certain things where you can buy more personalized workouts. There's a few people I'm training at the minute, one being Arj. So when people I'm doing like a body transformation with Arj, just to show that it's not, it is discipline. It is what I'm saying. What I'm preaching is the truth and people have seen it already. So I'm doing a 12-week. Well, I'm going to start with a six-week for Transformation of Arj Doing a 12-week one. What are you doing against the muscle on him? Yes, so he's lost a lot of weight. I mean, he looks like a different man.

Speaker 2: 38:17

I mean literally unrecognisable.

Speaker 1: 38:19

No listen, he's lost loads of weight. He looks brand new. He's a completely changed man. He's lost the weight, he's sought himself out, he stopped drinking because that was having a negative effect on him and he's happier than ever. You know he's still doing TV. He's. You know he's doing stuff for the Arch Band. I'm going to see him tonight. He's performing at Sheesh and he's smashing it.

Speaker 1: 38:46

I'm happy for the guy. You know, I'm genuinely happy for him as a friend. Now he wants to. He's come to me like. He's like look, I've lost loads of weight. He's looking double well, but he now wants to look more ascetic. He wants to put on a bit of muscle, if you like. So the right, the right sort of weight. So I'm helping him with that. I'm literally showing him. He's training with me. So people that follow me, you'll see that he's doing exactly what I'm doing, um, you know, and then he's obviously, obviously I'm doing like a one-to-one PT and training him. So and that's what I'm going to start doing within the app. So with the app, I'm going to start doing one-to-one training, online coaching plus I will for selective people. I'll start doing personalized coaching as well, like I'm doing with Arj, you've been quite open with your battles.

Speaker 1: 39:27

People look people. Again. It's another subject, it's a bit of a. It's something that people can't always grasp. You can be in social drama.

Speaker 2: 39:37

Has that been something that's always been with you, or is that something that's developed what we've been on the TV and more in the public eye?

Speaker 1: 39:44

Right, so it's definitely. I spoke about this on Good Morning Britain the other day. So the body dysmorphia, everyone's got it in some aspect. It's not just the women. Men have it as well. You know, whether you're, you know you're, you're you're, you have a picture with your friends and you're you're checking that picture. That's body dysmorphia. You might have a look at me, but if you're overly looking or I'm not, I don't know that one. It's insecurities. That's body dysmorphia. You're finding fault in yourself. I look shit there. No, you don't. You're finding fault in yourself. So, whether it's just having a picture, whether you're not on TV, you're training, you're a man or a woman, you're training. You know you're going away. You're going to Marbella, you're going to Ibiza or you're getting married. Do you know what I'm saying? It's like that's not being comfortable with just who you are at that. That is body dysmorphia. Do you know what I'm saying? That is in some aspect and obviously it's emphasized when you're on TV or in the public eye.

Speaker 1: 40:35

You know, whether you like it or not, this is a very vain industry. Like you, the better you look, the more money you make. Like if I wasn't in shape, I wouldn't be doing a fitness app. You know I wouldn't be getting fitness endorsements. Like you are. Like I am a walking, like I'm a business, I'm a walking advert for my own business. If I get out of shape, if I'm not in shape, no one's going to go and buy my app. Does that make sense? So then the body's more of your kicks in, because then I'm not just competing with other reality stars or other people within this industry, I'm competing with fitness models Now. Now I'm not a fitness model, fitness models. That discipline goes to another level, where they're not at See. Last night they wouldn't be out drinking, eating what we're eating at all. Trust me, I've been at them, boys. They live a very regimented and a very, I'll say, boring, but, with due respect, like a horse, of course.

Speaker 2: 41:25

Yes, they love it. They love it.

Speaker 1: 41:27

No, it's not so my hat's off to them Again. Everyone's different. That's their business. They don't listen. They are again they. It's a lifestyle. It's a lifestyle, but the problem is I can't live that lifestyle doing what I do. Do you know what I'm saying? It kind of reacts. Well, it's the balance, isn't it?

Speaker 2: 41:52

Everything is a trade-off to something else. I think I I used to, because I always used to say to myself oh well, um, you know, I could be in better shape if I wanted to be, but for me the wine's more important or the sticky toffee pudding's more important, it's better than so but again it's then also finding out.

Speaker 2: 42:03

Do you really mean that, or are you just using that as an excuse to justify why you're not, why you're not putting the effort in? And I think when I then did start to did start to lose some weight, I then used to look back and say, actually, I mean, listen, I'll never take it to the extremes, like you say, of a fitness model and I'll probably struggle to get a six-pack, but I think I was probably making excuses to myself before you could get there, though you could get there Anyone.

Speaker 2: 42:28

Oh, I can. I mean absolutely.

Speaker 1: 42:34

When? Get there anyone? Oh, I can. I mean absolutely. Yeah, I'm gonna say struggle. I don't mean I'm physically incapable, I mean I just there's other things that you that you that you thrive in this. Again, it's just like talking to someone as an individual. Talk about me and you here. There's areas that you are excelling that I need to be more disciplined in. Not funny, when that last night we had a few drinks, you went home. I stayed out. See that discipline. You're up 9am work. It's jobs and me doing that. That has a knock-on effect, do you?

Speaker 2: 42:55

know what I'm saying?

Speaker 1: 42:55

It's like I'm not, I'm good, I'm not 100% today. I would have been. Do you know what I'm saying? We probably should have done this after. We should have done that tonight. But see that discipline. So in some aspects where I'll go out and we went out for a bit of dinner, I'm still limiting the carbs. I'm just eating purely protein. Yeah, and you might be, you know a bit more rice Tempura.

Speaker 1: 43:20

Yeah, yes, tempura prawns when I stayed away from them. So I'm disciplined like that, but like I'm saying at the same time, so that's one good thing, but then you know it's 11 o'clock, whatever time it was, I've then stayed out with a few friends, had a few more drinks yeah, nothing wrong with that. But when I've got something to do today I shouldn't have. I should have just gone home, like you as a professional. So that's what I'm trying to say In one area you might not excel in, but in other areas you do, and it's all about balance.

Speaker 2: 43:52

It's finding that balance with anyone. And let's look into that a bit and and to kind of see why. Because so yeah, complete, true example I go home, you don't. Now I'm not looking at the fact that I've gone home because I'm so disciplined and yeah, I need to do.

Speaker 1: 44:05

It is disciplined okay.

Speaker 2: 44:07

yeah, it's like I say a byproduct is the discipline, because I think if I stay out tonight yeah, I know that I had a podcast before this one, yeah, and I also have some calls and stuff to make I know that if I go to bed at 3 o'clock full of booze and get up at 6, I'm going to feel a fucking dog, like an absolute dog, and I guess I'll be punishing myself. And as fun as it may be to stay out for a couple of hours more, I know it's not going to be worth it to me.

Speaker 1: 44:32

No, it's not worth it.

Speaker 2: 44:33

And hit the moment, though that's my, I guess that's my. It's not that I'm Clever and super disciplined. I just say I don't want to feel like shit tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 44:40

I don't want to hurt people. Why can't you do it? That is discipline. That is discipline Because see, with me, it's all or nothing. So out of mind Me as a person, like I can, if I am, I can quite easily, you know, not go out and not drink, and and I can quite easily not come.

Speaker 1: 44:58

Do you know what I'm saying? I can look for me. I was always going to drink yesterday. If I'm out, I'm out. There's no like. I'm not that guy that goes down the pub for a couple of beers after work. I've never been that guy. My dad's never been that guy. If we're out, we're out. So what I do is I don't put myself in that environment. You know, I'd rather be. If I'm, it's an environment. I'm just clean, living, training every day, working, grafting every day. Yeah, that is. I'm a completely different person. Don't know, I'm still professional. I'm here now. I'm still here, I'll still turn up, but I'm I'm a better person, a better version of myself, had I not been out last night. Do you know what I'm saying? Saying yeah and listen. Fair play to you, fair play to anyone to go out, have a few drinks, go home, I can't. And there's a lot of people like that.

Speaker 2: 45:43

Well, like you say, it's a parallel to the food that I guess you couldn't do that, so you went out. I guess because that was more important to you, to go out, whereas with the food, you know, you could avoid the tempura and I couldn't because I just think I don't care enough. I want that tempura.

Speaker 2: 45:59

I want that tempura because you know I don't care about the, the lack of sex back, don't get it wrong, look it's not when it's having a negative, negative effect, like, say, I went out last night and I hadn't turned up today.

Speaker 1: 46:10

That's when there's there's a problem. Even if you're missing, you know, missing a dinner date or a lunch date with a friend, when you're missing commitments because you got out and got in the piss, that's when there's a problem. If it's affecting you in that sense, that's when you need to really look at yourself. Do you know what I'm saying? What I'm getting at is just that having that mindset where, if I just left, I would feel a bit better, I'd be that bit better. Like I said, anyone watching this now would be like you're sweet. I know I'm sweet, but I'm just saying you're a good professional, this is what I do, but at the same time I know myself I'm not 100%. Does that make sense? Absolutely, and that's because of my own life choices. And again going back to having that discipline, you know, discipline in certain areas.

Speaker 2: 47:00

And just going back to the body dysmorphia, when, like you say, everybody has it, because, you know, we all look at a picture or, you know, compare ourselves a bit, but how do you control it? So it doesn't get away from being, let's say, a competitive reason for you to try and better yourself, to where it actually becomes a problem. Because, yeah, you know, I don't know if I look at a picture and say, oh, you know, lockie looks a bit more muscular than me. I need to get down to the gym.

Speaker 2: 47:27

That's positive body dysmorphia.

Speaker 1: 47:32

If I look at you and go fuck me, I'm going to me thinking, oh Lockie looks a bit muscly, I need to get down to the gym. That's negative.

Speaker 2: 47:38

No, but I mean I'm using it for a positive reason, Like I'm not going to punish myself.

Speaker 1: 47:41

I think that's actually a negative. I think that's because back in the day I used to look at Van Damme or Arnie. That is where it all stems from You're. You're competing, subconsciously you're competing with that person.

Speaker 2: 47:56

You're thinking that heroes in everyday life heroes don't look like that but I guess what I'm saying is I'm not doing it to compete with you. I'm using that to make myself better, but not at the expense of my health and safety.

Speaker 1: 48:06

Like I'm not going to get fucking hell, I'm going to go and starve myself no, but this is where it goes wrong, because, right, you're looking out for inspiration, but people get obsessed with it, and you're not me, so you're not going to look like me and that was my question where's the line between inspiration and trouble?

Speaker 1: 48:25

and that's what I'm trying to say. This is where it's a very slippery slope. It's like when someone's confident or arrogant, it's a very fine line. You know inspiration, or where it's been a positive and a negative. You can be.

Speaker 1: 48:36

I look at certain fitness models or, like I said when I was a kid, or whether it be, I want to look like arnold spencer. You know, I think most boys did. That was how a hero in your head. That's what you know. Superman, batman they're not fat, are they? You know they're how you, how you look at them as kids. That's what you want to look at, but then you're so it's subconsciously trying to achieve.

Speaker 1: 48:57

That can sometimes get carried away. You can get lost in trying to achieve perfection, and perfection is ultimately in your own head. You know what I'm saying. You've got to love yourself. Yeah, I know I'm in good shape, but I will still find fault. I'll take pictures, even though I'm ripped. I've got a six pack. I'll still find fault in myself. Do you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 1: 49:18

People think I'm mad when I look at pictures. Sometimes, if I had a picture of me, I'll find fault in it, even me looking ripped. When people give me compliments, I find it hard to take compliments because I will look at a picture. I'm not seeing what they see. Does that make sense? And that's down to you as a person and in not becoming. This is person and they're not becoming. This is why I spoke the other day, because I see a lot of kids getting obsessed like young adults. It's adults, our own age, because I've got some of my friends the same age as us, older than us, um, that talks to me about that's, that's, that's, that's one problem. But when, when the youngsters are becoming obsessed, um, with with their body, they should be obsessed about business, about life, being a better person. Don't get obsessed with being, you know, looking a certain way. That's a very shallow way and a very negative way to live.

Speaker 2: 50:02

What about anxiety? I think you've struggled with that as well.

Speaker 1: 50:06

I think everyone struggles with anxiety in some aspects, even me, someone who comes into the room. I'm very confident I'll go into certain situations. You know I meet a lot of people from different backgrounds. You know, as you probably do with business events, networking and sometimes it is when you're going into an environment that you're not comfortable with. They're not one of your own, they're not something you're brought up with or brought up around. It's second nature. It can be uncomfortable and it will give you anxiety. I could have done a podcast with someone else and that person I might never have met before. It's natural. It might be anxiety, it might be minimal anxiety, but it's still anxiety to a certain degree. Turn up the you know the anticipation, you know apprehension of meeting that person you don't know. You know you need to gauge that I could have sat here and not got on. You could have been hard. Whoever you are, a lot of hard work and it would have made this podcast painful and how do you control that?

Speaker 2: 51:02

I mean I guess for you, or?

Speaker 1: 51:03

for the people listening to this.

Speaker 2: 51:05

What do you do to make it better?

Speaker 1: 51:07

Again, overthinking, overthinking is the worst thing in the world. Overthinking, overanalyzing, see be body dysmorphia and you're over-analysed. Don't Stop, stop over-analysing. Take a couple of pictures, just stop. You have to just stop yourself, you know, and be like listen, that's sweet, that one's fine Done. Leave it at that, don't keep looking at it. Pick a picture.

Speaker 1: 51:27

John's saying go into a room, don't overthink it. I could sit in there thinking, oh, does he think I? I'm not. We're here now. We're having a chat. This is real, this is raw. You know, no smoke and mirrors, it is what it is. Stop worrying about how people will look so I can be sitting and thinking about what people are going to think about what I'm saying. You're going to think obviously he's talking, fuck them, they can turn it off. Turn it off If you is me accepting who you are, being comfortable. That that's the power.

Speaker 1: 52:05

You know and, like I said, even though I'm this is, I'm this self-aware and I'm which is apparent itself, I still have days, good and bad days, where I will over analyze certain things. You know, um, and it just is what it is, and it's heightened in this day and age because of everything you know social media, um, media in general, you know what we're told to look like eat, drink, sleep, whatever. Whatever we're told to be as a person is overanalyzed anyway, and then being in this industry, when you're actually that person in the magazine, it's then tenfold, which makes it a lot more difficult. Now I'm not sitting here saying I want you know I've done this again. I can't say have a good morning britain, I've done good morning brit Britain.

Speaker 1: 52:35

The other day, and I spoke about I'm not looking for, I was just making people aware of it, that people, even like me, that people might look up to and people might think, listen, he's a good looking guy, he's in shape, he's very confident. Even someone like me, probably more so, someone like me, suffers from body dysmorphia because it, if I all of a sudden put on a lot of weight straight away. Tabloids what's happened to Lockie? Do you know what I'm saying? I'd be in the tabloids, I'd make Daily Mail If I had turned up one day and I was fat, say like last time. You've seen me on Ripped if I, you know, in a couple of weeks time was pictured eating a fucking donut. That important, how's that? Listen, how's that the the national news? But it would.

Speaker 1: 53:18

And that's when added pressure comes. It's what people don't acknowledge. This is what I was trying to get at, um, and then also I was letting people know that it's okay, listen, listen. You don't gotta be in shape 24 7. You haven't got to look perfect 20 or perfect in your mind 24 7. Just be comfortable with yourself. Do you know I'm saying? And stop giving a fuck. That's a powerful thing as well. Stop overanalyzing, stop giving a fuck. You know Everyone. No one thinks about, no one thinks about you as much as you think about yourself. That's what you need to remember.

Speaker 2: 53:49

Well, listen, you're a reality TV veteran. Yeah, many shows, many shows. Towie, obviously the biggest Celebrity Action on the Beach.

Speaker 1: 53:57

The.

Speaker 2: 53:57

Challenge what are we missing? What else have you done?

Speaker 1: 54:00

subscribe to Dating. Of course, a few other little ones. You know a few of these little little shows, if you like, not little shows, but more like just one dayers or a couple of days. What's your favourite? Listen, I'm not. Look, I love TOWIE.

Speaker 1: 54:16

I did love Towie was. I enjoyed it. I wouldn't have done it For ten years If I didn't enjoy it. Towie was probably. Towie becomes second nature.

Speaker 1: 54:26

Why did you leave? I haven't left At the minute. The door's still open, but what's happened? I took a bit of time out To pursue other things. So, since a boy, one of my boyhood dreams, see that now I'm at a bit of time out to pursue other things. So, since a boy, one of my boyhood dreams, like, see that now I'm at a point right where you know I'm in my 30s and I feel very comfortable, very content with myself Now saying that, listen, I said yeah, body dysmorphia, anxiety, certain other things that a lot of people suffer from.

Speaker 1: 54:50

I do have them problems still. Yeah, I still have them problems, but they're not. They're not, they're not. They don't hinder my daily routine. I still go out and do my daily business. I'm not locking myself away. Do you know what I'm saying? It's like I still get on with life because life goes on. It is what it is. You know, I'm not mentally stronger than that Having them problems. I'm at a point where I'm that confident, if anything, I feel like I with myself and my own skin.

Speaker 1: 55:15

And now I'm trying to pursue certain dreams. So one of them is acting. I've always wanted to be an actor. Now I've not just woke up one day and thought, look, I don't really I fancy doing acting. I've gone away. You know I've took a back step from reality. You know I've stepped away from TOWIE. I've gone on acting classes. I'm putting a lot of money. I'm losing money in other areas, you know. I've stepped away from other very lucrative endorsements for me, you know. But I've had a lot of money to do certain things. I stepped away from that because I need to clean up my image and being an actor, you can't do certain things.

Speaker 1: 55:51

It's a very clicky industry. You know. This is a lot. Reality is a lot harder than people realise. There's a lot more to it. Not everyone can do it. People just think, oh, it's one of these realities, go and do it, go and see it on camera. It's a lot more to it than just being on camera and you know it's not one man on a camera, it's a full set up. Even today it's a very basic set up. If you're on set movie, people don't realize that is a full-time thing. There's a lot, there's a lot of investment from you as a person. But that was one part of my life and I enjoyed it. I loved it.

Speaker 1: 56:26

But I look my, my, uh, you know admiration of my. You know where I wanted to be, uh, in life. You know my five-year plan. I want to be an actor. I've always wanted to be an actor since a young kid. I've always loved the movies. You know we all love the movie. But I'm actually love, you know.

Speaker 1: 56:35

I sit there and I'm obsessed with films, all different types of films. You know I'll sit there watching films, like I've watched films back to back all day. I don't sit there watching normal TV, I watch films. I'm a proper film geek, every type of film, you know. And yeah, like I said, I've always wanted to be an actor and that's why I've gone away, invested in myself, and that's where I'm going to be in five years. I'll see myself being in Hollywood doing a big film and I'm going to do that and I'm doing that for myself, it's not for the fame, it's not for other people, it's for me, it's something that I want to.

Speaker 1: 57:08

That's my legacy. That's a very obvious, obvious role. But being someone don't say I'd love to be someone say like Jason Statham, something like that. Jason Statham for me, you know, jason Statham's like the new Arnie or the new Van Damme I'd love to be someone like that. Meet Ray Winston. You know Ray Winston, jason St role. You know it's a very easy role. There's a few films that I'm doing, um, I was meeting, I met my with my director yesterday before I come and see you. There's a couple of films that I'm doing, you know, um, and that that's them sort of roles. That's very easy. That's the sort of my background and how I talk, and you know that it's a very easy role for me to fulfill, um. But that's a starting point. You know I'd love to go and do fear, you know as well, people never, ever see me on stage. I'd have to try everything. You know I'm at the point now where I would actually give everything a go, whether it's good or bad.

Speaker 2: 58:01

I'm going to give it a go and I'm going to do it for myself and, larva, you sound very, very committed to that, how you know. Talking in terms of, I guess, of failure or of commitment to something, how long long will you give the acting, like you say, the door, the door's open no, the acting's on me.

Speaker 1: 58:16

So listen, I'm not relying on anyone else. The acting's down to me.

Speaker 2: 58:19

But what I mean is like the door. You say the door's open on tower, you can go back if you want, but you also think it's impacting on the acting. I mean, if you haven't made a movie by next year, would you, would you still go back to?

Speaker 1: 58:28

oh, no, no I'm committed to saying I'm still doing tv. I've still I mean, I've just done a reality show, but there's certain shows, there's certain shows that are see with the acting. It is a little bit snobby in that world. It is a little bit snobby. I don't know if snobby is the right word, but it's like, if anything, it's harder as a reality star to make that transition into acting. And it's for Joe Bloggs, because you come with a stigma.

Speaker 1: 58:52

I come as Lockie from TOWIE. Now I am Lockie, I'm not Lockie, I'm Lockie. He's not Lockie from TOWIE, but people perceive me as that character. Now I'm playing myself, but you're still. You're seeing a snippet of me. You're seeing a snippet of me within that show.

Speaker 1: 59:09

You know you've got to remember it's scripted reality. You know things are set up for your entertainment. It's a show. People watch Extenders and they get over-invested. They start thinking you know Ian Bill's Ian Bill, phil Mitchell's Phil Mitchell, that's they're playing a character. So it makes sense. And even though even reality, when you're on a show like scripted reality, yes, we're playing ourselves, but it's 50-50. It's in the middle. Know Eve's set up for the entertainment of the viewer.

Speaker 1: 59:40

With the acting, I feel like I can step away, go and indulge being playing a character. You know that's that's. That's stepping out of reality for me, and for me I enjoy it more. I love, I love acting. I love being the acting, stepping out of my comfort zone, playing someone else or portraying someone else. It's exciting, it's fun. You used to do it when you were a kid. When you were a kid, you got no worries in the world. You'll sit there, you'll play. You know, well, you're playing. You know Cops and Robbers with your pal. You know Cowboys and Indians. You, you know you're stepping out. You're playing a character You're. You know it's not reality.

Speaker 2: 1:00:12

That makes sense. We talk about scripted. Recent reality was Celebrity X on the Beach, which started a week or so ago.

Speaker 1: 1:00:18

I started a week ago. I'm not in it at the minute, so I've done this. It's the second time I've done that show. I've done it with my ex Yasmin, this time so how real are those kind of things?

Speaker 2: 1:00:31

because we say it's scripted, you're kind of playing a role, even though it's yourself. I mean, are they? Is it still a surprise when shows like that You've got to understand, like see the show.

Speaker 1: 1:00:40

So me and my ex flying out to Gran Canaria and being in a villa for two weeks, that's not reality, is it? Yeah, that's the descriptive part is getting us both to go to. I've never been to Gran Canaria, I've never bumped into my ex in that environment, had it not been for the show orchestrating that. Yeah. So that's where it becomes scripted. That's what people need to understand.

Speaker 1: 1:01:01

Then see, if you because most of the time say you see an ex, you might bump into an ex you know, at a bar, restaurants, you ain't got to go and speak to him. You might see him, depending on who the ex is. Whether you speak you, when you're on a TV show, you're told you have to, I have to engage with that ex. Or if I like him, I don't, they're told, you're told to engage. Do you know what I'm saying? Because the end result is, you know, filmed for entertainment, it's for, do you know what I'm saying? It's for the pleasure of the viewer. So that's when it becomes not reality. So I was like, even though it's reality, it's not reality because that was never, would never, ever have happened.

Speaker 2: 1:01:39

Any, any goss from the season you can give us.

Speaker 1: 1:01:42

Um, just listen, can't give obviously too much away. Obviously, you know, everyone knows I'm coming into it. Obviously, me and Yasmin on it, we've come into it. Um, I'm just gonna say is quite dramatic. Me and Yasmin always are. We're very similar and you know, when we're good we're good, but when we're bad we're very bad. That's what I'm going to say. It's a very explosive series.

Speaker 2: 1:02:06

We get to see some fireworks on TV. Yeah, it's fireworks Me and.

Speaker 1: 1:02:08

Yasmin are great. Now, look, since me and her, we will always be very good friends. I've got nothing but love for Yasmin and she'll always be a part of my life and we'll always be friends. You know, I've got a lot of time for her. But put in the wrong environment. But we get on, we speak, we speak all the time, me and Yasmin, and we're cool, you know. She go and does her thing, I'm doing my thing, we're cool, you know. But put us in an environment, a certain environment, you know, especially when alcohol is involved, I feel like you know it's a remedy for destruction, for chaos, and it does go off. But, like I said, we kick off. You know, we're very vocal, can be very volatile, but, like I said, ultimately we both love each other, have a respect for each other and that's why we're still friends. We're friends now, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:02:56

But on the show you're going to see, yeah, mixed, have a respect for each other and that's why we're still friends. We're friends now, you know. But on the show You're going to see, yeah, mixed emotions, let's just say A lot of mixed emotions, highs and lows, but it's it's, it's You're I. I feel better that we had it. We hadn't spoken a year Before, I'd done it, yeah, and I feel Sort of half did fall out and I feel better we needed. There's a lot of when you see someone. There was a lot of emotions, there was a lot of like there was love there, but a lot of, you know, hurt and anger as well, and I think you see that on the show. So, yeah, it's good.

Speaker 2: 1:03:27

I look forward to checking it out. So, other than seeing you on the big screen, what have we got to look forward to?

Speaker 1: 1:03:32

Thanks for locking. Obviously I'm doing the app At the minute. I've got the app, the fitness stuff, so at the minute I've tried not to spread myself too thinly. I'm doing things that you know, yes, work, but things that make me happy, like even podcasts. I get asked to do podcasts all day. I'm here because I get on with friends. I feel very comfortable. You can see I've talked a lot of bollocks today, but I I'm doing things that please me, you know.

Speaker 1: 1:03:55

So, yes, the acting is where I want to be. It's been a boyhood, a childhood dream. That's where I'm going to be. I will be an actor. You know I'm still doing reality TV. There's a few shows, big shows, that I'm in line for. I'm waiting to hear back. Still doing reality, I still will probably pop in to T Then again. And the fitness stuff the fitness keeps me. You know I'll probably go to the gym after this because the fitness keeps me mentally sane and it keeps me well-balanced and well-rounded and it keeps me grounded. You know, going to the gym, I think going to the gym is a cure for anything.

Speaker 1: 1:04:31

So yeah, just mainly just doing things this year and in the future that make me happy. You know that's what life's about.

Speaker 2: 1:04:40

Well, listen, that's fantastic advice for anyone of any age, in any walk of life. Buddy, it's been a pleasure having you here. Like I say, always, good to do with a friend Do you want to get rid of me?

Speaker 2: 1:04:46

now you shut up, I'm worried about your parking meter. Listen, I look forward to doing another one again with you sometime soon. Pal, thanks for being here. Thank you for having me. Thanks for listening to Stripping Off with Matt Haycox. I hope you've enjoyed listening to this week's episode, but please remember to subscribe or to follow and please, please, leave a review, if you can leave a review. That's how we move up the algorithm, that's how we get to the top of the charts and that's how that you'll love each week. Have you got any suggestions for guests? Have you got any burning questions you want to ask? Well, slide into my DMs on social at Stripping Off with Matt Haycox.

Stripping Off with Matt Haycox

"My Good Looks Pay the Bills" with Essex Heartthrob James "Lockie" Lock

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