Working out to level up: ‘Your relationship with fitness is personal to you’ – Dr Juice Founder and CEO

Fitness is for everyone, according to John Winfield – but for leaders, it is critical. “Fitness is an essential in everyone’s daily life!” he says. “But with the additional stress levels associated with leadership, fitness is especially important for the leaders in our communities. Heavy is the head that holds the crown, right? For leaders, problems can and do arise at any time of day.

“Facing those challenges head-on for decades is not only a skill, but it also requires lifeforce – and that lifeforce must be charged. A daily workout has a huge impact on my performance at work, increasing my productivity, focus and energy levels, and reducing my stress levels or anxiety.”

As such a vital aspect of his lifestyle, John’s fitness regime is diverse and dynamic to suit the demands of his role. “It involves a mixture of training including HIIT, strength training, functional training, boxing, cycling and, most recently, running and padel,” he says. “My training has always been a constant in my life throughout my development of Dr Juice – from my mid-20s until I reached 40, with its intensity and its purpose evolving with the needs of my work.

“However, I was inspired to take things to the next level through a cycling challenge by the ALIVE Charity Foundation, which raises funds for cancer research. With the support of a friend and fellow CEO, BRND WGN’s Peter-Jan Grech, Dr Juice became the main sponsor and I personally committed to cycling 1,000km – having never ridden a bike before! The process changed my relationship with fitness forever.”

Balancing training and work is possible, he says, with one simple life hack. “Anyone with the right amount of motivation and discipline can apply this solution: wake up earlier. My morning ritual is key to balancing my fitness and my life. There are books and guides out there to help, such as The 5am Club by Robin Sharma – read it and then apply it to your life.”

Apart from his daily training regime, John also recommends switching it up to stay motivated and to create a bespoke fitness lifestyle. “Challenges such as marathons, endurance cycling or obstacle course challenges like the GRID can be great for mini-training camps spread throughout the year. The sense of achievement and personal growth from taking on a challenge can be lifechanging. But, to start, you must understand that your relationship with fitness is personal to you; a journey that can have abundant benefits for your life and your career. Invest in trainers to help motivate and guide you in the beginning, and set yourself a challenge to take on with someone close to you,” advises the CEO.

This feature was first carried in the MaltaCEOs 2023 print publication, the sister brand to MaltaCEOs.mt, both produced by Content House Group