Love Island's Dr Alex George makes emotional admission - 'I thought I wouldn't reach 40'
Love Island star Dr Alex George says he feared he "wouldn't make 40" prompting him to transform his life. The doctor, who has had regular appearances on shows including Good Morning Britain and Loose Women, says he was "completely lost" as a result of his lifestyle.
Now the 33-year-old has told how he is feeling emotional after achieving two years of being alcohol-free. The Reality TV star, author and podcaster, told his followers on Instagram of his achievement.
In his post he said he at first had no idea how long he would last without a drink. But he says the move has changed his life.
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Posting on the social media platform he admitted: "This is an emotional one, here goes. Today I have achieved two years of no alcohol,
"When I decided to put the bottle down on the 4th of December 2022, I was 21 stone in weight, my skin was terrible and when I looked into my eyes I could tell that I was completely lost.
"Mentally I was really struggling and I thought to myself if I carry on like this I won’t make it to 40 years old. I was under so much stress and pressure and really wasn’t looking after myself in any shape or form.
"I hadn’t at that point decided how long I would give up for, I honestly thought it would only be for a few months, so to reach this milestone is so special to me and can’t tell you how much of a difference it’s made to my life in so many different ways."
He said he made the change to prove that he could. He said: "I knew that if I could get through December, I could get through any time of year.
"I still had such a fun time socialising with my friends, it’s probably the most social Christmas period I’ve ever had, but I was so much happier and more productive in the days and started the new year with such a renewed sense of self and an energy to help improve other areas of my life too."
He said there had been tough times during the two years. He said: "What I didn’t expect was that stopping drinking would be so hard in other ways.
"All of a sudden I had to face everything I had been suppressing and feel it raw and unfiltered. I also had to learn a new way of life, literally a new way of being. It’s been a fascinating journey, one which I am still learning and growing."
Dr Alex, who was born in Wales, hit the headlines when he appeared on Love Island in 2018. He worked in Emergency Medicine at the University Hospital Lewisham in London before switching to train to be a GP.
Since his Love Island stint he has made regular appearances on Good Morning Britain, Lorraine and Loose Women. He also runs a podcast The Waiting Room with Dr Alex where he looks at topical health and wellbeing issues.
But the former Exeter University student was devastated when his younger brother took his own life in July 2020. This, together with other traumas, led to him piling on the weight.
Ditching the alcohol along with exercise and eating healthier helped him lose seven stones. He proudly previously showed off his slimmed down physique but has said he doesn't know how much he now weighs as he doesn't want to become fixated on a number.
