Ant Anstead found himself in “a very dark place” after his divorce from estranged wife Christina

Ant Anstead’s estranged wife Christina, 37, announced their shocking divorce in September, after less than two years of marriage.

And while he is currently “ taking steps toward a cure, ” the 41-year-old Wheeler Dealers host admitted to People that struggling with the divorce put him in “ a really dark place. ”

‘It really hit me hard. The impact on me, my sleep, my diet, my stress, it turned out, ‘said Anstead, who’ lost more than 20 pounds’ after the devastating breakup.

‘Every day is an improvement. Going back a few months I mean it was clearly a big hit. ‘

But luckily for the UK resident, he was able to find the strength to dig himself out of his depression and shift his focus to the ‘big things’ in his life.

“I reached this turning point where I would either live in the darkness or hit myself in the face a few times and say,” Wake up; you are incredibly blessed. Concentrate on all the great things, “he recalled.

Ant’s first step toward healing came when he decided to enroll in a 35-day online ‘breakup recovery’ course, followed by a faith-based weekend retreat focused on harmonizing the mind and body.

He explained to the outlet that the recovery course and retreat helped remind him that “no one is controlling me but me” and that “it’s up to me to strengthen myself and realize how incredibly worthy I am to heal.”

Anstead also found the strength to open up and lean on his daughter Amelie, 17, and son Archie, 14, who live in the UK with their mother, Louise. Ant and were married from 2005 until their divorce in 2017.

‘[Amelie and Archie] are really my best friends, ”he gushed. Ant revealed that the news of his divorce from Christina was “ terrible for them too. ”

“It was a very, very difficult FaceTime call,” he recalls. ‘They loved Christina – they still do – and they really wanted us to work. I think every child just wants to see their parents happy. ‘

Another person who proved to be a huge lifesaver for Ant was his 16-month-old son Hudson, whom he shares with his estranged wife Christina.

He admitted that dealing with the divorce ‘without it [Hudson] would have been incredibly difficult, ‘adding that the little one has’ filled [his] heart ‘and’ really saved [him]. ‘

About the bond he has gushed with Hudson, Ant told People they “ like to go to the beach, read, go out and be active together. ”

‘He and I have a great relationship between us. We have a father-son bond, and, I’m telling you, he’s one of the coolest kids out there, ” said the star, who spent last Christmas with Hudson in Arizona.

As for what custody will look like for Ant and Christina in the future, the Flip or Flop hostess filed for joint custody in November and, according to Ant, they plan to “ co-parent amicably. ”

“There’s never been a screenplay where I asked about him and didn’t have him and vice versa,” Ant insisted.

Despite no longer being romantically involved with Christina, Anstead said he hopes to ‘always be in a relationship’ with Christina’s two children, daughter Taylor, 10, and son Brayden, five.

“If they ever need me, I’ll be there in a minute. All five children have first priority. ‘

Christina shares Taylor and Brayden with her ex-husband and Flip or Flop costar, Tarek El Moussa, 39.

Towards the end of his interview, Anstead admitted that he has no plans to return to the UK and will recall in the United States.

He currently resides “in a rental house in Laguna Beach,” which is close to Christina’s home, until he finds a place to live that “feels like a retreat to him.”

‘I am take steps toward healing, even if it is very slow, ”said the star. “There is no quick fix for a broken heart.”