Ant Anstead was in ‘a very dark place’ after his separation from ex-wife Christina

Ant Anstead’s ex-wife Christina, 37, announced her shocking separation in September after less than two years of marriage.

And although he is currently ‘taking steps towards healing’, the presenter of Wheeler Dealers, 41, admitted to People that fighting the divorce put him in ‘a very dark situation’.

‘It really hit me a lot. The impact on me, my sleep, my diet, my stress, it showed, ‘said Anstead, who’ lost more than 20 pounds’ in the wake of the devastating breakup.

‘Every day is an improvement. Obviously, going back a few months, I mean, it was a huge success.

But, luckily for the UK native, he was able to muster the strength to get out of his depression and shift his focus to the ‘big things’ in his life.

‘I reached a turning point where I would either live in the dark or just slap myself a few times and say, “Wake up; you are incredibly blessed. Focus on all the great things,” “he recalled.

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

He explained to the channel that the recovery course and the retreat helped to remind him that ‘no one controls me but me’ and that ‘it is up to me to strengthen myself and realize how incredibly worthy I am for healing’.

Anstead also found the strength to open up and rely 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] they are genuinely my best friends, ‘he said. Ant revealed that the news of his divorce from Christina was ‘devastating for them’ as well.

“It was a very, very difficult call from FaceTime,” he recalled. “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 great lifesaver for Ant was his 16-month-old son Hudson, who he shares with his ex-wife Christina.

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

Revealing the bond he has with Hudson, Ant told people that they ‘like to go to the beach, read, go out and do activities’ together.

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

As for what custody for Ant and Christina will look like in the future, the host of Flip Or Flop filed for joint custody in November and, according to Ant, they plan ‘friendly co-parents’.

“There was never a scenario where I asked for it and didn’t have it and vice versa,” emphasized Ant.

Although he is no longer romantically with Christina, Anstead said he hopes to “always have a relationship” with Christina’s two children, his daughter Taylor, 10, and his son Brayden, five.

‘If they need me, I will be there in a heartbeat. All five children are the first priority. ‘

Christina shares Taylor and Brayden with her ex-husband and flip or flop partner, Tarek El Moussa, 39.

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

He is currently ‘staying in a rented house on Laguna Beach’, which is very close to Christina’s residence, until he finds a place to live that ‘feels like a haven’ to him.

‘I am taking steps towards healing, even if it is very slow, ‘said the star. ‘There is no quick fix for a broken heart.’