The reality TV star and author said he feared he wouldn’t reach 40 if he carried on living the way he was
Love Island star Dr Alex George has told how he has been alcohol-free for two years amid fears for his future. The Reality TV star, author and podcaster, turned to social media to tell followers of the change in lifestyle saying he had been “mentally struggling” to the point of being “completely lost”.
In his post he said when he initially decided to quit the booze he didn’t realise how long it would last. And he said it had changed his life.
Posting on Instagram the 33-year-old said: “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 despite all his health concerns his initial decision to try quitting alcohol came to prove something to himself. He said: “I actually decided to stop drinking in December to prove to myself that yes, I can do this. 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.”
But it hadn’t been all plain sailing. 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 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.