Celebrity trainer Chris Powell opens up about battling depression and divorce

For years, celebrity fitness trainer Chris Powell was no stranger to helping other people transform their lives, but when it came to his own life, he had a hard time asking for help.

From 2011 until the series ended in 2015, Powell, host of ABC’s “Extreme Weight Loss,” spoke to Good Morning America about his battle with depression.

“It’s been seven years since a lot of people saw me on TV,” Powell said.

He continued, “The reason I’m hesitant to share it is because I’m trying to break down the stigma barrier around mental health.”

After the show ended in 2015, Powell said he began facing personal struggles, including going through difficult times in his marriage.

In 2020, Powell shared on Instagram that then-wife Heidi, with whom he shares two children, decided to separate. I am also a mother.

“I started withdrawing from life…and it was the worst of me for Heidi and the worst of me for my kids,” Powell said. could scarcely even formulate his thoughts.”

Powell said it wasn’t easy receiving so many negative comments, especially about his children, when they first announced their separation.

“It’s even harder to go through something very personal in the public eye with children involved,” Powell said. “I can handle some of the negative comments.” , I signed up for it. [My children] did not do it [and I] Then I try to protect them. That in itself was almost a full-time job. “

Powell shared with “GMA” a selfie in which he said he was at his “lowest point” in 2019, reflecting on how far he’s come.

“At that moment, I was in pure despair,” he said. “I look at the photos now and think about the journey I am on and am grateful for it.”

Powell said he realized the importance of taking care of his mental health after years of focusing on his physical health.

“Physical health is only a short-term solution unless we address holistic health solutions that focus on both mental health and social health in addition to physical health,” says Powell. said.

Powell said he was able to turn his mental health around by seeking professional help.

“If, when you get to that turning point, you feel like you can deal with everything else that was going on in your life that much easier,” Powell said, adding gratitude, daily walks, and medications to his life. She added that it helped her on her personal journey.. “I was able to put my life in order.”

Powell says his relationship with his ex-wife is “amazing” today, almost two years after their divorce.

“We’re two different people going in two very different directions, so we spent a lot of time fighting each other.” is getting better.”

Now, Powell is looking ahead, including co-hosting a new podcast, I Needed That, with radio host Matthew Blaze covering everything from mental and physical health to parenting and relationships.

He also said he is committed to helping others through his non-profit, MoveOneMillion, with the goal of moving 1 million people a day towards creating positive, lifelong change. I’m here.

“Now my mission is to give back and really spread the message of overall health, physical health, mental health and social health, because now I am a believer,” he said. This is how people change, and this is how they change for life.”