Alexandra Cane has shared a candid post reflecting on her ‘obsession’ with fitness in lockdown, and how over-training left her in ’emotional pain’.
The Love Island star, 29, took to Instagram on Friday to share three side-by-side snaps showing her in swimwear as she discussed her ‘coping mechanisms’ at the point where each picture was taken.
One photo showed her shortly after her stint on the reality show in 2018, while in another from 2019 saw her frolicking in the ocean at her most ‘balanced’ state, and the third, most recent, snap showed her very lean figure last year.
Honest: Love Island’s Alexandra Cane reflected on her ‘obsession’ with fitness in lockdown and claimed over-training left her in ’emotional pain’ in a candid post she shared on Friday
In a lengthy caption, Alexandra detailed the state of her mental health at the time each picture was taken, and how it impacted the way she looked.
She wrote: ‘Let’s talk about coping mechanisms… This is NOT a body transformation photo. I don’t want you to “pick which you prefer”.
‘I’m just hoping that by sharing my experience, I can help others in the process that might be experiencing something similar. This is tough for me to post because it’s so personal but hindsight is a beautiful thing and this is necessary…
‘LEFT IMAGE: Coping mechanism. Unhealthy relationship with food, alcohol, self sabotage, unfit, toxic relationships, anxiety, panic attacks, low self esteem, resentment.
Candid: In a lengthy post, Alexandra detailed the state of her mental health at the time each picture was taken and how struggling with grief led her to develop an ‘obsession’ with exercise
‘MIDDLE IMAGE: Balanced. A combination of exercise, improved nutrition. Love & respect for myself & what my body is capable of. Enjoying social life too!’
Going on to discuss how she felt when she was at her most lean, she went on: ‘RIGHT IMAGE: Coping mechanism. I continued to lose weight when lockdown began due to stress & overtraining.
‘Exercise became my therapy as I loved it so much but it became a bit of an obsession whilst trying to keep my head above water when I felt like everything else was crumbling around me.
‘It felt like I’d lost control in many aspects of my life but the one thing I could control was food & exercise.
Honest: Reflecting on how she looked in 2018 (pictured), Alexandra said she struggled with an ‘unhealthy relationship with food, alcohol, self sabotage… low self esteem, resentment’
‘I couldn’t see at the time how thin I was becoming, I would speak to myself so negatively, I was living in a trance. Now I just want to hug that girl & fill her with love.’
Alexandra explained to her fans that she has come to realise she was struggling with grief at the time of the most recent picture, as she said she’s come to realise that being so lean is not healthy.
She went on: ‘Since then I’ve managed to see myself for what it truly was – grief. I’m now learning other coping mechanisms & tools to help with what I’m struggling with but I want you to know that the girl on the right might look like a “fitness guru” but it’s far from the truth.
‘Yes I was fit, but I was also in a lot of emotional pain & I couldn’t see it. Being super lean is not the epitome of health (particularly for females).
Instagram vs reality: While in 2020, she claimed: ‘Exercise became my therapy as I loved it so much but it became a bit of an obsession whilst trying to keep my head above water’
‘It’s not sustainable nor does it bring you true happiness. My aim now is to get back to full health – mind, body & soul.
‘Whatever that looks like or says on a scale, I couldn’t care less. Happiness comes from within, so if that means I gain a few more pounds, memories, fulfilment & joy… I’m all for it.
‘How we look really is the LEAST beautiful thing about us!!! So I hope you will join me on this journey of self love & appreciation.’
Looking back: Alexandra added, ‘Yes I was fit, but I was also in a lot of emotional pain & I couldn’t see it. Being super lean is not the epitome of health’
It comes after Alexandra welled up with tears in an emotional social media video on Monday as she candidly discussed coping with grief.
The former Love Island star declared that she ‘holds the power to heal,’ and ‘will get through this’, as she shared words of encouragement with her followers who are also struggling with loss.
She looked past her camera lens before closing her eyes in the poignant clip, but didn’t specify what experience had caused her heartache.
Her social media followers flooded her Instagram with heart emojis and messages of support.
Being honest: It comes after Alexandra welled up with tears in an emotional social media video on Monday as she candidly discussed coping with grief
One fan wrote: ‘Hope you’re okay beaut! Sending you so much love and light,’ while a second follower penned: ‘Sending you strength ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️’.
A third Instagram user responded: ‘♥️♥️ Hugs xx’. (sic)
The reality star shared another eye-opening post last week as she revealed that she dipped to a ‘dangerously low’ weight last summer while focusing obsessively on dieting and working out.
The former Love Islander disclosed she learned the hard way that ‘being slim doesn’t equate to happiness’ as she pursued a more slender frame amid a storm of personal problems.
Moving: The former Love Island star declared that she ‘holds the power to heal,’ and ‘will get through this’, but didn’t specify what experience had caused her heartache
Responding to a fan who said their plan for 2021 was to ‘get slim and love [themselves]’, Alexandra confessed that simply being slim wasn’t enough for her.
Sharing side-by-side snaps of herself wearing bikinis, she wrote: ‘I got to a dangerously low weight during the middle of 2020 because of personal stresses/lockdown etc (right).
‘It’s important for me to share this because I don’t want anyone to feel pressured to look this way.
‘The picture on the left was when I felt my strongest/most confident (beginning of the year after launching my fitness plan). I had never felt so good about myself.
She added: ‘It’s hard for me to share this but I feel I have a duty as I want you to see that the girl on the right was terribly sad & not nourishing her body.
‘I was hurting myself. I was dealing with trauma & just trying to control some aspect of my life which at the time was food and exercise.’
Low: Alexandra shared another eye-opening post last week as she revealed that she dipped to a ‘dangerously low’ weight last summer while focusing obsessively on dieting and working out