'Flip or Flop' star Tarek El Moussa reveals he lost 50 pounds from pain meds
"This was one of the absolute lowest points of my life," he wrote.
— -- "Flip of Flop" star Tarek El Moussa took to Instagram on Tuesday to open up about what he called "one of the absolute lowest points of my life."
The photo he posted shows him wearing shades and looking gaunt. El Moussa, 36, a real estate professional and an HGTV star, doesn't make it clear when the photo was taken, and in recent pictures, he looks to be back at his normal weight.
"After beating cancer twice I had a horrific back injury. Over the course of 10 months I lost 50 pounds from all the pain meds which prevented me from wanting to eat and I was nauseous all the time," he wrote.
The photo shows him at 169 pounds, the 6-foot, 2-inch reality star added.
"My clothing didn't fit and it looks like I'm wearing drapes!" he wrote.
El Moussa ended his post on a positive note.
"This photo is a reminder [that] anything is possible with hope," he said. "While I went through this it was the first time in my life I wanted to quit! Thank god I didn't...or I wouldn't be standing tall today!! Reminder everyone, anything is possible! You just have to believe!"
Last December he and his wife, Christina El Moussa, who also stars on "Flip of Flop," announced they were separating after seven years of marriage.
In March, Tarek El Moussa revealed that in addition to battling thyroid cancer, he beat testicular cancer in 2013. He had kept that cancer battle secret because he felt it was a more personal illness.
He has been leaning on their son and daughter, posting about how happy they make him.
"Date night!! Me and Tay had the best night ever going to the movies to watch 'Captain Underpants,'" he wrote. "To all the dads out there...do this with your daughter!"
In July he posted a sweet picture of his laughing son, writing, "I just can't with this kid... he melts my heart and I just light up when I see my kiddos."