Robbie Williams explains how quitting smoking helped him lose weight

Robbie Williams has said quitting smoking helped him lose weight - as he swiched his focus to a healthier lifestyle.

The 45-year-old singer - who became an ambassador fro weightloss programme WW last December - revealed wife Ayda Field made him promise to give up smoking on January 1st 2019, so he swapped cigarettes for boxing.

Williams explained to the WW Wellness That Works podcast: “When I smoke, I'm half smoke half man. I’m a man of extremes. And the wife said, ‘You got to give up smoking - January the 1st. And in May that sounded like a good deal. And I didn’t want to do the death, the early death. So I was like, yeah, Okay.

Read more: Robbie Williams calls off boxing match with Liam Gallagher

"Then it got to November. And I was like, remember January the 1st? And I just thought, hang on, maybe I can just view this differently. This whole process, not only could I could give up smoking, but I could be fit and healthy and have a clean head and a clean vision of how I want my future. And I found that moment to be very, very powerful.

“A day later, WW phoned up. The universe spoke and I listened to it. And I was like, yes, please. So January came and the smoking stopped. And I started boxing. That was great for my mind."

The Angels singer - who has previously spoken about experiencing mental health issues - admitted he had had a “relentless weight battle forever” but had now found exercise made him feel happier.

He said: “I'm golfing a lot and I'm in nature.

“I saw on a podcast somebody would say, if you don't work out, it's the equivalent of taking a depressant pill instead of an antidepressant. If you don't work out and don't do something you're taking a depressant pill.”

Williams added: “I've got something in me like a magnet that wants me to stay isolated, be self-abusive and kill myself. You know, that's how strong this is.”

Read more: Robbie Williams 'so excited' about first ever Christmas album

But the Take That star said his lack of self-esteem had made his career the success is is.

Williams said: “The curse is a blessing because this lack of self-esteem, lack of self-worth. It’s been a real drive. You know, it's like I'm here because I don't like myself very much. You know, that's the truth about the inside working of my mind, it's like, I don't like myself a lot and I feel uncomfortable in my own skin. And because of that it's propelled me to do this on stage and be the ‘Let Me Entertain You’ guy.”

Williams and Field are parents to daughters Teddy, seven, son Charlie, five, and daghter Coco, born in September 2018 via a surrogate.

For more information about myWW, visit WW.com or download the WW app.