Dale Thomas has revealed going through COVID was tougher for him than going into the jungle

Former AFL star Dale Thomas has opened up about his struggle with lockdown and gaining weight.

Former Collingwood and Carlton player Dale Thomas. Picture: Mark Stewart

Dale Thomas says going through the COVID-19 lockdown was tougher than his time in the South African jungle.

The former AFL star hit back at critics of his weight gain last week and has revealed he used food as a coping mechanism.

“The jungle I signed up for,” Thomas, 33, told Confidential.

“COVID, like for everyone else, it was so unplanned and the great unknown. We never knew when the end date was and if we’d got one we could have worked towards something.

“It made it tougher. I certainly didn’t enjoy it and fingers crossed we don’t do it again.”

Thomas added: “You could run for an hour a day and then you were house bound and I knew it wasn’t a great time for my personality type. If I had a good day I rewarded myself (with food) and if I had a bad day I rewarded myself and I got through it.”

Thomas, who has a daughter Tilly, dropped almost 8kg while finishing runner-up on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! earlier this year.

He put it back on, lost some weight again, and then relapsed.

Dale Thomas and his daughter Matilda. Picture: Supplied

On Twitter he wrote: “Thanks to everyone who’s been kind enough to realise I’ve put on a few kgs,” Thomas tweeted.

“Although I’m happy to laugh it off and understand eating was my way of dealing with Covid, before you throw a barb to a mate or a family member, maybe ask if they are OK first? We all cope different!”

Thomas, who is also part of Triple M football, received support from his good friend and former housemate, chef Matthew Butcher who has re-opened his restaurant Yugo at Crowne Plaza Melbourne.

“It’s good to get out of the house and be able to support venues like this,’’ Thomas said.