Model and newlywed Jesinta Campbell has opened up about how exercise became her salvation during tough times with her AFL player husband Buddy Franklin.
The insight into their private relationship comes from an extract of her new book Live a Beautiful Life shared with the Seven Network.
The David Jones ambassador said the past few years have presented her with a variety of challenges, including supporting 29-year-old Franklin through his mental health battle.
“Life has presented me with some extremely challenging times over the past couple of years,” she wrote.
“There have been just as many ups as there have been downs.”
Campbell and Franklin were married last weekend in an intimate ceremony in the Blue Mountains.
Their special day came after Franklin last year faced intense media attention when he took time away from football to focus on his mental health.
Campbell revealed in her book that that it was exercise that helped her through the difficult period.
“Recently my fiancé’s battle with mental illness was made public after he took time-out from playing football as his team approached the finals,” she wrote.
“At the time, I could go to the gym, put my music in and train, and for that hour nothing occupied my mind other than what was happening in the present moment.”
The 25-year-old shared how this therapeutic use of exercise helped her overcome issues on a broader level.
“I learnt that looking after my health means I’m in best shape to take on the challenges in life,” she said.
The couple have been engaged since December 2014 but put their wedding plans on pause while Franklin worked to recover.
Campbell told The Courier Mail earlier this year that a future wedding would be kept “simple” and “low-key.”
“We’ll probably just elope, keep it very simple,” she said.
“It won’t be a Big Fat Greek Wedding. I’ll just come back and be Mrs Franklin and that will be it.”
Feature image via Instagram @jesintafranklin.