Rebel Wilson, 41, just opened up about her unhealthy past in a throwback photo on Instagram.The actress shared a snap posing with tennis champ Novak Djokovic and detailed her emotional eating habits when she was at her “unhealthiest.”Rebel followed up her experience with encouraging words for fans who are going through something similar: “it’s never too late to start improving yourself and trying to be the best version of YOU possible.”
Rebel Wilson, 41, has been incredibly open with fans about her journey to become a healthier, fitter version of herself (shoutout to her Year of Health!). And, she just got incredibly candid in a new Instagram post about her past with emotional eating.
The post features a slightly fuzzy shot of Rebel alongside tennis star Novak Djokovic. He has his arm around her and she’s smiling broadly while clutching a tennis racket.
“Okay so I know that I normally post flattering photos of myself…but found this old photo in my emails and was like: whoa!” she wrote in the caption. “I remember this was when I was at my most unhealthiest—being overweight and indulging way too much with junk food. Using food to numb my emotions.”
Rebel pointed out that her father had passed away from a heart attack around the time of the photo, adding, “It was such a sad time.”
“I didn’t think highly of myself and wasn’t valuing myself how I should have,” the Pitch Perfect star continued. “It’s interesting that I’m still smiling and still trying to be active—this was taken at a charity tennis tournament event (ps @djokernole is such a nice guy)—despite being in so much pain.”
Rebel said that looking at the photo makes her “so proud” of what she’s become and achieved. “And just wanted to send out some encouragement to everyone out there struggling with weight or body issues or emotional eating. I feel you. I know what it’s like,” she said. “But it’s never too late to start improving yourself and trying to be the best version of YOU possible.”
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Rebel pointed out that the process can take time, and that’s OK. “It’s not a race and it’s not a competition—it’s about respecting yourself and doing what’s best for YOU,” she said. “So if you’re out there and reading this today, I just wanted to say: keep smiling and keep trying to be active! Love you guys 😘.”
People cheered Rebel on in the comments. “You’re definitely my inspiration ❤️thanks girl🙌,” one wrote. “This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing this, sometimes it’s good for us to see what you have achieved so we remember we can too 🧡🙏,” another said.
Rebel previously declared 2020 her “Year of Health,” and she crushed her goal of losing 60 pounds a month early. How? She completely altered her eating and fitness habits.
Rebel started by simply walking more and making some smart food swaps. “I put on the athleisure and went out for a walk, deliberately hydrating on the couch right now and trying to avoid the sugar and junk food which is going to be hard after the holidays I’ve just had but I’m going to do it!” she said on Instagram at the time.
Then, she took her workouts up a notch. Rebel also worked with trainer Jono Castano up to seven days a week, doing exercises like flipping tires, hiking, stair sprints, and battle ropes.
But, Rebel said that walking has really helped her reach her goals. “I got all these high-tech tests done on me during my year of health,” she told People. “They said that walking was actually the best way for me to lose unnecessary body fat.”
On the food front, she followed an eating plan called the Mayr Method, which reduces sugar, gluten, and dairy, and encourages eating mindful eating, especially with whole foods.
Now, Rebel says, she feels amazing. “I like to think I looked good at all sizes and stuff and I’ve always been quite confident,” she said on The Morning Crew With Hughesy, Ed and Erin. “So, it wasn’t like I wasn’t confident and then now I’m, like, super confident.”
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Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
