Rebel Wilson posts photo from her 'unhealthiest time' and sends message of hope to fans

Rebel Wilson shared some uplifting words with fans after finding the throwback photo in her emails

REBEL WILSON
(Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images) REBEL WILSON)

Rebel Wilson has shared an inspiring message with fans after finding an old photo of herself, reminding others who may be suffering that they too can overcome their food issues and reach their optimal health. 

Having followed a healthy lifestyle now for several years, it's hard for the Pitch Perfect icon to fully remember the days when she was struggling with her size. 

It wasn't until she stumbled across a snap on her emails that the Australian comedian realized just how far she's come—both physically and mentally. The photo, which she shared with her 10m Instagram followers, shows a smiling Rebel at a charity tennis tournament with Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in 2014. However, behind the post-game afterglow, the Bridesmaids star felt anything but happy. 


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"I remember this was when I was at my most unhealthiest—being overweight and indulging way too much with junk food," she wrote. 

At the time of the photo, Rebel was mourning the recent loss of her father, who died tragically from a heart attack while she was filming her canceled TV show Super Fun Night. The overwhelming grief became too much for her to bear, leading her to use "food to numb my emotions" and neglect her wellbeing. 

"I didn’t think highly of myself and wasn’t valuing myself how I should have," she admitted. 

Fast-forward seven years, and Rebel is a completely different person. After proclaiming 2020 as her "Year of Health", she committed to a lifestyle overhaul—upping her exercise (think HIIT treadmill workouts) and streamlining her diet to increase protein and reduce sugar. The hilarious entertainer has since shed a whopping 4.5st (63lbs), bringing her to her goal weight of 11.7st (165lbs) just before the Christmas holidays. 

Recently, Rebel Wilson revealed wanting to freeze her eggs was the motivation behind her weight loss, but it looks like it's done a lot more for her than enhancing her fertility. The Isn't it Romantic star has enjoyed a major confidence spike since beginning her health journey, and she now hopes she can inspire others who may be struggling with similar issues. 

"I feel you. I know what it’s like," she wrote. "But it’s never too late to start improving yourself and trying to be the best version of YOU possible. It’s not a race and it’s not a competition—it’s about respecting yourself and doing what’s best for YOU. So if you’re out there and reading this today, I just wanted to say: keep smiling and keep trying to be active!" 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.