Rebel Wilson Had To Learn One Powerful Truth Before Losing Weight

Rebel Wilson is an actress known for her physical comedy, but she used movement and activity in a different way in 2020, embracing a healthier lifestyle and engaging in self-care even as the world around her was thrust into upheaval.

You might think that, in order to love yourself, you must lose weight first. But, as Wilson demonstrated, self-love precedes self-care. First, she had to love and take care of herself. Then, the weight came off.

For Wilson, weight loss wasn’t just about a number or size, but being kind to herself and feeling better.  “I was doing some unhealthy things to my body and I just wanted to change it and become a healthier person,” she said in an interview with People.

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A focus on health

For Wilson, this meant a healthy balance and learning better habits. “Don't be obsessed about how much you actually weigh,” she said. “It's more about all the healthy practices, and then the changes to your whole lifestyle.”

"I'm just trying to go for overall balance, overall healthy balance," she told PEOPLE. 

Nutrition is key

Wilson had visited  VivaMayr wellness center in Austria in 2019 and learned about its diet plan. She revisited it in 2020 as part of her health journey.

This diet, which lowers sugar and gluten intake and encourages whole foods that are high in alkaline, such as vegetables and fresh fish, was a great success. Wilson has a big year coming up with work and she hoped, as she  told PEOPLE to boost her immune system and lose her last two kilos.

Small, meaningful steps

The process wasn't an overnight one, but it was all about continuing to move forward in small but meaningful ways.

“Even if you have to crawl towards your goals, keep going -- it will be worth it.”

Rebel Wilson

This means trying to make good decisions every day and wherever you can. It can be frustrating when the progress isn’t immediately noticeable, but it’s going to happen. “Good things are coming your way.”

Identify why the unhealthy patterns started

Many of us cope with stress with poor eating choices, and it’s important to identify the root of those behaviors in order to change them. "I guess my way of dealing with it was just eating doughnuts,” said Wilson. It’s about valuing yourself enough to make better choices.

Having a support system

It’s so important to have people in your life who will help you reach your goals and be there for you on days when motivation is lacking. For Wilson, that’s her boyfriend Jacob Busch. "Early morning exercises with JB," she captioned a mirror selfie.

Reaching goals

Wilson’s “year of health” was a tremendous success. Not only did she reach her goal weight of 75 kilos, which is about 165 lbs., having started at 220 lbs., but she did so a month sooner than she had planned!

She announced reaching her goal at the end of November, with a month left in 2020.

“Even though it’s not about a weight number, it’s about being healthy, I needed a tangible measurement to have as a goal and that was 75 kgs,"  she posted to her Instagram Story.

Love yourself every step of the way

Choosing to be a healthier version of yourself isn’t about not loving yourself the way you currently are. Learn to appreciate every part of you and continue to do so as you get healthier. 

"I love my curves. I don't think I'll ever go too skinny, but I feel so much healthier."

Rebel Wilson

Realize that healthy living is a lifelong commitment

"A transformation is never ending, the journey always continues,” Wilson's trainer Jono Castano told Yahoo! Lifestyle. But isn’t that a message for all of us, in all areas of life? Never stop becoming the best version of yourself! And love yourself all the way there.

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