Rebel Wilson gets candid on 'emotional war' over weight and eating behaviors
Rebel Wilson opened up about going through an "emotional war" with herself in the past due to her weight.
In an interview with PEOPLE, the 44-year-old actress took the time to discuss her weight-loss journey amid the upcoming release of her book, Rebel Rising: A Memoir, revealing that she had a hard time being a "proud fat female" while also being "ashamed of [her] eating behaviors."
"I think to many people I'm a beacon of body positivity because I see people who are considered medically obese if you look at their weight, but I think they are absolutely beautiful. I really think beauty is at any shape and size so I do really promote that," Wilson told the news outlet.
According to her, she gets asked questions on how she can be body-positive yet hate herself at the same time, but she clarified, "I wasn't hating myself, I was only hating those shameful behaviors."
"For example, eating a whole tub of ice cream every night and then feeling bad about myself, making myself get up early in the morning and go to the gym for an hour and a half and running on that treadmill until sometimes my back would hurt," Wilson explained.
Describing herself as an "emotional eater," the Pitch Perfect star finally had the determination to take on a healthier lifestyle after undergoing therapy as well as self-encouragement
"I'm like, 'How can I be a person who excels in so many things, and gets two university degrees, and can make millions of dollars, and can start from nothing and then create this huge career, but I couldn't lose weight?' I would always beat myself up about that and go, 'What's wrong with me?'" Wilson said.
After committing to a "year of health," the actress achieved her ideal weight in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. She now hopes that more people will be inspired by her journey through her memoir, noting that some "think that there's some magic pill, or some sick special diet, or exercise regime or whatever."
"If they're like me and an emotional eater, that it's not about that stuff. It's literally about working at a healthier way to deal with your emotions, and there is no magic solution," Wilson stressed.
"Maybe me telling my story might encourage them to do the same and make healthy change in their lives," she added.
Her memoir is set to hit bookshelves on April 2. According to the synopsis, Rebel Rising is a "refreshingly candid, hilarious, and inspiring book about her unconventional journey to Hollywood success and loving herself."
It chronicles Wilson's "most personal and important moments in her life—from fertility issues, weight gain and loss, sexuality, overcoming shyness, rejections," among others.