LIFE & CULTURE

Reese Witherspoon Admits Her Health Was “Off The Rails” Before Entering Hollywood

A rare admission from the beloved actor and producer.
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It’s difficult to look at Reese Witherspoon and not see the epitome of health and vitality. From her bouncy golden locks to her glowy skin, her visage literally screams wellbeing.

However, the Hollywood star has admitted that she hasn’t always been so dedicated to her wellbeing over the years, even describing her diet and exercise routines pre-film career as “off the rails”.

The star was speaking via satellite connection at the Australian Real Estate Conference and revealed that her childhood in Nashville was anything but healthy.

reese witherspoon diet and exercise
Witherspoon’s long days filming required a new level of approach to wellness. (Credit: Image: Getty)

“I didn’t always have good eating habits, coming from a little town in Nashville, Tennessee,” she said.

“I didn’t understand health or nutrition, I went completely off the rails.”

Witherspoon was young when she started in the industry, booking her first film as a teenager when she was 14. She says that she owes it to her support system for finding a better way to fuel her body for long days filming.

“I was lucky enough to have people come in my life and say, ‘look you’re not going to be able to sustain energy for 12, 14, 15-hour days if you don’t start eating right and exercising’,” she said.

However, Witherspoon did not let her newfound love of wellbeing get in the way of things she enjoys. The 47-year-old says she still loves to eat “pastries and pasta” and will settle in for a “tequila” on bad days. At the same time, exercise and good eating habits have become engrained in her life.

reese witherspoon diet and exercise
(Credit: Image: Getty)

“I exercise every day and eat right every day, no matter what is going on. If I’m working way into the night, I eat with frequency and I take care of my mind and spirit,” she explained.

Witherspoon credits her inner circle for helping her to maintain a mental peace of mind that is essential to her sense of wellbeing.

She listed friends the likes of Australian actor Nicole Kidman (who she co-starred in Big Little Lies with) as one of her go-to “close friends” and Friends star Jennifer Aniston as someone she can “lean on”.

“I check in with my friends, I have downtime, and I have boundaries which is something I didn’t have when I was young,” she added.

All we have to say is that Reese well and truly is an icon.

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