Kelsea Ballerini, the celebrated country singer, has not only captivated audiences with her musical talent but has also inspired many with her openness about her personal struggles and journey toward self-acceptance. Her path has involved overcoming an eating disorder and redefining her relationship with her body, health, and self-image. Ballerini's story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to share her vulnerabilities with the world.
Confronting Disordered Eating
In her new book, "Feel Your Way Through," Kelsea Ballerini, now 28, bravely unveils her past battle with an eating disorder. The collection of poems offers a glimpse into "what it's like to be twenty-something trying to navigate a wildly beautiful and broken world,” as described on Amazon. In a candid interview, Kelsea shared how her teenage struggle with bulimia has shaped her perspective as an adult.
Ballerini revealed that the eating disorder developed during a challenging time in her life. "My parents had just gotten divorced, and I think for me, it was a source of control," the singer explained to People. She dealt with the disorder in isolation, resorting to diet pills and excessive exercise until she sought help at the age of 18 after passing out "several" times. Bulimia, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, involves a cycle of binging, or consuming large amounts of food uncontrollably, followed by purging, or attempting to eliminate those calories in an unhealthy manner.
The Road to Recovery and Self-Acceptance
Kelsea's journey to recovery involved therapy, medication, and guidance from a nutritionist to establish healthy eating habits, as recommended by Johns Hopkins Medicine. While she is now in a much healthier place, she acknowledges that her relationship with her body is an ongoing process. "It's a journey, and it's never-ending," she explained.
Life in the spotlight as a famous country singer presents unique challenges. The publicity and scrutiny can sometimes make her feel like she's starting from square one. She recounted an incident after a performance on the Today show in 2015 when she saw an article that said, "Ballerini debuts baby bump." This triggered her, causing her to revert to the insecurities she felt as a 12-year-old. However, she realized that she had a choice: to be constantly triggered by such comments or to reach a point where she could look past them.
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Today, Kelsea emphasizes the importance of addressing negative self-talk. "I'm in a much healthier spot, and I'm much more gentle with how I talk to myself and my body," she shared. "There are still days where I revert back to being that 12-year-old, and I have to catch myself, and hold myself accountable to the work I've done."
Redefining Health and Fitness
Kelsea has also transformed her perspective on food and exercise. "I don't work out to get skinny, I work out to be healthy. I don't eat a salad to be skinny, I eat a salad to be healthy," she stated. She has re-calibrated what it means to look in the mirror and appreciate her health and strength. Good breath support, essential for her singing career, is now a priority. These factors matter more to her than fitting into a particular dress size.
Opening up about her past was a daunting but necessary step for Kelsea. "I've always presented myself as a very happy-go-lucky, glittery person," she said. "But there's more. It took me some time to feel bold enough and confident enough to share my true self."
Kelsea hopes that by sharing her story, she can help herself and others heal. "When you're able to talk about things, you either are going to feel shame about it and you're going to keep it hidden, or you're going to air it out and be vulnerable and connect with people and take the sting away from it and heal together," she explained. "And I think that's just the better option for me at this point in my life. So that's why I air out a couple of my dark secrets in this book."
Inspiration for Future Music
Kelsea also shared that writing her book has inspired her upcoming music. She told actress Reese Witherspoon that a few of her poems could potentially turn into CMA award-winning hits. "You know it’s interesting, I-I really had to not write music while I wrote this book," Kelsea explained. "I couldn’t cross it, for some reason, in my brain. But yes. Now that I’m working on the next record, I’ve found that a couple of them have inspired a couple of the songs. And I’m still so early into it, I don’t really know what it’s gonna be, but… I dug so deep and I found parts of myself that I didn’t really know were there while writing this, and so, I have this whole new, undiscovered tank that I’m gonna just see what else comes out.”
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Addressing Body Image Issues
Ballerini has also spoken out against unrealistic beauty standards and body shaming. She recounted an incident in 2018 when someone told her to "lose some weight" after her performance at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She responded, "First of all, I'm not a model, I'm a singer." She also called out a social media user in 2020 who assumed she was pregnant, writing, "I'm sure you mean well, but it's incredibly insensitive to ask or assume if another woman is pregnant. I'm not, by the way. Just carrying around my organs. But if I were, I'd want to share that in my own time when I felt ready."
Kelsea's Holistic Approach to Weight Loss
In 2024, Kelsea Ballerini's journey took another inspiring turn when she revealed that she had lost 30 pounds. This transformation was not just about shedding weight; it was about embracing a healthier lifestyle and mindset.
Kelsea emphasized that her weight loss journey was not about conforming to societal expectations or seeking validation. Instead, it was about investing in herself and feeling empowered by her choices. "I didn’t start working out to lose weight. I worked out to feel strong, and the weight loss followed naturally,” Kelsea shared.
The Power of a Balanced Diet
One of the key elements of Kelsea's weight loss success was her approach to diet. Rather than resorting to extreme dieting or quick fixes, she adopted a sustainable approach focused on clean eating and portion control. She followed a high-protein, low-carb eating plan, incorporating lean meats, vegetables, and healthy fats into her meals. Her diet was not about restriction but about making better food choices and fueling her body with the nutrients it needed. She often enjoys meals that include chicken, fish, spinach, and sweet potatoes. One of her biggest dietary adjustments was eliminating processed foods and sugary snacks, which had previously been a significant part of her diet.
Embracing Exercise
In addition to changing her eating habits, Kelsea made exercise a priority. She didn’t dive into extreme workouts or intense training regimens; instead, she focused on exercises that would make her feel good, both physically and mentally. A significant part of her workout routine included Pilates, which she has praised for its ability to improve strength, flexibility, and mental focus. “Pilates has been a huge part of my routine. It’s low-impact but still builds strength, which is exactly what I was looking for,” Kelsea explained. In addition to Pilates, Kelsea also incorporated low-impact cardio into her routine, such as walking and cycling. Kelsea also committed to strength training, focusing on building muscle and toning her body.
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The Importance of Mental and Emotional Well-being
Kelsea Ballerini’s weight loss journey was not solely about physical change-it was about emotional and mental growth. One of the biggest changes Kelsea made was to practice self-compassion. She realized that for her to achieve lasting change, she needed to stop being so hard on herself and embrace her body as it was. “I used to focus so much on the number on the scale.
Kelsea also incorporated mindfulness and meditation into her routine to manage stress and anxiety. These practices helped her stay centered, reduce negative thinking, and make better decisions when it came to food and exercise. “The mental part of this journey is huge. Through self-reflection and mindful practices, Kelsea was able to overcome self-doubt and anxiety. She focused on being kind to herself, acknowledging her progress, and celebrating her victories-no matter how small.
The Role of Support
Throughout her weight loss journey, Kelsea was supported by her family, who played a significant role in keeping her motivated. As a public figure, Kelsea’s family became her anchor, encouraging her to stay true to her goals even when the going got tough. “Having the support of my family made all the difference. Her husband, Morgan Evans, has been especially supportive, often joining her for workouts and helping her maintain a positive attitude. “Morgan has been amazing.
The Results
By 2024, Kelsea Ballerini had successfully shed 30 pounds, bringing her weight down from 180 pounds to 150 pounds. “I feel like I’ve finally found balance in my life. I’m healthier, happier, and more confident than ever,” Kelsea reflected.