Jelena Dokic shows off her body transformation after 20kg weight loss and reveals heartbreaking battle with an eating disorder and depression

Jelena Dokic showed off her transformation after losing 45 pounds and spoke candidly about her struggles with depression and an eating disorder.

The 41-year-old tennis pro shared photos on Instagram on Sunday of her before and after weight loss, taken seven years apart, and described her struggle with “self-esteem.”

She showed off her impressive body transformation and shared some inspiring words in the caption describing her mental health struggles.

Jelena emphasized that her weight loss was a result of her focus on her mental health, opening up about her battles with depression, anxiety and an eating disorder.

“This is not about body size, this is about feeling like I’m not good enough to be alive!!! Left, 7 years ago,” she shared.

‘Even though I now have a little less weight on my right side, this is not about weight. Because even if I were half as small on my left side, I would still feel the same. And how is that possible? Not worthy enough to live!!’

She explained that at the time the first photo was taken, she was afraid to leave the house and was “broken” by her battle with depression and PTSD.

“My face, body language, even the clothes on the left side say it all. That’s how low my self-esteem was. I was afraid to leave the house,” she continued.

‘I couldn’t look people in the eye, I just wanted to wear black or dark grey and cover myself up. I remember wanting to somehow cover my face and head completely and maybe not even have to leave the house for the rest of my life.

‘It was fear, depression, the paralyzing effect of trauma, that made me feel worthless and not even worth living.

‘This is a result of being belittled all my life, especially by people close to me.

‘The person on the left was broken, shattered, struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, BPD, and an eating disorder. Sometimes I wished I wouldn’t wake up, so I wouldn’t have to feel this way anymore.

“But this isn’t about feeling sorry for myself or feeling sorry for myself. I didn’t want to be a victim. I wanted to survive and thrive and I did.”

Jelena then shared an inspiring message about her “courage and resilience,” encouraging others not to give up in “scary” times.

“Fight hard. Don’t give up every day and as scary as it is, get out of your comfort zone. It will get easier and more comfortable to do so,” she wrote.

‘Keep going even when it’s scary. Be brave and never give up. The way to feel good about yourself and your life is to be who you really are and embrace and love yourself.

‘Don’t be afraid of mistakes and failures, you learn from them and as long as you get back up, that’s all that matters.

Jelena emphasized that her weight loss was a byproduct of her focus on her mental health, sharing her struggles with depression, anxiety and an eating disorder

‘Never give up on yourself and your goals. Never let someone else’s judgment and comments define you.

“Your worth is not up for debate and it is not a group decision. And remember, you are who you decide to be. No one else. So go out there and do it.”

“Be yourself. Being authentic, real, and vulnerable is the way to be happy and thrive. You are worth it and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

It is not the first time that Jelena has spoken openly about her weight loss and health issues. She recently revealed that she lost weight for health reasons.

In June, the Nine commentator shared a post on Instagram comparing her current appearance to what she’ll look like in 2023, when she’ll be 20 pounds heavier.

In the caption, Jelena explained that she lost weight because she has a high history of diabetes in her family and was diagnosed with high blood pressure.

She stressed that she looked happy in both photos, adding that weight loss was not the goal but merely a “byproduct” of adopting healthier habits.

“The most important thing is that I am happy and proud of both photos, regardless of my weight, and I am always kind,” she began.

This is not the first time that Jelena has spoken openly about her health improvements. She recently shared how she lost weight for health reasons after being diagnosed with high blood pressure.

“This is about HEALTH not SIZE,” she continued. “So many questions about how to get healthier, which is why I lost weight. Weight loss wasn’t a priority; it’s just a byproduct of taking care of my health.”

To those who accused her of crash dieting, Jelena clarified: “I didn’t lose weight quickly. I lost 20 kilos in just under 10 months. Nothing fast.”

“I stopped eating late at night, especially things like burgers, pizza, fries, and desserts, because they made me feel so sluggish when I woke up, especially before early morning work and flights. So I don’t eat heavy meals in the evening anymore and I don’t eat after 7pm,” she continued.

“I now eat more salads and soups for my meals, like a chicken caesar salad or tomato soup with whole grain bread. These types of meals don’t make me feel sluggish and I feel full. I now drink more water and I’ve cut down on soda, even diet soda.”

“It’s small changes over time and while I still have my cheeseburger and fries days, it’s just a lot less and I definitely don’t eat junk food when I’m working and traveling. That’s it,” she concluded.