Fall has finally arrived, meaning it's almost time to retire your short shorts and pull out your favorite sweater and we genuinely hate to see it. Although warmer seasons have come and gone, the fact remains that Hot Girl Summer 2021 is only months away and now is no time to slack on your fit goals.
While you may be struggling to muster up the energy to hit the streets and get your muscles on the move, Ciara's latest Instagram posts will give you all the inspiration you need to work on your fitness year-round. In a recent interview with People, the 34-year-old entertainer opened up about how she's leveling up her post-baby body after giving birth in July, which according to her, can be much more difficult the third time around. She explained:
"Life couldn't be any more hectic than it's ever been. My son is in Zoom classes, and we're creating an easy plan for my daughter as well with her education. There's so much to juggle and plan."
Ciara, who revealed that she gained a total 65 pounds during her pregnancy, said that along with flag football, consistent cardio, and managing her eating habits, giving herself grace has been the key to keeping her sanity on her weight loss journey:
"The extreme way that I would approach my eating habits [before] is just unrealistic for me. I have too much to look after, and I'm also breastfeeding. I'm just getting started, but so far it's really fun."
The singer said that while in the past, she's taken a more intense approach to her fitness journey, she is now working to maintain a more realistic lifestyle that she can still be proud of:
"For me, it gives me something to look forward to and makes it fun. I tried all kinds of things, sun up to sun down, and yes some of those things have worked, but they haven't been realistic for the long term at all. What I really love about this is I'm having fun while also learning how to develop really good eating habits. One of the ultimate goals is to have a good wellness lifestyle that's going to carry me through life."
For more fit tips from Queen Ci, scroll below!
1.Consistency Is Key
"A few years ago I upped my commitment level to really living a healthy life. I would train for what I needed to do, like going on tour or a video, but I wouldn't really be consistent every day. Once I made that commitment to live healthier and make better fitness decisions, it was game-changing for me—and I realized that I didn't have to work as hard."
2.Balance, Baby. Balance.
"I don't train every day of my life. Ultimately, it's about balance, from what you eat to working out, and for me, what I've learned is that what you eat is the most important part. You can go to the gym and eat a burrito after and be like, 'I went to the gym, so it doesn't matter,' but you'll never get the body you want that way, so I eat in moderation. I eat five to eight small meals a day, and I'm really, really consistent with my regimen. And also, I drink tons of water."
3.Pace Yourself
I used to run track in high school, so I was always an athlete at my core, but it's sometimes fun when you get on a treadmill and you just sprint for one minute, then pop off. You push yourself in between breaks to the highest speed you can go to. Spring and hop off, and repeat. You can do it 10 times, and it really gets your cardiovascular going like crazy, and it's good for conditioning. But don't overextend yourself. Be realistic about what is good for your body and you'll find that rhythm.
"I think the thing about working out is the fact that you're already there is dope. You already look fly and look good by being in the gym. When you're in tune with your body, you'll be able to feel what truly is best for you."
4.Push Thru, Even When You Don't Feel Like It
"There are definitely times where I'm like, OK, here we go. Sometimes we don't want to do what we need to do, but what we need to do is often the best thing for us. Pushing through is what makes you feel the most proud after a good workout, and after I finish working out, it feels like I conquered the world. This feeling helps me get going for the day."
To read Ciara's full interview, click here!
Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com