Ciara Gained 65 Pounds During Her Pregnancy. Here's How She's Leveling Up Her Post-Baby Body.
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
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
Courtesy
I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
Courtesy
That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
Courtesy
So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
Courtesy
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy