Ciara covers the April issue of InStyle. She’s promoting her new music and her latest album, her first in more than three years. Ciara took some time off from the music industry while she was having babies, getting married to Russell Wilson and just generally focusing on other things. But she’s hitting pause on the baby-making for a few years to revive her music career, and she seems to be getting welcomed back in a big way. Her first single “Level Up” (released last year) was a big hit. More to come, I guess. You can see Ciara’s InStyle editorial here. In the interview, she talks a lot about her level of self-belief, her faith, and her crazy workouts trying to get back in shape after two pregnancies. Some highlights:
Releasing new music last year: “I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t wonder what the fans would think, being that I hadn’t released new music in a while. I was told that it wasn’t going to be very successful. That people wouldn’t believe in it. I put it out, and as soon as I opened my eyes the next morning, people were re-creating the video. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.”
God has opened doors for her: “I truly believe that no one can close the door that God has opened for you.”
She gained 60 lbs during her two pregnancies: “I ate so much. Fries, mac and cheese, corn bread. I wanted stuffing when it wasn’t even Thanksgiving … I’m a Southern girl. We like to eat!”
How she got back into shape after giving birth to Sienna: Celebrity body sculptor Gunnar Peterson designed a calorie-massacring regimen to help her get back into fighting shape. Mornings consisted of weight lifting. Afternoons were dedicated to high-intensity treadmill workouts that alternated with lung-crushing sprints and light jogs. Evenings were spent riding her Peloton bike for 30 to 45 minutes. All the while she continued to nurse newborn Sienna. “I would wake up in the morning, breastfeed, eat a small meal, go train, come back home, pump, eat a small meal, breastfeed, eat lunch, and then go train again. I truly believe that self-love is key. And my definition of self-love is taking care of myself.”
On not having sex before marriage: “That took a lot of prayer. It was hard. I can’t lie.”
Taking a break to pray after her relationship with Future fell apart. “If you want to get somewhere in life, you’ve got to have a compass. You’ve got to know where you really want to get to. And my heart, soul, spirit, and mind just desired to be loved. To be truly loved the right way. I knew I didn’t want to cry tears of hurt anymore. I didn’t want to keep going around in circles.”
She’s going to have more kids: “I want to have as many kids as I can. My kids keep me young. They keep me active. They give me purpose. They just make it all make sense.”
Yes, I know her body is a big part of her job and I know she’s always been incredibly fit (pre-pregnancies) so there were a million reasons for her to want to “get back” to where she was, but still – that workout schedule is insane. Especially for a nursing mother! And she’s just going to have to go through the same thing when she has another baby, which I’m sure will happen in the next few years. Did you know Ciara is only 33? I thought she was older, probably because it feels like she’s been around for two decades. As for all of the faith/God talk… it’s a turn-off for me personally, but that’s because I have such an aversion to discussions of personal faith in general. I believe Ciara prayed on it and she really believes that God had a hand in bringing Russell to her. But then you have to believe that God had a hand in Future cheating on her too. Hm.
Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of InStyle.
I’ve always liked her…I think she gorjus and glorious…and I think she’s VERY lucky…cause…I mean, G-d didn’t whisper in your ear about getting involved with someone that has the reputation of being Community trade and got more kids than stars in the banner?
Okay Gurl…go on witcha bad self then….
Hmmm…no. God didn’t have a hand in Future cheating on her. Human beings have free will and we are responsible for our choices. BUT- I do believe in God and that everything happens for a reason. And so while Future cheating on her in the moment was horrible it was also the thing that allowed her to move PAST him to something and someone better. That’s my take on that.
Well said. I believe in God and the bible says all things work together for good.
I’m Muslim and the Qur’an says that what is meant for us no man can hinder.
Do you think that god is “against” people who never have anything wonderful happen to them?
No where in my comment did I state that. Bad things happen to everyone. I gave my take on what Ciara said and Kaiser’s comment. You don’t have to agree with it.
Didn’t mean to upset you. It was an honest question. I didn’t say that you said that, which is why I asked.
And I asked because I think it is one of life’s tough questions. How faith interacts with society is of interest to me, and since this thread touches on it, I asked.
Was just asking a question.
@Ader it’s fine. I have had so many interactions with people who have felt the need to “challenge” me as a Muslim or as someone who believes in God that it immediately puts me on the defensive.
I am not someone who believes only bad things happen to bad people. That’s absurd to me since bad things happen to us all. It’s a part of life. I don’t think my being a person of faith makes me any less susceptible to things. I’m going through a pretty rough time myself right now. My mother has been diagnosed with a degenerative disease. I think we can either choose to let those things shake our faith or strengthen. And it’s a choice.
@Valiantly Varnished, well said. I went through loss and I was angry that God didn’t fix it. But I do believe that he sent me people to help me along the way. I am so sorry about your mom and I’m sending a prayer that you are given strength.
That’s a big +1 here on God, Valiantly Varnished.
And if someone asks you about what you love or what’s most important in your life, You answer, right?? Whether it’s your family, spouse, partner or God, that’s all she’s doing, talking about what she loves and what matters most to her foundation.
I wonder why people say choosing to not have kids is selfish, when she gives selfish reasons to have as many as she can (she is not the only one).
Really selfish to just continue create humans being in this day and age just you like it. Are people even thinking about what world their children are going to live in?
I can’t have children so I guess i shouldn’t care so much, but mmh. Dubitative. My worries about having children would outweigh the outcome of having one IMO.
I don’t have kids either. And just as I wouldn’t want to be judged for not having any I dont feel ghe need to judge those who do.
Sorry if my comment sounded harsh. Maybe it’s judgment. But I’m worried. And I think every person in our time that is capable of procreating and is educated enough (or has access to that knowledge) about climate change and has access to birth control, should know better than have as many kids as they wish.
But that’s maybe juste a Bad hormonal day for me 🙂
Her reasons for having kids sounded selfish to me too. Maybe her response just came out wrong as she may not really be selfish ?
We shouldn’t be judging anyone’s reasons for their reproductive choices.
I can see why you’re concerned. I have children and have often felt guilt-ridden (on their behalf) over it after watching the news, etc. Thankfully, they’re nearly grown now, but I am in no hurry to be a grandparent. But I think having children is a personal choice that is not to be made lightly. I guess maybe when you have the means that these celebrities have, there’s a measure of protection and advantage that us regular folks don’t always have. But at the end of the day, none of us can know the future, and tragedy and hardships can touch any of us at any time. Should we expect everyone to stop having children? That’s not reasonable.
I thought the same thing. And she sounded dumb and hypocrite even before mentioning the kids issue.
I have to be snarky: I would not need any prayer to keep me from sleeping with Russell Wilson. He looks like an adult twelve-year-old, if that makes sense. Something nice: she’s stunningly gorgeous.
Ciara is so incredibly gorgeous, ugh.
See, this is the problem when you live on a permanent restrictive diet: you get pregnant and lose your sh-t.
There is zero reason to eat way more than a normal healthy diet when pregnant. In the first trimester you don’t need to eat anything extra, in the second trimester you need about 1,500 kilojoules (340 calories) extra per day, and in the third you need about 1,900 kilojoules (460 calories) extra per day (assuming you were consuming a healthy amount to begin with). So in the third trimester that’s equivalent to one extra small-medium sized meal a day.
I would think that being pregnant would actually inspire people to eat delicious but healthy food so that the baby they are growing gets the benefits of that healthy food. I can never understand women who go crazy and eat like garbage dumps their entire pregnancies. It just makes it so much harder if you want to lose weight after your pregnancy when you’re going to be busy and tired and it’s not good for you or your child.
And I say this as someone who doesn’t diet and is always open to some yummy splurges as long as the bulk of your diet is relatively healthy. And as someone who should definitely go for smaller portions. I just think that being happy in what you eat day to day makes it easier when you get pregnant because then you can just continue as normal with a slight increase when needed. If you’re existing on lettuce and air and being pregnant means you have to “let go” then there’s more of a risk of going overboard with that.
I read about how much weight some of these celebrities put on during pregnancy and am gobsmacked. Jessica Simpson and Kate Hudson in their first pregnancies spring to mind.
If you’re in a healthy weight range, you should be putting on between 11.5-16 kg (25-35 pounds) in weight while pregnant. Obviously some people retain fluid or just gain like crazy even when they’re eating normally – those are exceptions.
But I recall Kate Hudson saying she ate a pint of ice cream every day in her first pregnancy! For the “calcium”. She supposedly gained 60 pounds which is 27kg and she is a small woman 168cm / 5’6”. That is crazy. Jessica Simpson also gained 60 pounds / 27 kg and she is about 5’2”. Mental.
To me (a non believer) it always comes across as self aggrandizing and hubristic to claim that your wealth and success were due to God’s will. Many people have faith and barely get by, plain and simple. Take credit for your success, by all means. Don’t attribute your unique good fortune to God, for the sake of his believers that continue to suffer.