After welcoming her fourth child last year, Jessie James Decker was disappointed her body wasn’t bouncing back as quickly as she hoped.
“Even after I stopped nursing, I was like, ‘Wow, [the weight] is not coming off as fast as it did before. I’m going to have to really go for it this time,’” Decker, 36, exclusively shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly.
But for the Kittenish founder, who shares daughter Vivianne, 10, and sons Eric Jr., 9, Forrest, 6, and Denver, 12 months, with husband Eric Decker, getting into shape wasn’t about vanity:
“I wanted to feel strong,” she tells Us.
Jessie James Decker Says Healthy Body Image Isn’t ‘About Being Skinny’
True to her word, she did. With a goal in mind (“I wanted to be back to where I was before, or as close as I could [get] to it,” she explains), the singer leveled up her workout routine with cardio, F45 training and pickleball, and incorporated intermittent fasting into her diet. Now, the results speak for themselves — and the mom of four is feeling a type of confidence that only comes with age.
“As I’ve gotten older, I like the way I look now more than I did when I was 23,” she says.
Teaming up with Cupshe for a new swimsuit collection served as the perfect opportunity to show off her efforts. “I’m grateful for the timing,” she says, “because I worked hard to get to this place, to feel comfortable putting on a bikini and taking photos.”
Here, Jessie talks learning to love her figure in every shape and form.
Tell Us about the Cupshe x Jessie James Decker with Kittenish collection.
When you’re shopping for a swimsuit, you really have to think about your body and what works for you. What’s beautiful about this collection is that there’s something for every single body type.
What styles do you tend to find the most flattering?
I love ribbed material. I have a pretty intense C-section scar, so I’m always self-conscious choosing swimsuits that cover it, and we really did a great job selecting bottoms. There’s certain cuts that are sexy, but thick enough [that] you’re covered, [and] still showing a little something, something!
You gave birth just a year ago. How was your experience modeling the bathing suits?
I had [difficult] moments, I’ll be honest. I remember putting on a bikini and walking down the steps [to] the grass, and [thinking], “Oh my God, this is so uncomfortable.” But as soon as they started taking pictures and they turned the monitor around to show me, I [thought], “I don’t look so bad!” I felt confident, ready and strong. It felt really good to put it all out there.
Did you have a goal weight?
I knew what I weighed before and around that ballpark felt good to me. I love where I’m at [now] because I put in the time building the muscle. I like being toned, muscular and really strong.
What worked for you this time around?
I like to intermittent fast and I don’t eat first thing in the morning. I wake up, have coffee, drink water and go to the gym. Maybe a couple hours later, I’ll have a chicken salad with rice. I eat what I want at dinner because I’m on the lighter side throughout the day. Cutting out alcohol and trying not to eat past 6 p.m. is a game changer. If you’re going to have alcohol, [drink] Prosecco. There’s not that many calories and sugar.
You tapped Eric to appear with you in the swim campaign. How has he been supportive in other ways?
Eric could not work out for six months and have a bag of donuts every day, and [he’d still] look like a Greek god. We can definitely be that fitness couple. I don’t love working out with him though, because he gets bossy. [But] he’s so supportive. He thinks I’m pretty no matter what, even when I’m having a hard day or after I’ve had a baby [and] I’m not feeling like myself. I look for it in his face and he never flinches. He tells me I look pretty the way that I am.
How’s life with your family of six? Any plans to expand your brood in the future?
Well, [Eric] is snipped, so if I were to get knocked up again, it’s because of that two percent chance! Denver’s starting to walk, which is cool. We’re obviously not sleeping very much, [but] it’s amazing to be able to do it all over again. It’s fun that the kids are older and getting to do this with us, watching their little baby brother grow up. Eric and I look at each other and we’re like, how did we get here? It’s been really special for our family.
For more on Jessie, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
