In her Netflix film "Homecoming," released in 2019, Beyoncé opened up about preparing to perform for the first time post-pregnancy — and the insecurities and difficulties that came with those grueling rehearsals.
"It's my first time back home on the stage after giving birth," Beyoncé said in the film, which documents the road to Beyoncé's historic 2018 Coachella performance. "I'm creating my own homecoming. And it's hard."
"There were days that I thought I'd never be the same, I'd never be the same physically — my strength and endurance would never be the same," she added.
In pre-Coachella behind-the-scenes footage, a voice off-screen — presumably Beyoncé's choreographer, JaQuel Knight — said she was burning 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day from hours of rehearsing.
"It's true," Beyoncé responded. "And eventually, I want to be able to do Soul Cycle, the stairs, and rehearsal in a day."
The "Formation" singer also revealed that she followed a strict plant-based diet to get back in shape.
"In order for me to meet my goal, I'm limiting myself to no bread, no carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no meat, no fish, no alcohol," she said. "And I'm hungry."
In a voiceover, Beyoncé said her choreography relied more on "feeling" than on technical movements, but that actually made it more difficult for her to feel comfortable.
"That's hard when you don't feel like yourself. I had to rebuild my body," she said. "It took me a while to feel confident enough to... give in my own personality."
"In the beginning, it was so many muscle spasms and, just internally, my body was not connected," she continued. "My mind was not there. My mind wanted to be with my children. What people don't see is the sacrifice."
The documentary includes footage of Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, bringing their kids to the pop star's rehearsal space.
Beyoncé said that she would often breastfeed her infant twins, Sir and Rumi Carter, in her trailer.
"Just trying to figure out how to balance being a mother of a 6-year-old and of twins that need me, and giving myself creatively and physically. It was a lot to juggle," she said. "I definitely pushed myself further than I knew I could, and I learned a valuable lesson: I will never, never push myself that far again."
