Naomi Osaka recently shared her experiences with weight loss following the birth of her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. On October 27, the 26-year-old tennis star, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, posted a series of transformation photos on Instagram that captured her progress over the past year as she worked to lose the pregnancy weight. Shai is her daughter with rapper Cordae.
In her thoughtful caption, Osaka expressed the emotional challenges of her journey, highlighting the pressure she felt to return to her pre-pregnancy shape quickly. “I found it hard to summarize this post,” she wrote, indicating that it represented more than just physical changes over time.
Osaka celebrates her body’s strength and adaptability through motherhood
Reflecting on her struggles, Osaka admitted to moments of feeling self-conscious about her appearance, particularly when wearing form-fitting tennis outfits. She mentioned the societal expectations she placed on herself after seeing other mothers bounce back so quickly after childbirth.
As an athlete, she felt an added pressure to lose weight faster than others. “Being in the gym daily led me to believe I should see quicker results,” she explained. However, she soon realized that progress could be slow, which led to feelings of discouragement. “The path to where I am now has been a true journey, and it’s one I continue to embrace,” she shared.
Despite the challenges, this experience has helped her cultivate a deeper appreciation for her body. “Every body is unique, and I value mine for what it has accomplished,” she noted. “It has adapted beautifully to all the demands I’ve placed on it, and I am extremely thankful.”
In closing her post, Osaka reflected on her journey, stating that if she had to give it a title, it would express gratitude: “Thank you, body, for the past year’s journey. I’m eager to discover what you can achieve in the future.”
