Shaquille O’Neal continues to focus on his health and wellness during his weight loss journey. In an exclusive interview with ET’s Nichelle Turner, O’Neal tipped the scales at 351 pounds proving once again his dedication to transforming his physique.
Shaquille O’Neal commanded the basketball court with the Los Angeles Lakers for almost 20 years, having served as one of the best centers of all time. He, along with the late and legendary Kobe Bryant served as one of the fiercest duos in the NBA, where they ultimately succeeded in earning a total of four championships.
In the height of the Covid pandemic, Shaq like everyone, struggled with weight gain while his movement was restricted. Coming in at 401 pounds, the NBA star committed to a stringent four days a week training regimen with the goal of getting to 365 pounds.
Shaquille O’Neal Talks Recent Weight Loss And Body Transformation: “It’s All About Eating Right”
During the exclusive sit down, O’Neal shocked his audience as it was revealed he lost 55 pounds.
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“I’m probably gonna get between 315 and 330,” Shaq says.
Having set “crazy goals,” Shaq shared how his weight gain started to affect the way he looked at himself in the mirror.
“I was getting chubby and couldn’t even walk up the stairs. I didn’t like the way I looked in the mirror,” he admits. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna lose 20’ and then I was trying to lose 20.”
In a previous appearance with ET Online, O’Neal was candid about the measures he took slim down. He added that once he got a firm understanding of his nutrition, his weight loss efforts started to align with his goals.
“I got a couple people involved — it’s all about eating right. I got some blood work done, a friend of mine called me and said, ‘You’re fat,’ and she gave me this guy’s name, and he did some blood work, and you know, ’cause I was the athlete — I wasn’t a salad eater. I won’t pay attention to any of that. I don’t care about none of that,” Shaq said at the time. “I didn’t know what the difference between a carb and a protein, at 50 years old I never knew. So, he was saying you can’t do this, you can’t do that, more vegetables, my iron’s low. And once I just started changing those certain things, it dropped.”
In addition, O’Neal underlined that supplements became an integral part of his routine.
“Plus the supplements I’m taking, and the shakes I’m drinking, the weight just fell off. I’m not at 100 percent ninja mode yet. I’m still 75 percent.”
Aside from his weight loss ambitions, Shaq recently set his sights on a bodybuilding venture. The NBA legend continues to wow fans online with physique updates, where he often hits popular bodybuilding poses. Considering his tall stature, fans can appreciate the dedication it took for him to revamp his physique since retiring from professional sports.
Shaq is a diehard bodybuilding fan, and in one of his recent updates, paid respect to the former seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil “The Gift” Heath, who was known for his 3D physique. Over the past few years, Shaq has routinely attended and promoted top-notch bodybuilding events like the Mr. Olympia.
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Judging by Shaq’s dedication to working out and healthy eating, he continues to inspire his millions of fans. He has already lost plenty of weight but appears to be motivated to keep pushing forward with his fitness goals for the foreseeable future.