Shaquille O'Neal shares conversation that forced him to change his eating habits: “Yeah, you ain’t living right…You’re not gonna be around long”

Shaquille O'Neal, one of the best-paid NBA players of his day, has been enjoying the perks of a retired multi-millionaire. Now a successful businessman, among other things, Shaq is hitting the brakes on the good life.

On “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” O’Neal shared an unexpected conversation that eventually pushed him to drastically change his health habits:

“I called the guy. ‘Yeah, Nischelle tells me you’re trying to lose weight and you wanna become healthy.’ … I did it, he did my blood work and he said, ‘Yeah, you ain’t living right. If you keep this up, you’re not gonna be around long.’ That’s what got me right there.

"So I said, ‘Okay, what I gotta do?’ At first, it was hard but now I’m starting to eat right and workout every day and do that. I’m now 369 [pounds]. My goal is 345. … I wanna be 345 by March.”

Nischelle Turner is one of Shaquille O'Neal’s co-hosts in the aforementioned podcast. During an earlier encounter between the two, the Entertainment Tonight co-host told the basketball legend that he looked “chubby” on camera.

Turner then introduced Shaquille O'Neal to Chris Allen, the guy who opened Shaq’s eyes to the need to stay in shape and healthy.

About five weeks ago, the four-time NBA champion posted on his IG account a video of himself showing off his body. The video went viral as most people were in disbelief at the effort Shaq put in to get the tone and definition of his body.

It was shared just a few weeks ago in another episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq” that the body was digitally altered. The one he posted the other day, however, was no longer a fluke. The 50-year-old former NBA MVP showed off his true form after diligently working out and eating healthy food.

Considering that a month ago he admitted to weighing 415 pounds, his current weight of 369 should be applauded. He let himself go after the death of his sister Ayesha and the tragic passing away of former teammate and beloved Laker Kobe Bryant.

By March 6 of next year, Shaquille O'Neal will be celebrating his 51st birthday. He will be heavily anticipating that on that day, he will have already reached his goal of going down to 345 pounds.

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Shaquille O'Neal struggled to keep his weight down during his NBA career

Shaquille O'Neal and the late Kobe Bryant often butted heads because of the former's mediocre work to stay in shape.

Shaquille O'Neal was one of NBA’s most dominant and overpowering force during his prime. At his peak, it seemed like only the free-throw line could stop him from scoring. But as great as the iconic big man was, most basketball analysts assert that he could have been so much better.

The one thing that stopped him from sustaining greatness was his reported laziness and resulting bouts with weight issues. Shaq was infamous for coming into the season out of shape. He only started to get into game shape and in top condition as the season went on.

The late Kobe Bryant often went after him for his mediocre work ethic and inability to consistently stay in shape. “KB24” later said that he could have won several more championships than the five he had if only Shaq had been more conscious of his weight.