?Wish I Would?ve Paid More Attention?: Regretful 51-Year-Old Shaquille O?Neal Unveils Dark Truth of His Unhealthy Former Lifestyle

There is no doubt that Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O?Neal was one of the most dominant players during his time in the league. Apart from his four NBA championships and numerous other accolades, O?Neal?s game spoke for itself – he?d dismantle opposing players from the post and was too much to be guarded by just one person. However, there is one thing that the 51-year-old retired NBA star regrets now.

When the seven-foot Shaq entered the league, he was already pretty muscular – but quite lean for his frame. By the time he came to Los Angeles to play under Phil Jackson, though, the famous coach could easily boast about the mountain on his team who had to be crossed by any attacking opponent. Shaq had almost become the Big Man he is today! However, looking back, the Lakers icon has one thing that he would give anything to correct now.

Shaquille O’Neal regrets his past habits

Shaquille O?Neal really put in the time at the gym to bulk up to become an unstoppable force on the court. But it came at a cost. O?Neal?s bad eating habits caught up with him by the time he retired from the league.

Recently, the 15-time All-Star told People magazine how regretful he was about the food he consumed during his time in the league. Shaq said, ?I wish I would’ve paid more attention to it. I was such a mental warrior that none of this stuff mattered to me.? Shaq?s diet consisted of fast-food-joint burgers, unhealthy snacks and loads of fried foods. It didn’t seem to be a problem during the time he was in the league because, due to the long hours of workout, he never gained a pound.

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By the time the Big Man got older, though – realization kicked in. He understood how important it was to consume and prioritize a healthy diet.?

What prompted Shaq to lose weight?

As he reminisced about his glory days, O?Neal gave the example of one of his ex-teammates from his Miami Heat days, Udonis Haslem. Shaq said, ?If I had paid attention, I probably could’ve been like Udonis Haslem and played 20 seasons, but I did it my way.?

When he looked at himself a few years after retiring, Shaq was far from satisfied. He decided to go on a weight-loss journey. Inspired by the success of his playing days and how it could have been even greater, the seven-footer decided to pursue a strict approach to his diet.

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The NBA on TNT host has come a long way since his decision and has lost 40 pounds. With a reported 20 more to go, we wish Shaq all the best – and kudos for keeping his physique in check even after the age of 50!