Shaquille O'Neal Says Old Photographs Inspired His Recent Weight Loss: I Was 'Chiseled' (Exclusive)

Nicholas Rice
·3-min read

"You will know when my journey is complete because it's definitely going to go viral when I take my shirt off," the NBA legend tells PEOPLE exclusively

<p>Gabe Ginsberg/Getty, Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty</p> Shaquille O

Gabe Ginsberg/Getty, Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty

Shaquille O'Neal on Oct. 8, 2023 and earlier in his career on Sept. 27, 2010.

Shaquille O'Neal says his recent weight loss was inspired by a trip down memory lane.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE tied to his new commercial for Pepsi's mini cans, the retired NBA player, 51, opens up about how looking at old photographs prompted his slimdown.

Detailing how his weight loss journey is currently "going good," O'Neal says, "I still probably need to lose 30 more pounds."

"I'm the type that likes to do crazy things to motivate me, so my motivation is being able to take my shirt off one last time and see an 8- to 12-pack," he continues. "I was looking at some pictures when I was young and how chiseled I was."

"I really got away from that, so I'm just trying to get back to that," O'Neal adds. "And you will know when my journey is complete because it's definitely going to go viral when I take my shirt off."

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<p>Jerod Harris/Getty </p> Shaquille O'Neal

Jerod Harris/Getty

Shaquille O'Neal

Related: Shaquille O’Neal Reveals 55-Lb. Weight Loss: ‘I Couldn’t Even Walk Up the Stairs’

Earlier this year, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, O'Neal revealed that he had already lost 55 lbs.

"I'm probably gonna get between 315 and 330," he added, also telling ET that he wants to get to the point “where I have a 12-pack.”

As for what led to his weight loss, O'Neal said it involved self-reflection and realizing his health was not ideal.

“I was getting chubby and couldn’t even walk up the stairs. I didn’t like the way I looked in the mirror. I was like, 'I'm gonna lose 20' and then I was trying to lose 20," he said.

<p>Kimberly White/Getty</p> Shaquille O'Neal

Kimberly White/Getty

Shaquille O'Neal

Related: Get Inspired by These Incredible Weight-Loss Transformations

Currently, O'Neal says his weight loss journey is "just all based on food and all based on working out."

"So I had to cut out the sugars, I had to cut out the breads, and I do everything in moderation," the father of six continues. "When I was retired, I could eat five sandwiches a day. But when you get older and your metabolism slows down, you can't do that."

Sharing the types of meals he eats on a typical day, O'Neal tells PEOPLE, "This morning, I had a cheese egg omelet for breakfast, so my second meal is going to be a Clif Bar, and then my third meal is probably going to be a salad."

"And then my fourth meal will probably be fruit, and then the last meal of the day is steak, fish and chicken," he explains.

Adds O'Neal: "So you just have to eat as healthy as you can. If you're going to have fun, just have fun in moderation."

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