Both on and off the pitch, Shaquille O'Neal was always a force to be reckoned with. But just like countless other people, 2020 took a huge toll on the four-time NBA champion. After several tragedies and personal losses, Shaq lost his motivation and his fitness suffered.
Shaq was determined to get back in shape, however. After discovering vex Biotech GF9 - a supplement designed to boost energy levels in men ages 45 and up - he felt better, cleaned up his diet, and went back to the gym. We met Shaq to learn more about his great transformation.
At what point in the past year did you realize you needed to make a change and get back in shape?
My sister died before Kobe. And then Kobe died and I let 28 other people die. (2020) was a really bad year and I didn't want to do anything. So if you don't want to do anything but don't have to worry, there are two things you can do: food and Netflix.
How did you adjust your diet after making up your mind to get back in shape?
I just started eating better and making better decisions. My problem is, I've always been a sandwich guy. Sandwich for lunch, sandwich for dinner, sandwich for snack. And when that all happened last year, I couldn't sleep. So I woke up at three in the morning and made a sandwich, five in the morning and made a sandwich. But I was starting to look old and I didn't want to. So I said to myself, I want to take off my shirt one last time on Instagram.
I saw this 70 year old there and he had muscles all over the place. So I made up my mind to turn it up. more bread, no more lemon Oreos at night, no more duckman cakes, none of that. I've been doing this for six months and only eat fruit, protein shakes, salads, fish, chicken and asparagus or other vegetables. Very small portions and eating every day helped me lose 25-30 pounds. I started seeing things I haven't seen in 20-30 years - like a six pack. And I haven't had any of these since I was on the Miami Heat in 2006.
w I'm more active, I sleep through the night, I have more energy and I just want to work out all the time. And because I'm doing something big in March (TBA), I have so much energy that I train mornings and evenings.
Shaq's before and after pictures show his impressive transformation.
When exercising, is it important to have something that motivates you?
I always have to have something that really motivates me. I wish I could have a picture of this old man because he was about 70 years old and his caption said, "Age is nothing but a number." And I was actually jealous, I knew it was time for me to do right again. And now that I'm doing it, I actually feel pretty good.
You know the crazy thing is, I'm like a little kid every time I walk past a mirror. Especially when I eat a cookie or something else I think, "Oh my god, my six pack is gone." And then I go to the mirror and see, "Oh, it's still there."
Do you integrate cross training into your training or is it just a normal training?
I don't do cross training. I don't do anything special when I choose five different coaches. I just go to the gym like everyone else.
I do 20 minutes of cardio, I do Chest, Bis, Tris, Sit Ups, Back and then I'm gone. 30-45 minutes a day plus cardio - about an hour a day. I still have bad hips and sore joints so I can't jump and run around. The next thing I'm going to try is jogging.
What is interesting is that you only spend about an hour a day in the gym. That seems like something that everyone can relate to and achieve.
An hour a day keeps Charles Barkley's stomach away.
Ha! Good advice. Tell us how you heard about vex Biotech's GF9 supplement and how did your feeling change when you started taking it?
I like to research because many of these supplements make certain statements about this and that. What really impressed me about the vex Biotech line of products is that it combats the effects of aging. So I tried and I felt like my young me again, I really did. It gave me the boost I was looking for to get in shape.
The vex Biotech nutritional supplement line is designed to give men ages 45 and over a boost.
Before that, I went to the gym on Monday and felt good. But on Tuesday I'll do it tomorrow. Wednesday I do tomorrow; Thursday I'll do it tomorrow; Friday I'll do it tomorrow. But with (GF9) I wanted to go back to the gym. And then when you start seeing muscles that you haven't seen in 15-20 years it really gives you a boost. As if I really have a nice looking chest now so I can wear tight shirts again, but don't tell anyone.
What advice would you give other guys in their forties or beyond and are a little out of shape now?
Your body is a temple and we need to keep it in shape. I know what it is like, us men 45 and over who used to be great athletes, but now we work, have kids, come home at five or six and bedtime is nine. We don't really have much time to ourselves. We just want to sit down, watch TV, rest and relax and go to sleep. However, if you can find an hour a day to hit the gym and get back in shape, you can feel better, look better, and do more things during the day.
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