Having Shared Troubling Dietary Habit with Billionaire Warren Buffet, Shaquille O’Neal Admits Bare Minimum Concern for Fitness Years Before Bodybuilding Journey

Standing at over 7 feet, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. With all the attention in the world comes excessive scrutiny on fitness and the shape of one’s body. Although he might have all the wealth and fame in the world, Shaq was very unfit and demotivated at one point in time, which affected him both physically and mentally. During a recent interview, the Los Angeles Lakers legend divulged some details about a dark phase in his life.

Shaq also revealed his troublesome diet while he was still in the league. Oddly enough, Shaq’s former diet shares a resemblance to the diet followed by popular investor and billionaire, Warren Buffet.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals his unhealthy diet while in the NBA

NBA athletes are regarded as some of the fittest and the most athletic sports professionals in the world. Thanks to a grueling schedule and intense matches, the athletes have to maintain a strict workout routine and diet. However, Shaquille O’Neal was not one to sacrifice when it came to food.

The four-time NBA champion did not have a personal chef until his eighth year in the league. For that reason, he was doing terribly when it came to his health.

“I was in terrible shape. Bad shape. But I really didn’t think about it, because my day was work,” said Shaq, during the interview with Kaitlin Reilly of Yahoo Sports.

Moreover, he also revealed his diet prior to getting a nutritionist, which shares a resemblance to Warren Buffet’s diet. The 2000 MVP said, “I used to wake up, have McDonald’s for breakfast, have McDonald’s for lunch, play a game and then go to a restaurant.”

Similar to O’Neal, Buffet likes McDonald’s for breakfast. The 92-year-old doesn’t stop at that. He consumes quite a lot of coke during the day and relies on other fast food options for lunch and dinner. Despite his age and his unhealthy diet, Buffet is still quite healthy and seems to be fine.

READ MORE: “Why Don’t You Lay on the Floor”: Fight Almost Breaks Out on Live TV as Shaquille O’Neal Lashes Out at Charles Barkley While Defending Warriors Star Draymond Green

Charles Barkley often made fun of Shaq’s body

Although Shaq might be in good shape today, there was a time when he weighed over 500 pounds. The Big Aristotle revealed how Charles Barkley called him fat all the time, which had an effect on the NBA legend.

“I take criticism all the time, and it doesn’t hurt my feelings, but [Charles Barkley] used to call me fat on the air all the time, and I would go back and — I was really chubby,” said Shaq during the interview.

Despite all the hurdles and challenges, the NBA Hall of Famer took a healthy decision and is in good shape today. The Big Diesel shocked the world with his physical transformation after putting in the hard work in the gym. Interestingly, Shaq is the one who ridicules Barkley for his body shape more often than not nowadays!

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