How Shaquille O'Neal Got His Abs Back And Dropped 30 Pounds In 6 Months!

Shaquille O'Neal is looking better than ever!

Widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time, the 49-year-old New Jersey native knows how to keep fit.

Even though the former NBA star has since retired from the game, he still works on maintaining his health. In a recent interview, Shaq revealed that he switched up his diet and teased that it's the first time he can see his abs in 15 years!

Shaq is just one of the many celebrities who are ditching a carb-heavy diet, swapping out pasta for noodles made from nutrient-dense vegetables like cauliflower and butternut squash.

Over the course of six months, Shaq switched up his diet to eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of bigger portions at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to keep his metabolism going throughout the day.

Those small portions consisted of low-carb fruits (think berries!), low-carb vegetables (like asparagus), chicken, fish, and protein shakes.

"Very small portions and eating that every day has helped me lose 25-30 pounds," he revealed. "I started to see stuff that I haven't seen in 20 to 30 years — like a six-pack. And I haven't had one of those since I was on the 2006 Miami Heat."

Even though he has retired from professional basketball, he still makes sure to get in his exercise. He focuses on doing a lot of cardio, like jogging, with a little bit of strength training to maintain his muscle mass.

Another way Shaq maintains his signature physique is by keeping his protein intake consistent. Sports dietician Nancy Clarkrecommends that an active person should take in 0.5 to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight.

Last May, the 7-foot-1 athlete revealed that he weighed 375 pounds, which means that he would have to eat anywhere between 187 and 375 grams of protein a day to keep his muscles strong!

For reference, a 3 oz (85g) cut of chicken breast brings in 26 grams of protein and a 3 oz (85g) salmon filet clocks in at only 20 grams of protein, which is why Shaq turns to protein shakes to help him meet his daily macronutrient goals.

Shaq also maintains his muscle mass by working out with the portable MaxPro cable gym. On October 27, Shaq promoted the fitness tool on Instagram teasing, "I only workout 7 days a week because there aren't 8."

Fans absolutely loved the promotion and showered his page with positive comments.

“I NEED that ASAP,” one fan wrote.

“Awesome! Send me one for Christmas please!” one fan added.

Another shared, “I wanna work out with you.”

“My man look like he got a season left in him lol,” another posted.

“I’m convinced Shaq could not workout for the rest of his life and still be ripped,” another joked.

Shaq is proof that it's never too late to follow a healthy diet, keep fit, and see results at any age!