Here at the ShaqFu Radio blog, we’ve posted a lot about the big man’s big efforts to get healthy over the past year. With 2023 quickly approaching, Shaq says it’s going to be another year of making his health a priority.
This year, Shaq has some special incentive to continue his journey toward overall health. He’s going to be starring in his very own New Year’s Eve countdown special, called The Shaq-tacular Spectacular. Interestingly, the special will not be on any TV, cable or streaming network. It’ll be streamed live across Meta Quest, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger’s Watch Together feature. The big show starts New Year’s Eve at 6:30 pm, Eastern time.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, O’Neal talked about his weight loss journey, which now totals about 40 pounds. Great work, but he says he’s still got another 20 to go. His goal is to make that happen before his birthday, coming up in March.
In the interview, Shaq talked about an interesting goal and plan, once he reaches the weight loss he wants: “Imma get real chiseled up and do an underwear ad with my sons. Shirt off. Chiseled,” he promised.
O’Neal’s interest in losing weight and getting healthy started about a year ago, when a routine medical checkup and blood-testing found some issues that needed to be addressed.
From the ET interview: “I got a couple people involved — It’s all about eating right. I got some blood work done, a friend of mine called me and said, ‘You’re fat,’ and she gave me this guy’s name, and he did some blood work, and you know, ’cause I was the athlete — I wasn’t a salad eater. I won’t pay attention to any of that. I don’t care about none of that,” O’Neal said. “I didn’t know what the difference between a carb and a protein, at 50 years old I never knew. So, he was saying you can’t do this, you can’t do that, more vegetables, my iron’s low. And once I just started changing those certain things, it dropped.”
As Shaq says, the work is paying off: “…the supplements I’m taking, and the shakes I’m drinking, the weight just fell off. I’m not at 100 percent ninja mode yet. I’m still 75 percent.”
For the rest of us mere mortals, O’Neal says it’s not hard to get started on the road to better health. In fact, a little easy road-work is a good way to start. Coach Shaq: “Start off, if you can, by walking 30 minutes a day. A lot of people can’t do that ’cause I know, you got the kids, you gotta get to work. But if you can, start off by walking 30 minutes a day,” he said. “Put your headphones on, put on your favorite song, 30 minutes a day.”
With the New Year’s Eve special, fans around the world will be able to get a look at O’Neal’s trimmed-down physique. There’s an all-star lineup of musical acts, celebrity guests, and an epic neon light performance complete with set from Shaq’s alter ego, DJ Diesel.
Look for performances from Cardi B, Ludacris, Lil Yachty, Killer Mike, WHIPPED CREAM and more, along with DJ Diesel himself. Also slated to appear as guest stars, Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek, who will join him onstage while surrounded by a roller rink, basketball court, and mainstage that’s filled with a marching band, cheerleaders, pro roller skaters, basketball players, and fans inside the party. Should be quite the show!
Click here to see the ET interview.
For those who got a new VR – virtual reality – headset for Christmas, the show will be even more amazing, since it’ll be streamed on Meta’s immersive platform live. Shaq talked on the ET interview about how much he enjoys the fun and games in the virtual universe, and he hopes to share that with fans.
In addition, the party will go on around the world, all through New Year’s Eve, no matter where you are. Shaq says it’ll be available around the world: “Don’t worry if you’re not able to watch it when the party starts, as the show will be on loop, throughout the evening, where you can join at any time.”
We might just have to get a VR headset for this one! Enjoy the show….