What is this world coming to when 7′ feet, 1″ basketball great Shaquille O’Neal is on a diet? I mean, isn’t this guy the Michael Phelps of the basketball court?
With the 2009 season at a close for Shaq’s Phoenix Suns, this 325-pound athlete is determined to maintain his weight or maybe even better, lose a few pounds during the off season with the help of registered dietitian Joy Bauer. Criticized for having his bulk slow him down on the court, Shaq is ready to start preparing for the pre-season in his off-season.

This Thursday, April 9 on The View, learn how to diet on a budget with expert dietitian Joy Bauer. As a contributor to Self magazine and author of Joy’s LIFE Diet, Bauer will share her secrets with the ladies of The View on how to trim down for spring and not spend gobs of money on expensive diet food or fitness equipment. With the economy and approaching bikini-season on the forefront of everyone’s minds, we could all use a little savvy know-how from the experts to help us keep our spending and weight down.

Need some inspiration to drop some weight? Look no further than Angela Patton, a 35-year-old woman from Indianapolis who lost 156 pounds through the traditional and trusted way of diet and exercise. Celebrated by registered dietitian Joy Bauer, her Joy Fit Club and Self magazine’s weight loss challenge, Angela once topped the scales at more than 300 pounds; but after being diagnosed with being pre-diabetic, she went straight to a nutritionist who helped her carve out a healthy eating plan.
