To borrow a line from his song, Ziggy Ranking was “fed up of the miserable life.”
Fans of the local reggae and soca singer, known for hits like Another One Gone, Zion Train and Gotta Get You Girl, have probably noticed his drastic weight loss over the last two years, and it’s mostly due to changing the foods he ate and cooking his own meals.
There wasn’t one dramatic moment that led to this decision, but rather a gradual build-up. For instance, he started realising that he wasn’t feeling like himself anymore. Simple things were becoming harder, his energy was low, and he knew that if he wanted to thrive and continue performing at his best, he had to take his health seriously. “I reached a point where I decided I didn’t just want to live longer—I wanted to live better,” he says.
At his heaviest, he weighed 325 pounds. Today, he’s down to 220. “That’s a total loss of 105. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how far I’ve come, but I’m proud of every single one because each pound represents a better decision,” says the 50-year-old, whose real name is Khori Francis.
His journey started simply enough: paying attention to nutrition instead of just eating whatever was convenient. “At first it wasn’t easy because you have to break habits you’ve had for years,” he admits in a chat with Guardian Media. “But once I started seeing results and feeling better, it became easier to stay consistent.”
What’s on his plate?
A typical breakfast for Ziggy, who can also “put it down” in the kitchen (search his TikTok cooking videos to see for yourself), includes plenty of lean protein, vegetables and fresh fruit. It is usually something quick but filling—eggs with vegetables or oatmeal with fruit. He also drinks plenty of water. “I’ve learned that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. I enjoy preparing dishes that are full of flavour while still being nutritious. I make sure I eat balanced portions instead of skipping or overeating. In the evenings, I try to keep things light,” he says.
“Some weeks I stick to the same thing—no meat—then other weeks I’ll eat meat. I try to keep everything natural. I hardly ever use sauce on my meals, and I try not to use salad dressing either.”
Ziggy also stays active throughout the day, whether it’s working, rehearsing or exercising.
In fact, working out has become a part of daily life. He enjoys walking, cardio and weight training because they all help in different ways. “I don’t look at it as punishment anymore,” says the Carenage native. “It’s something I do because it makes me feel good physically and mentally.”
Overcoming cravings
That’s not to say it has been all peaches and cream. He admits that he fell off course along the way, restarting in October last year. Since then, he’s managed to stay on track.
The biggest challenge was cutting back on junk food and sugary drinks, and, like most of us, he enjoyed hefty servings of Chinese food and buss-up shut. “I’ve learned moderation. Once you start feeling healthier, those cravings don’t control you anymore the way they used to.”
Maintaining a strong mindset proved to be the most important part of the entire process. “You have to decide that you’re worth the effort. There were days when I didn’t feel motivated, but I reminded myself why I started. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline is what keeps you moving forward.”
Besides the weight loss, the positive changes have been worth every step. He sleeps better, his energy levels are up, and he feels physically stronger.
Performing is easier too, as he’s no longer carrying around extra weight. “My confidence has improved—not just because of how I look, but because I proved to myself that I could stick with something challenging.”
The recipe for success
An alumnus of St James Secondary School and New York’s Queensborough Community College, he advises other men to stop delaying putting their health in order. “Don’t wait. You don’t have to change everything at once. Start with one smart choice today, then another tomorrow. Small changes become big results over time. The hardest part is getting started, but once you do, you’ll wish you had done it sooner.”
We asked Ziggy what he would tell the version of himself at the beginning of his transformation.
“Trust the process,” he replies. “Don’t get discouraged because the results won’t happen overnight. Every healthy meal, every workout and every good decision is taking you closer to the person you want to become. Just keep going because one day you’ll look back and be amazed at how far you’ve come.”
