In February 2020, pianist Ludovic Zamor experienced a professional high when he was signed to Live Nation. Shortly after, though, the pandemic left him siting at home like millions of other Americans.
As a pianist, Zamor’s job is mostly sedentary, so he’d always tried to live a fairly active lifestyle to counteract all the sitting he does at work. But all that changed during COVID lockdown.
And when Zamor returned to work, he was dealt another tough blow when his manager and teacher both passed away. As the musician navigated the depression that followed the losses, he stopped taking care of himself, especially when he went on tour, developing poor eating and sleeping habits.
Over time, Zamor gained 100 pounds, weighing 275 at 27 years old. He had a hard time walking up and downstairs. At this point, he felt it was necessary to make a major change.
“I decided to have a full, hard reset and just take so much time away from the stage to get back into feeling (like) myself,” he told TODAY for a broadcast segment aired Dec. 3.
Over the course of a year, Zamor embarked on a health transformation and ended up losing 100 pounds.
“I barely recognize myself in (my ‘before’) photos,” he said. “I was sluggish, not confident, couldn’t keep up with anything. Now, I feel clear, sharp and that I can do anything.”
The pianist went from 275 pounds to 165 pounds, which he said “was not sustainable.” He then went up 180 pounds and currently weighs 175 pounds.
How Zamor Lost 100 Pounds
Now, the 30-year-old is reflecting on his weight-loss journey as he prepares for an exciting professional moment — his solo debut at Carnegie Hall at the end of December.
“I didn’t have the confidence to do something like this because I knew I wasn’t ready,” he said. “Getting back into shape and rebuilding my life both inside and out allowed me to get that confidence back.”
He Eliminated Food Temptation at Home
Once he decided to make a change, Zamor spent two months getting rid of the junk food in his house.
“The way I was raised, you never waste food, so (I decided to) get rid of it first, and then slowly make micro adjustments,” he explained.
He Started Using the StairMaster at the Gym
The pianist joined the Life Time gym in Syosset, New York, and set small goals, like working out on the StairMaster for one minute to start.
“When I would go on the StairMaster, my heart rate would go up to 200, and then the next day I would say, ‘OK, let me try to do one minute and 30 seconds.’ And then just eventually, just compounding higher and higher,” he said.
He Slowly Incorporated Weight Lifting Into His Routine
For the first six months, Zamor only focused on cardio to lose fat. Then, he prioritized building muscle.
“That’s how I got from 275 to 200 (pounds), and then from 200, that’s when I started incorporating traditional weight lifting, dead lifts and pull-ups. And I started off with one pull up at a time. So I would do my set of dead lifts, and then just do one pull up and then as I progressively got stronger, I would do static pull ups,” he said.
He Tried Intermittent Fasting
Zamor turned to intermittent fasting, when you eat for a period of time and then fast for a period of time, to help him curb his junk food habit.
“I was on a first name basis with the fast food delivery drivers and spending an incredible amount of money. I knew I had to develop more of a routine and stop eating out,” he recalled.
Zamor eased into intermittent fasting at first.
“I turned it into a system where I wouldn’t eat until after I worked out. … By the time I got back, it was already midday. I later learned the definition of intermittent fasting and became more intentional,” he said.
Zamor also tried a low-carb diet and prioritized protein, such as chicken strips with tomato sauce and Greek yogurt. He also ate a lot of vegetables and fruits.
“Nothing glamorous. Just simple and consistent,” he added.
Professional and Mental Health Benefits
Over time, Zamor realized that his weight loss came along with several personal and professional benefits.
“To be a concert pianist and perform at a high level, I had to be in shape. It helped my stamina with performing,” he said.
He also started to realize that his new routine was improving his mental health.
“If I don’t work out for the day, I kind of get a little down. So I have to stay active to a certain extent,” he said.
Now that he’s in the maintenance phase of his weight-loss journey, Zamor has some practical advice for anyone considering making a change for the sake of their health.
“For other people who are struggling, you’re not going to feel mentally stable or … physically fit tomorrow. It’s not going to be a sense of instant gratification. It’s a lot of work down the road, and you just have to stay consistent,” he said.