Mike Weaver, the lead singer and guitarist for the Christian rock band Big Daddy Weave, has shared a powerful and inspiring journey with the world. His story encompasses not only a significant weight loss achievement but also a profound exploration of grief, healing, and spiritual growth. This article delves into the various facets of Weaver's transformation, offering insights and actionable steps for those seeking to improve their own well-being.
The "90 in '09 Challenge"
In 2009, Mike Weaver launched the "90 in '09 Challenge," publicly declaring his goal to lose 90 pounds. He invited others to join him in this endeavor, creating a website, www.90in09.com, where participants could track their progress, share their stories, and access resources for healthy living.
Weaver, who started at 363 pounds, expressed his motivation in a news release: "Our bodies are temples that God created. I want to restore and take better care of what He has provided, as well as create a place to motivate and teach others to do the same. With ‘90 in ’09,’ we’ll all be held more accountable because we won’t be able to hide the scales.” The website provided access to healthy food recipes and exercise techniques, along with a support team.
Mike Weaver's Inspiring Weight Loss Journey
Mike Weaver's journey wasn't a quick fix; it was a carefully planned and sustained effort. In just one year, Mike Weaver shed 84 of the 90 pounds he’d set out to lose in 2009. His transformation highlights the power of a holistic approach, combining diet, exercise, and a strong support system. This wasn't just about changing his physical appearance; it was about changing his life. His journey provides a powerful model for lasting weight loss.
Mike tells The 700 Club, “I'm blown away and I'm so thankful too, because not only for the 84 pounds, but just for how different my life is physically."
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A Holistic Approach: More Than Just Diet and Exercise
Mike's success stemmed from a holistic approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being. It wasn't just about restricting calories or hitting the gym; it was about mindful eating, enjoyable exercise, and a strong support network. His transformation demonstrates the importance of addressing all aspects of health for sustainable weight loss. Many find that a balanced approach yields far better results than focusing on just one element.
Nutrition: Fueling the Body, Not Depriving It
Mike’s dietary changes weren't about deprivation. He focused on nourishing his body with wholesome foods, emphasizing portion control and mindful eating. He didn't follow restrictive fad diets; instead, he made sustainable changes to his eating habits. This approach, prioritizing nutrition over restriction, is key to long-term success. Proper nutrition isn't about deprivation; it's about fueling your body for optimal health and energy.
Exercise: Finding Joy in Movement
Mike's exercise routine wasn't about grueling workouts. He prioritized activities he enjoyed, making fitness a sustainable part of his life rather than a chore. This focus on enjoyment is crucial for long-term adherence. Finding activities you genuinely enjoy increases your likelihood of sticking with an exercise plan. Incorporating passions into a fitness routine can make exercise feel less like a task and more like a celebration of your body. “Getting into the gym was such a foreign idea to me, but now this is part of my life,” Mike says. “I go to the gym everyday pretty much. When I’m at home, it’s cardio every morning, and then three days a week, we're meeting with a strength trainer. [I’m] eating so much differently. My life is a completely brand new place in so many ways, and I thank God for that.”
The Power of Support: The Weaver Family and Beyond
Mike's wife, Kandice, played a crucial role in his success. Her unwavering support helped him stay motivated and overcome challenges. This underscores the importance of having a strong support system during a weight loss journey. A supportive environment significantly increases chances of success. Kandice says, “Watching Mike over the last year has been amazing. There have been times where it's been extremely hard for him and other times where we have rejoiced in the little things that have happened on a daily basis. I really felt like my role in the last year was to do everything I could at home so that he could focus on his work and his journey with this weight loss and praying for him constantly that he would not be discouraged and not believe the lies Satan tells him that he can't do it. He can do it. He's proven that he has. I'm so proud of him for coming so far and working so hard and sticking to it. It's not easy to lose as much as he has.”
Challenges and Triumphs: The Path to Lasting Change
Mike's journey wasn't without obstacles. He faced moments of doubt and setbacks, but his perseverance and positive attitude proved essential. This resilience highlights the importance of viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Setbacks are a normal part of any transformative journey. It's how you respond to them that defines success.
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CBN.com Nashville, TN Mike Weaver, lead singer for Big Daddy Weave, set out to lose “90 pounds in 2009.” It’s been six months, and he’s down 45 pounds. “I’m ready to move,” he declares. “I’m ready to get into stuff and have a great time. We’re playing ball in the backyard and playing music together. We’re doing all kinds of fun stuff. It’s unbelievable how much more energy I have. I have focus now that I didn’t have before -- especially on stage when we get to sing and share.” Since we were with him last, Mike spent the majority of his time on the road. Touring is a new obstacle! “It’s really about just making good choices. I would have to bring things with me that I knew I could eat,” he explains. “We’d put it in the refrigerator on the bus and make smoothies. I bring strength bands to work out with in the hotel rooms. We’d be doing that faithfully. Even though I see the benefits of what is happening in my life, still there is this struggle of wanting whatever I want right at this moment.” Mike has been faithful to his eating and exercising routines, but he’s hit a plateau. The scale’s not budging. He says, “About a month ago, I hit this wall where I haven’t lost any weight. That has been freaking me out. You’re like, ‘What is going on here, Lord? We set out to do this for the kingdom.’ Then it dawned on me that this is just a real part of the process. This is the reality of the middle, and everybody has to go through the middle. Even though, we’ve hit this plateau, I know we’re going to get through it. I’m excited to see what’s on the other side of that and how this is going to play out.”
Dr. Asa Andrew says physically, Mike is doing well, and if he keeps it up, he’ll reach his goal. “His blood pressure has dropped considerably down into the normal range,” Dr. Andrew says. “He is processing his food better. His digestion is better. His pancreas is working better, meaning he is handling his blood sugar better. [When it comes to] his exercise routine, he was huffing and puffing at 30 minutes, and now he can go 45 minutes like it's nothing. That’s because he’s lost the weight, and his body is functioning better. He’s seeing some tremendous results.”
Dr. Andrew is most amazed at Mike’s spiritual growth. He explains, “I was just talking to him a little while ago, and he said, “’Man, the one thing I’ve noticed is I’m different on the inside.’ He wasn’t talking about his cells, his heart pumping better and his liver working better. Spiritually on the inside, all the food addictions, all these different issues that he had that food was trying to cover up, they’re broken and they’re gone.” Mike notes, “When we give the control over to the Lord, then it’s a different ballgame. You’re not relying on your strength anymore. Jesus doesn’t have an eating disorder. Jesus doesn’t struggle with wanting to eat trans fats or bad carbohydrates. He’s got victory over that, and that victory is ours when we embrace Him!”
Actionable Steps: Your Journey to a Healthier You
Inspired by Mike's transformation? Here's how you can embark on your own journey to a healthier lifestyle:
- Consult a Healthcare Professional: Begin by consulting a doctor or registered dietitian to create a personalized plan tailored to your individual needs and health concerns. This ensures safety and maximizes effectiveness.
- Build Your Support Network: Enlist the support of friends, family, or a support group. Accountability and encouragement are vital components of lasting weight loss.
- Set Realistic, Achievable Goals: Focus on small, achievable milestones rather than overwhelming yourself with ambitious targets. Celebrate every success to maintain motivation.
- Embrace a Holistic Approach: Prioritize all aspects of well-being-physical, mental, and emotional. This includes healthy eating, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress management.
- Find Joy in Movement: Choose activities you genuinely enjoy, making exercise a sustainable part of your life.
The Deeper Meaning: Redemption and Self-Acceptance
Weaver said he’s had a lifelong battle with his weight, and after the birth of his third child in 2009 he came up with “a Biggest Loser-esque idea” to lose 90 pounds. Weaver took his personal challenge public, going on Christian talk shows and garnering an army of supporters via social media. As he shed pounds, though, Weaver said “it stopped being what it was originally about and became about not letting people down. I also learned that it mattered to me what people thought of me. That’s how I gauged my self-permission, how I felt about myself.”
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Although Weaver came up short of his goal by mere pounds, “I was destroyed on the inside and felt like a failure. That’s when I came to the realization that I don’t like me, that I’m not OK with me.” A seminal moment came not long afterward, Weaver recalled, when he was sitting on the floor of his garage/workout space “telling God everything I hated about myself. Then it was like God met me, sat me down and said, ‘Let me tell you some of the things I like about you.’ I was a heap of brokenness. What God told me was, ‘I made you and I love you. It has nothing to do with the ability to get it right. It’s based on what I’ve already done for you, the blood of Jesus Christ shed for your life. You’re mine because of what I’ve done for you.’ I came from a place of being a self-hater. But our identities aren’t tied up in our mistakes. There’s redemption for every living, breathing human.”
Grief and Finding Hope: The Story Behind "Let It Begin"
Grief is a journey no one wants to take, yet at some point in life, we all walk its painful path. For Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave, grief is a deep and personal reality, especially after the loss of his brother and longtime ministry partner, Jay Weaver. Yet, in the midst of that sorrow, God is continually found faithful. Through the song “Let It Begin,” Mike has found not just healing, but a message of hope to share with the world.
The Weight of Loss
In a recent episode of the Marvel at Jesus podcast, Mike Weaver openly shares about the pain of losing his brother, expressing how difficult it has been to continue without him. “We had been through a terrible time of loss in my family and were writing songs from this place of grief,” Mike recalls. The weight of that sorrow was heavy, but he notices something shift one night while sharing his story on stage. “One night though, I planned for that time [to grieve] and I didn’t need it. And I was like, whoa, something’s different. It still hurts. I’m still hurting, but the truth is it feels like it’s the beginning of something.” This realization is the spark that led to “Let It Begin.” Following that moment on stage, Mike wants to write a song called “Let Healing Begin.” However, before he could, God had already provided it through a surprising source.
The Source of "Let It Begin"
The song “Let It Begin” wasn’t originally written by Mike, but rather by Matt Maher during the pandemic. Mike shares, “[Matt] sent me this song, and I assumed he had heard the talks we’d given about what we were writing.” But he hadn’t. Matt had simply said, “I keep thinking about you when I hear this song.” Mike continues, “It was a God thing, man. It just said everything I was feeling.”
Biblical Truths on Healing
The message of “Let It Begin” is reflected throughout Scripture. One of the most comforting promises comes from Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Mike’s testimony is proof of this truth-God doesn’t leave us in our pain; He walks with us through it. Another verse that encapsulates the heart of this song is Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Just as Mike realized that something new was beginning in his grief, we can trust that God is working in our pain to bring about something beautiful.
Mike Weaver’s Legacy: Inspiration and Hope
Mike Weaver's inspiring transformation is a testament to the power of dedication, perseverance, and a holistic approach to well-being. His journey serves as a powerful reminder that significant, lasting change is possible with the right mindset and support.
For this leg of the tour, Big Daddy Weave is joined by Mikeschair and Citizen Way, whose band members met at Judson College in Elgin. Citizen Way’s single “Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us)” was at No. 25 on the Billboard Christian music chart last week. Big Daddy Weave won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association in 2010 for Christmas album of the year (“Christ is Come”).
Mike is enjoying being able to keep up with his boys. “It was cool, because that was the first time I reached into my closet and found that something fit,” says Mike. “Everything is too big now, and that's great! The truth is I feel so much better. It’s easier to move. I feel alive man. That is motivation to keep going.”
So what does lie ahead? “I'm excited about the future, because even though we've made lots of changes, it really just makes me hungry for even more of a change to embrace what it is that God has for next year,” Mike says.
It’s that brokenness that Weaver, a former worship leader in Pensecola, Fla., said he and band members have been attuned to more closely on this tour. “Every night, we stop the show after we’ve played ‘Redeemed,’ come off the stage and pray with folks,” Weaver said. “There are people walking around whose lives are damaged, who share with us very personal things that have happened to them. But there is redemption for everything destroyed.
“For us, it’s never been about making a cent,” said frontman Mike Weaver, who formed the band at the University of Mobile. “Every band member has to ask, ‘Is this what God called me to in this life?’ It’s God who has given us this longevity.”
"Redeemed": A Song Born from Brokenness
Weaver said the label wanted something catchier as a follow-up to “Love Come to Life,” which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Christian song charts. But audience reaction to, and the gripping backstory of “Redeemed,” which Weaver co-wrote with Benji Cowart, gave the label pause and late last year the song enjoyed a four-week run at No. 1 (it was at No. 4 last week).