Calvin Nowell, a Christian singer/songwriter with considerable music industry experience both on and off stage, has worked with Grammy-winning artists, including Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans, Ben Rector, and many more, providing branding, marketing, management, and vocal expertise. Outside of music, Calvin is also a seasoned marketer, speaker, and niche influencer. His journey is one of redemption, resilience, and real-life faith. One and a half years ago Calvin Nowell weighed in at 450 pounds! He has shared an inspiring story of transformation, documented in his book "Start Somewhere: Losing What's Weighing You Down from the Inside Out," and shared on podcasts like "The Walk." This article delves into Calvin's weight loss journey, exploring the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of his transformation.
The "Start Somewhere" Philosophy
How do you go about losing 215 pounds? The same way you gain it-one step at a time. Calvin Nowell's book, "Start Somewhere," encapsulates this philosophy. It's not a "quick-fix" diet book but offers a path to lasting, transformational change-starting from the inside out-to everyone who feels trapped by unhealthy behaviors or circumstances. It shares the story of his astonishing weight-loss journey, his search for a truly healthy lifestyle, and his faith that made it all possible.
Recognizing the Need for Change
“I never thought of myself as really being as big as I was. At the time, people accepted me. 'Big Cal' is what they used to call me. But the stares he got from strangers sent a different message. Calvin's turning point involved recognizing the impact his weight had on his life and potential. He realized that the weight he carried wasn’t just physical. It was emotional, racial, spiritual, and societal. With disarming honesty, he speaks of being an African American male who often felt unseen or pre-judged due to his size and skin color. He puts it this way: “When I walk into a room, you can see my struggle. But we all have a weight. We all have an appetite out of control. Mine may be visible. Yours might not be. Calvin helps us remember that the Gospel is not for the pristine, but for the heavy-laden.
The Dimes: A Divine Metaphor
One of the most profound moments in Calvin’s devotional comes through a curious and almost whimsical experience: seeing dimes. Lots of them. Scattered across parking lots, sidewalks, and other unexpected places. To the untrained eye, spare change might seem insignificant, but for Calvin, it became a divine metaphor. That word became a call to action.
Practical Steps to Weight Loss
Calvin launched into a transformative journey of losing over 200 pounds in one year-not just to improve his health, but to walk in freedom. Through prayer and perseverance, Calvin completely changed his lifestyle. He began making healthy food choices and keeping a food journal. “One week I wouldn’t eat fried foods,” he shares. “The next week I would go to chicken and fish. “Normally I tend to shop all around the perimeter. When it comes to consuming veggies, Calvin says, “I love vegetables now. It’s more like an acquired taste.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Diet and Nutrition
Calvin's approach to food involved mindful changes. He focused on making healthy food choices. He started by eliminating fried foods one week and then transitioning to chicken and fish the following week. He also emphasized shopping around the perimeter of the grocery store, indicating a focus on fresh, whole foods.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Calvin hired a personal trainer for motivation and accountability. He says, “When I started with the trainer, [all I could do] was walk 10 minutes every other day. That’s all I did -- just walking. He still works hard to keep the weight off. He gradually increased his physical activity, starting with just 10 minutes of walking every other day. This highlights the importance of starting small and gradually building up to more intense workouts.
The Role of Professional Guidance
Calvin's decision to hire a personal trainer underscores the value of seeking professional guidance. The trainer provided motivation and accountability. It emphasizes the importance of having support and expertise when embarking on a significant lifestyle change.
Addressing Emotional and Spiritual Weights
As Calvin vulnerably shares, the weight he carried wasn’t just physical. It was emotional, racial, spiritual, and societal. Another vital thread in Calvin’s narrative is his embrace of therapy and emotional healing. “You can’t connect the dots until you collect the dots,” he says, a phrase he learned in therapy that now serves as both insight and invitation. Listeners will walk away with permission to do the same. And potential? Calvin defines it as “being capable of, but not yet in existence.” His encouragement is clear: Don’t let your weight block your potential.
The Importance of Therapy
Calvin's embrace of therapy and emotional healing is a crucial part of his story. He emphasizes that you can’t connect the dots until you collect the dots,” a phrase he learned in therapy that now serves as both insight and invitation. This encourages listeners to seek emotional healing and address underlying issues that may contribute to unhealthy behaviors.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Overcoming Societal Barriers
Calvin's story also touches on the societal pressures and prejudices he faced as an African American male. He speaks of feeling unseen or pre-judged due to his size and skin color. His journey highlights the importance of recognizing and overcoming these barriers to achieve personal transformation.
Maintaining the Transformation
“It’s hard for me to get in the gym,” he confesses. “I’ve always said [that] I made it a lifestyle. It’s just something that I have to do. I don’t necessarily like working out. Even after achieving significant weight loss, Calvin acknowledges the ongoing effort required to maintain his new lifestyle. He emphasizes that it's not always easy or enjoyable, but it's something he has to do.
The Power of Surrender and Vulnerability
“There’s power in surrendering, in yielding, in being vulnerable,” he explains. “Saying, ‘I like food. Calvin's emphasizes the importance of surrendering, yielding, and being vulnerable. Acknowledging his love for food was a crucial step in changing his relationship with it.
Faith as a Foundation
Today Calvin’s dream has come true. He’s just released his new CD Start Somewhere. “He wants me to win. He wants me to have victory. I believe that God is who He says He is. You can have what He says you can have. You can take Him at His Word, and He will not fail you. Calvin's faith played a significant role in his transformation. He believes that God wants him to win and have victory. He encourages others to take God at His Word and trust that He will not fail them.
A Message for Worship Leaders
This episode carries special weight for those called to lead in worship. Calvin speaks with the authority of someone who has led rooms filled with people but knows the ache of loneliness and inner turmoil. For worship leaders, this is a pastoral principle we must not forget. Worship is not performance-it is journey. We are not called to be perfect, but present. Calvin closes the episode with a heartfelt prayer that feels like a benediction over a weary church. He prays for help, for accountability, for community.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation