How To Stay Disciplined in Fitness

Fitness and overall health are important parts of my life. I grew up playing sports, so staying active is a natural part of my routine. But the older I have gotten, the more I have learned to appreciate the opportunity to move my body and take care of it.

As a Christian, I believe we are called to be good stewards of everything God has given us—including our bodies. The Lord has given us one life and one body. It’s up to us to honor Him by doing the best we can with what He has given us.

When it comes to working out, I've built my discipline around four key foundations. These simple mindset shifts help me to stay focused and disciplined, even when motivation is slim to none. Let's get into how I practically stay disciplined and have learned to love moving my body.

1. Being Challenged and Growing in Discipline

   
   

When I first began working out it felt like a chore—something I had to get done, not something I wanted to do. After several years of disciplined workouts, it has simply become a habit.

I am a firm believer that you will make time for the things you care about in this life, no matter how busy you are. I have made it a point to stay in the gym even in the busiest seasons. Staying consistent when it’s hard makes the slower and restful seasons even more rewarding.

A verse has struck me is Proverbs 5:23 as it reads,

"Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.”

Such a heavy reminder of the importance of discipline. The discipline the Bible speaks of isn’t limited to the physical, but it can certainly be applied in a way that encourages us to care for our bodies.

On a more encouraging note, a verse that also inspires me is Colossians 3:23,

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”

This short verse serves as a great reminder of why we doing anything in this life—for the glory of the Lord

2. Seeing Change: Physically and Mentally

   
   

Let's be honest, for most of us, the initial motivation to work out comes from the physical changes it brings. Seeing muscles tone up or fat shed off can be a big motivator for the gym. This is definitely a motivation for me.

However, recently I have been trying to focus on the mental changes that come through working out. Working out has become a form of therapy for me. It boosts my mood, sharpens my focus, and helps me manage stress more effectively. The endorphins released during exercise can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and provide mental clarity.

3. Finding Joy in Movement

   
   

Here's the secret to staying consistent in fitness: you have to enjoy it. Start by finding a type of exercise that excites you (It helps if this activity will contribute to the goal above of seeing change). Whether it is weightlifting, running, walking, etc., find something that you actually like doing.

Second, you need to stay disciplined in that activity until it becomes a habit. Starting anything new is challenging at first. Think of your first day at a new school or job—it likely wasn’t smooth sailing, but after a couple of weeks or months you forget how hard it was when you first started. Stay consistent and honor the commitments you’ve made to yourself. Watch as what was once a hassle becomes a joy to you each day.

4. Depending on God’s Strength

   
   

Staying disciplined isn’t easy. However, depending on God’s strength will keep us grounded. Proverbs 31:17 says,

"She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.”

The Proverbs 31 woman works diligently. This can be in physical strength as well as being a productive and hard working woman. So how do we practically depend on God’s strength? 

1. First, we must humble ourselves

   
   

Depending on God for our needs means letting go of the “I can do it all on my own” mindset. While it is tempting to think in such a way in the culture we live in, it is simply not true. We should depend on God in every area of life—including our fitness journey. To remain humble, we must daily acknowledge our limitations and our desperate need for the Lord’s help. 

2. Second, we must place our hope in Him.

   
   

Placing our hope in Christ means putting him at the top of our priority list. When God is our hope, he is our source of strength and motivation. In a physical sense, we can go to him in prayer when our motivation to work hard is limited. 

3. Lastly, we must ask for his help.

   
   

By God’s mercy, we have access to his throne of grace through prayer. He desires to hear from us in prayer. There is no prayer too small or insignificant for him. Our heavenly Father listens to each of our prayers and cares for us. Asking for his help to stay disciplined in physical strength is not too small for him. In fact, it shows just how deep our dependence on him really is. It will only draw us closer to him the more we call on him in prayer. 

Ultimately, staying disciplined in fitness is not just about building a strong body, it’s about creating a heart and mind that honors God through intentional living. Taking care of our bodies and fitness is a privilege that we should not take for granted. Whether it’s in the gym or in daily life, discipline becomes much more sustainable when it is rooted in a higher purpose. I pray this can be an encouragement and motivation to continue in your fitness journey not to meet earthly standards, but to glorify the One who puts breath in our lungs.