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When I consider self-discipline and determination I think of Paul’s words to the Corinthian church, “Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (I Corinthians 9:25-27 CSB). Of course, the Apostle Paul did not have weight loss or healthy living in mind when he penned these words.  He focused on living a disciplined life in ministry to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But we can use his words and make applications to our weight loss and healthy living journey.  The athletes competed to obtain a perishable crown consisting of either a fading garland of Isthmian pine, Nemean parsley, Pythian olive or Olympian bay.  We can compete in the weight-loss games to achieve a crown of feeling good about ourselves and knowing that we have more energy and vitality to serve the Lord.

Paul fixed his eye on a definite goal.  You too can set a fixed goal on what you want to accomplish at the end of your weight loss journey; either a healthier body, more energy, getting off medication, or anything else that comes to mind.  Make all your actions and choices come in line with that goal.  Do not box like one beating the air, but strike forthright blows at your obesity, not feints, or blows at random. Paul did not discipline his body as an absurd and harmful self-torture, but by noble labor and self-denial for the good of others.  You can do the same.  You can choose self-discipline and determination to live longer and healthier for the good of others that you love and care for.

So, how does one practice self-discipline and determination? I’m so glad you asked.  I have put together ten simple things that you can do to succeed in your weight loss and healthier living goal.

Preparation. Spend time preparing for self-discipline and determination.  Prepare your mind by telling yourself consistently and forthrightly that you can lose weight and you will lose weight.  Prepare your home by purging it of all the unhealthy food. Prepare your tastebuds by choosing healthy food you enjoy, and healthy food you will try.  Prepare your body by joining a gym or purchasing the necessary equipment for both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.  Also, prepare your body by making a commitment to drink more water.

Earnestness. Decide that you will practice earnestness in your weight loss journey and goal of living healthily.  Do not let anything or anyone stand in your way but decide in your heart that this will happen.

Striving. Decide that you will strive to make this happen. The Isthmian games serve as a backdrop for Paul’s words in I Corinthians 9:25-27.  They made up one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece honoring the sea god Poseidon at the Isthmus of Corinth, the year before and the year after the Olympic Games. Quintus Horatius Flaccas aka Horace (65 bc-8 bc) a leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus wrote about the athletes who competed that they had to be pure, sober, and enduring (Ars Poetica p. 412 translated into English by Ben Johnson and later by Lord Byron).  Epictetus (50 ad-135 ad) a Greek Stoic philosopher said of them they had to obey orders, eat sparely and simply, and to bear effort and fatigue for ten months before the contest (Enchiridion of Epictetus “Handbook of Epictetus” p. 35 compiled by Arrian a 2^nd century disciple of Epictetus).  Follow the example of the athletes preparing for the Isthmian Games by living a pure life, soberly striving, and enduring to the end.  Obey the orders that your mind gives you on how to have a heathy body, eat sparingly and simply, and determine to bear the effort to lose weight and keep it off.

Patience. Decide that you will practice patience.  Losing weight does not happen overnight.  Tammy and I have discovered that we can gain weight very quickly and easily.  However, it takes time and effort to lose weight.  We have both committed ourselves to this lifestyle.  When we started, the weight did not come off as soon as we had hoped, but we had patience and it did eventually disappear.  We clung to the scriptural promise, “And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15 CSB).  Math never changes.  If you consume less calories than you burn, you will lose weight.  You can achieve healthy weight loss by losing between ½ pound and 2 pounds a week, so it takes a while.

Watchfulness. Decide to stay watchful in all things.  Watch the food that you eat and record it. Watch how your body moves and think of ways to increase your movement. Watch the places you go out to eat and do not put yourself in a tempting situation surrounded by decadent unhealthy food. Watch your friends and neighbors and their responses to your weight loss journey.  Have those around you often who support you and encourage you.  Try to limit your time around those that do not understand your efforts or try to sabotage your efforts.

Resolution. Make a resolution that you will lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  But not like a New Year’s resolution which you make on December 31^st and break it by January 2^nd.  Resolve in your heart, mind, and body that you can do this, and you will do this.

Concentration. Concentrate on what you do as you lose weight.  Do not take anything for granted or approach it with a lax attitude.  Concentrate on the amount of food you eat and the kinds of food you eat.  Concentrate when you go to the grocery store.  Make a shopping list with only healthy food on it and stick to that.  Concentrate on when and how you will exercise.  Make it a top priority and make it happen.

Continuity. Learn how to carry over what you do when losing weight to a perpetual healthy lifestyle.  Most people cannot sustain diets for very long.  Either their body will miss something that they do not get while on the diet resulting in health complications, or they will simply get tired of what they must eat.  That’s why we encourage you to choose food that you can eat for the rest of your life; healthy food that you enjoy.  Stay with the program you have designed for yourself that works for you.  I lost my weight in 2013 and have never gained it back by practicing continuity.  That’s because I only eat foods I enjoy, and only participate in exercises I enjoy.

Mortification of the flesh. Decide that the greater goal of gaining a healthy weight and living a healthier lifestyle will supersede all your desires to eat junk food and live a sedentary life.  Yes, junk food tastes delicious and you will want to eat it immediately and often.  But to practice self-discipline you can decide that you will mortify that temptation. Yes, you can live very comfortably as a couch-potato.  But to practice self-discipline you can decide that the physical condition of your body carries more importance than the comfort of your couch.

Confidence, but not excess confidence.  You got this, as Tammy so often says.  Have confidence in yourself that you can succeed, and you will succeed.  But not too much confidence.  That can lead to arrogancy and people not wanting to be around you.

With these simple self-discipline techniques, Tammy and I know that you will without a doubt succeed in your goal of losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle.  Hang in there when tough times come and determine that your toughness will see you through.