I’m a big believer in setting goals, both long-term and short-term.

In fact, I encourage my clients to set goals mini-goals for their weight loss journey, because breaking a 150-pound weight loss down into 10 or 20 pound increments is a lot less daunting.

So why would I ever say goals have a downside?

Because last week I was reading a post from a client stating she wanted to lose weight for her daughter’s wedding.

And I thought…what then? What’s her plan for after her daughter’s wedding?

Will she keep going, or once that “big event” she’s losing weight for has come and gone, will she go back to the food and habits that caused her obesity and health problems in the first place?

Look, I’m not condemning using events or special occasions as motivation to lose weight.

What I don’t like to see is one event being the ONLY motivation to lose weight.

I’m sure you know exactly what I mean. How many times have you wanted to slim down for a special occasion, and then after it was over, you gained back your weight (plus more)?

Successfully getting AND keeping your weight off once and for all has to be about more than one wedding, one bikini season, one class reunion.

Dig deep and find those raw, personal reasons that are gonna stay with you long after that event’s come and gone.

Are you just sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?

Do you want to be able to step out in public without wondering whether every person you encounter is thinking about how fat you are?

Are you tired of feeling like a prisoner in your own body?

Are you scared that all the health problems you’re experiencing are going to kill you in the very near future, depriving you not only of life, but of time with the people you love?

I know these reasons (all of which are examples from actual clients of mine) are pretty intense and uncomfortable…maybe even scary.

And that’s the whole point. Raw reasons like these are what’s gonna keep you committed to your goal well beyond some one-time event where you want to fit into a nice dress.

I’m being straight with you because I don’t want you going around the weight loss mountain for the rest of your life. You deserve better.