The Goal After the Goal

One of the interesting things about goals is that we often treat them like finish lines.

We pick a number, a date, or an event and tell ourselves, “Once I get there, that’s the goal.” But most successful journeys don’t run on one goal alone. They run on layers of goals.

There’s the big goal—the one in the distance guiding everything. And then there are the smaller goals along the way, the ones that keep us motivated when the finish line still feels far off.

For me, the big goal has always been clear: To reach maintenance and have the scale reflect 175 pounds.

That’s the destination. The long-term vision. The place all of this work is leading.

But a goal like that can feel far away if it’s the only thing you’re looking at.

That’s why short-term goals matter.

For a while, one of mine was the cruise. I wanted to be down 70 pounds before I left. It gave me something concrete to work toward and helped sharpen my focus. It also became about more than the number when I realized my progress opened the door for things like swimming with dolphins and feeling more confident while traveling.

Then the cruise came and went. And with it, that goal served its purpose.

That’s the thing about short-term goals. They’re meant to motivate you for a season, not forever.

So now it’s time for the next one.

Interestingly enough, it circles back to a familiar number: 70 pounds down.

Part of that matters because it was the total loss I reached before, years ago, when I sadly fell out of Program. There’s something meaningful about getting back there—not to relive the past, but to prove this time is different.

The other reason is practical. I’ve had my eye on a folding treadmill for my desk at work.

The idea of walking while handling computer tasks sounds infinitely better than using the stepping machine I strongly dislike.

Truly dislike.

The treadmill’s weight limit is only 12 pounds below where I am now.

And after this week’s weigh-in—where I was down another two pounds—that new goal feels even more real.

So, there it is: a new short-term goal.

Not the final goal.

Not maintenance.

Not the finish line.

But something close enough to feel real, just slightly out of reach, and perfectly placed to keep me moving forward.

Because sometimes the best goals aren’t miles away.

Sometimes they’re the ones right in front of you—close enough to motivate you, far enough away that you still have to earn them.

No dramatic deadline.

No countdown clock.

No vacation date looming in the distance.

Just something practical, motivating, and worth working toward.

And maybe that’s the lesson this week; not all goals need fireworks.

Some goals are exciting milestones. Others are about making everyday life better—moving more, enjoying exercise a little more, and creating habits that fit naturally into your day.

Both kinds matter.

In fact, the smaller goals often matter most because they carry us toward the bigger one.

So, while the cruise is in the rearview mirror, the journey is not. Now the focus shifts.

From one milestone to the next.

From short-term motivation to long-term vision.

From chasing moments… to building a lifestyle.

And maybe that’s what progress really is. Not reaching one goal and being done.

But continuing to create new ones, keep moving forward, and trusting that each small step is leading somewhere bigger.

This week’s loss: 2 pounds

Total loss so far: 58 pounds