Have you ever committed to changing your exercise, nutrition, stress, or sleep habits — but despite your best intentions, you couldn’t stick with your new goals because you tried to accomplish more than was humanly possible? 

So you felt like a failure and promised to try again next Monday?

My client and I recently discussed the overwhelm of starting a new health regimen, and I reminded her of an acronym that reframes our goals: BAM, which stands for Bare-Ass Minimum.

BAM isn’t just a concept — it’s a commitment to your personal baseline, the thing you are absolutely sure you can do, no matter what.

I write about it in my book.

Most people start from 100 and work backward. 

They build a “perfect” plan: the perfect body, the perfect workout routine, the perfect diet. 

And when they fall short of that perfection, they feel like they’ve failed.

The all-or-nothing approach is a sneaky, self-sabotaging mindset. 

It leaves you subtracting from an impossible ideal: I didn’t do this, and I didn’t do that, and here’s all the ways I sucked.

Instead, start from 0 and work your way up.

Every step you take is a win.

👉 BAM celebrates direction over perfection, helping you see progress in every action.

👉 It keeps you optimistic, consistent, and hopeful — critical ingredients for behaviour change that lasts.

What else is about embracing the process, experimenting, having fun, and being open to new experiences? 

PLAY!!

Health isn’t about the destination, but the journey, and the playful joy you can find along the way.

Play on!

Your coach and friend,

Jan xo 

P.S. Whenever you are ready, here are 3 ways I can help you start with play:

1. Get 150 Ways To Move More – a free download with endless possibilities of adding play to your day, plus other great personal assessments from The Play Book:  How To Get In The Habit Of Good Health.

2. Interested in having me speak at your event? Let’s chat! Grab a time to connect HERE.

3. 📩 Apply for a 1:1 Coaching Spot Today. Let’s create a personalized, sustainable plan designed just for you…BAM included:)  Click HERE to take the first step toward your best self.