Hilary had always been active. She played collegiate volleyball, lifted weights, ran, and did plenty of traditional ab exercises. But despite being in great physical shape, she struggled with recurring back pain and SI joint instability. Looking back, she realized she had become very good at using her strongest muscles to compensate—without ever really learning how to connect to and use her core for stability.

After having children and developing diastasis recti, Hilary tried multiple core programs before finding The Tummy Team. What made the difference wasn’t simply a new collection of exercises. It was learning how to connect to the right muscles and then integrate that connection into everyday life—while cooking, unloading the dishwasher, caring for children, working, lifting, sitting, and moving.

Years later, that approach has become part of how Hilary lives, parents, exercises, and even cares for her own patients.

Kelly and Hilary also talk about why sustainable change often starts much smaller than we think. A one-minute “fitness minute,” stretching while brushing your teeth, doing squats while helping a child practice piano, or taking a few moments to reset between patients may not look like a traditional workout—but those small choices can build consistency.

As Hilary puts it, consistency wins.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why being physically fit doesn’t always mean you have a functional core
• How compensation can contribute to recurring pain even when you’re doing “core exercises”
• The two pieces Kelly calls the “secret sauce”: connection + integration
• Why one workout can’t compensate for the way you use your body throughout the rest of your day
• How Hilary incorporated The Tummy Team through seven children, including a twin pregnancy
• Why tiny habits can be more sustainable than committing to another big workout
• How to “habit stack” movement onto things you already do every day
• Why awareness of posture, alignment, breathing, and everyday movement can be so valuable
• How Hilary uses what she has learned through The Tummy Team with her own patients
• Why the best exercise may simply be the exercise you’ll actually do

This conversation is a great reminder that building a stronger body doesn’t have to mean adding another overwhelming task to your schedule.

Sometimes the most powerful changes happen when you learn to use the body you already have, in the life you’re already living—one small, consistent choice at a time.