The Tummy Team Journey

Amanda remembers what it felt like to be strong.

She grew up as an athlete, ran cross country and track, and was always ready to be active. But after two pregnancies, abdominal separation, disconnected core muscles, and years of unpredictable aches and pains, that confidence slowly disappeared.

Eventually, Amanda realized she had spent nearly a decade being afraid to run and protecting her body from activities that might leave her hurting the next day.

Now, with two active boys entering the same stage of life when Amanda used to run with her own dad, she's ready for something different.

In this Real Life Rehab episode, Kelly invites us into the beginning of Amanda's rehab journey. After their first eSession together, they talk honestly about what's working, what's getting in the way, and what it really looks like to rebuild functional core strength in the middle of a busy life.

Amanda shares her struggles with perfectionism and the temptation to push through workouts, while Kelly explains why slowing down now can ultimately help her do more later. They work through practical strategies for reconnecting with the transverse abdominis, using breath during strength training, improving sitting posture, releasing tension around the pelvis, and learning to recognize the difference between healthy core engagement and bracing.

Most importantly, they're working toward something Amanda deeply misses: trusting her body enough to say yes again.

In this episode:

• How pregnancy and diastasis can affect your sense of connection to your body

• Why fear of pain can slowly make your world smaller

• The emotional side of missing the strong body you remember

• How perfectionism and an "all or nothing" mindset can interfere with rehab

• Why your core needs to keep pace as the rest of your body gets stronger

• How to use breathing and transverse activation during strength training

• The difference between functional core engagement and bracing

• Simple ways to reconnect with abdominal muscles throughout the day

• Why neutral pelvis stretches can help release accumulated tension

• How "pit stops" can help you stay active without continually pushing past your body's limits

• Practical ways to make rehab habits fit into real life

Amanda isn't at the end of her story yet—and that's exactly why we're sharing it.

This is Real Life Rehab: not a dramatic before-and-after, but an honest look at what happens in the middle. We'll follow Amanda as she learns to listen to her body, rebuild her foundation, and work toward the strength and confidence to say, "Yes, let's do it."

For 12 years, Summer lived with chronic back pain and sciatica. She tried physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, steroid injections, and countless other treatments, but nothing provided lasting relief.

Then she discovered something unexpected.

Instead of another exercise program, she learned how her body was designed to function.

In this episode, Kelly sits down with Tummy Team client Summer to talk about how understanding functional core anatomy transformed not only her chronic pain but also her confidence entering pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.

Together they discuss:

• Why chronic pain often has a missing piece
• The power of understanding the "why" behind rehab
• How breathing and alignment changed everything
• Preparing for pregnancy with a functional core
• Practical ways to build healing into everyday life
• Why listening to your body is one of the most important skills you can learn

Summer's story is an encouraging reminder that healing isn't about pushing through pain—it's about understanding what your body has been asking for all along. 

From the Archives: We're revisiting one of Kelly's all-time favorite episodes from Season 1.

Jim is a Marine Corps veteran, lifelong athlete, former personal trainer, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who thought he knew everything about fitness—until he discovered an "alien-like" bulge during a workout that led him to a diagnosis of diastasis recti.

After years of pushing harder in the gym, battling recurring injuries, and trying to get rid of what he thought was a stubborn "beer belly," Jim found a completely different approach through The Tummy Team's Core Foundations for Men program.

In this conversation, Kelly and Jim discuss:

• Why more exercise wasn't solving the problem
• The missing piece in traditional fitness training
• Learning to trust the rehab process
• How breathing and posture transformed his strength
• Returning to workouts with better performance and less pain
• Why men shouldn't ignore the signs of functional core weakness

Although this conversation was originally recorded during Season 1, the principles Jim shares are just as relevant today. Whether you're a man dealing with abdominal bulging, back pain, or simply wondering why your core doesn't feel as strong as it should, this episode offers hope and practical insight for your healing journey.

What happens when an occupational therapist realizes there's a missing piece in both her own healing journey and the care she provides her patients?

In this episode of The Tummy Team Journey Podcast, Kelly sits down with occupational therapist Julia to discuss how discovering Functional Core Rehabilitation transformed the way she thinks about posture, breathing, movement, and everyday function.

Originally searching for answers about her own core weakness, Julia found much more than symptom relief. She gained a new understanding of how the transverse abdominis, pelvic floor, breathing, and alignment work together—and how these principles naturally complement occupational therapy.

Julia also shares her experience following an adult tongue-tie release and the surprising ways retraining her breathing, posture, and body awareness helped support her recovery.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why functional core rehabilitation goes beyond traditional core exercises
• How breathing and posture influence movement and everyday function
• The connection between the jaw, tongue, fascia, core, and pelvic floor
• Why occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to teach functional movement
• How small daily habits create lasting improvements

Whether you're an OT, another healthcare professional, or someone on your own healing journey, this episode offers practical insights into helping the body function the way it was designed.

What happens when your body has endured decades of chronic pain, endometriosis, pregnancy loss, difficult births, surgeries, and medical trauma? 

In this powerful Real-Life Rehab episode, Kelly sits down with Leigh, a wife, mother of three, and healthcare professional who has spent much of her life navigating chronic pain, endometriosis, miscarriages, traumatic births, pelvic floor dysfunction, and the emotional toll of feeling dismissed by the medical system.

After years of searching for answers, Leigh found herself facing a rectocele diagnosis and a recommendation for surgery. But before moving forward, she decided to revisit principles she had learned years earlier through The Tummy Team—principles that had already helped her heal a significant diastasis recti.

In this honest and vulnerable conversation, Kelly and Leigh discuss how trauma, fear, grief, perfectionism, and chronic stress can impact the nervous system, core function, pelvic floor health, and the body's ability to heal. You'll also hear Kelly walk Leigh through the first steps of her personalized rehab plan and explain why healing often starts with nervous system regulation, self-compassion, and reconnecting with your body.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How trauma and chronic stress affect the core and pelvic floor
• Why healing isn't always about doing more exercises
• The connection between grief, fear, and physical symptoms
• How perfectionism can become a barrier to recovery
• Why nervous system regulation is a critical part of healing
• The role of posture, breathing, and mobility in pelvic floor function
• Why prolapse symptoms often involve more than the pelvic floor alone
• How small daily practices can create meaningful change

Leigh's story is a powerful reminder that healing isn't about fixing a broken body. It's about reconnecting with a body that has been carrying more than anyone realized. 

When Kathleen first experienced pelvic organ prolapse at 64, she felt scared, confused, and unsure of what life would look like moving forward. After eight pregnancies, nine children, and decades without pelvic floor symptoms, the sudden feeling of heaviness and bulging was alarming.

In this encouraging episode, Kelly sits down with Kathleen to talk about how she moved from fear and frustration to hope, confidence, and practical healing. After being offered only a pessary or surgery, Kathleen began working with The Tummy Team and discovered that her symptoms were connected to posture, core weakness, pelvic alignment, and everyday movement patterns.

Through e-sessions, Core Foundations, Functional Core, and simple daily strategies, Kathleen learned how to respond to her body's symptoms, reconnect to her core, reduce prolapse discomfort, and return to the life she loves—including camping, lifting her grandkids, going back to the gym, and moving with confidence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why prolapse can feel like an emergency
• How core strength and pelvic floor support work together
• Why Kegels are not always the answer
• How posture and alignment affect pelvic organ support
• What to do when symptoms flare up
• Why simple, consistent tools can create powerful change
• How to move from fear to confidence in your body

Kathleen's story is a beautiful reminder that pelvic floor symptoms are personal, common, and often very treatable—and that there is hope beyond fear, surgery, or simply learning to live with it.

What happens when you've done the work, made incredible progress, but still have a few lingering symptoms holding you back?

In this first-ever Real-Life Rehab episode, Kelly sits down with Lucille, a longtime Tummy Team client and mother of ten children, to discuss the next phase of her healing journey. After years of pregnancies, postpartum recovery, and parenting demands, Lucille successfully reduced a severe diastasis and integrated functional core principles into daily life. Yet despite her progress, nagging low back pain and a recent hip injury were keeping her from fully returning to the activities she loves.

Together, Kelly and Lucille unpack what happens when healing enters a new season. Through a live coaching-style conversation, Kelly helps Lucille identify practical next steps, including improving neutral pelvis awareness, reducing compensation patterns, and building confidence through intentional movement.

This episode offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at what real rehabilitation looks like—not perfection, but ongoing progress, curiosity, and learning how to support your body through every stage of life.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why lingering pain doesn't mean you've failed
• How motherhood can create long-term compensation patterns
• The role of neutral pelvis in core and pelvic floor function
• Why healing often requires returning to foundational habits
• How walking can become one of the most effective core exercises
• The importance of self-compassion during recovery
• Why pain is communication, not punishment

If you've ever felt stuck between "better" and "fully healed," this episode will encourage you to trust the process and keep moving forward.

After years of unexplained back pain, muscle imbalances, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and even hip surgery, Jesika thought she had exhausted every option. As a former collegiate athlete and busy mom of three, she was determined to find answers—but nothing seemed to address the root cause of her symptoms.

In this inspiring conversation, Jesika shares how discovering The Tummy Team helped her connect the dots between her posture, breathing, core function, and chronic pain. What started as a search for pelvic floor answers led to a complete shift in how she understood her body. Through simple daily practices, increased body awareness, and the Family Membership, she regained strength, returned to teaching tennis, and finally found lasting relief.

Kelly and Jesika discuss why so many people miss the connection between functional core weakness and symptoms like back pain, hip pain, digestive issues, and fatigue—and how empowering it can be to take an active role in your own healing journey.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why chronic pain isn't always coming from where it hurts
• The surprising connection between posture, breathing, and core strength
• How an abdominal splint can support functional healing
• Why athletes and active moms often miss signs of core dysfunction
• The power of understanding your body instead of just treating symptoms
• How small daily changes can create life-changing results

If you've ever felt frustrated by conflicting advice, endless appointments, or a body that just doesn't feel like itself anymore, Jesika's story will remind you that there may still be a missing piece—and that healing is possible. 

Welcome back to The Tummy Team Journey Podcast! In the first episode of Season 5, Kelly Dean shares the story behind the evolution of The Tummy Team—from her own struggle with severe diastasis recti after pregnancy to building a global community focused on functional core and pelvic floor healing. With nearly 30 years as a physical therapist and a background in brain injury and stroke rehabilitation, Kelly explains how a brain-body approach transformed not only her recovery but also the way she helps thousands of clients reclaim their strength, confidence, and quality of life.

Kelly discusses why traditional fitness and rehab approaches often miss the root cause of core dysfunction, how The Tummy Team's philosophy has evolved over the years, and why the move from individual courses to a membership model better supports real-life healing. She also introduces exciting new features coming to Season 5, including real-life rehab sessions, inspiring client stories, expert interviews, and the return of some favorite episodes from the archives.

Whether you're brand new to The Tummy Team or have been following Kelly's work for years, this episode offers an inside look at the mission, heart, and future of a community dedicated to helping people feel connected to their bodies again.

In this inspiring and deeply practical episode, Kelly Dean sits down with Dr. Hilary Frescoln, a family medicine physician and homeschooling mom of seven, to explore how real-life functional core strength transforms not just bodies, but entire families.

Dr. Frescoln shares her personal journey—from college athlete to busy mom managing back pain and diastasis recti—highlighting the pivotal moment she discovered The Tummy Team’s approach. With a history of fast, sometimes unassisted deliveries (including twins born just 90 minutes from water breaking!), Hilary reflects on how even years of fitness training couldn’t substitute for true functional core use.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• True core strength comes from functional use in daily life, not isolated workouts.

• Tiny, stacked habits and celebrating small wins build sustainable change.

• Awareness (mirrors, posture checks, body feedback) is 50% of the solution.

• Movement, gratitude, and community nourish both physical and emotional health.

• Parents modeling healthy habits can shape an entire family’s lifestyle.

Additional Resource:

• Mom & Kids Workout / Christian Scripture & Encouragement / Core Exercises

• 10 Minute Quick Mom Workout / Core and Pelvic Floor / Scripture / Kids / Diastasis Safe /SET 1of 3