I Worked Out Every Day For Two Years in a Row. This Is What Happened.

Plus the swim sale you need rn, two must-buy beauty finds + a reminder that you can win Father's Day with just a tiny bit of planning.

It feels incredibly bizarre to write this, but a few days ago I hit a major milestone in my life: 730/730, otherwise known as two years of daily workouts. 

For a non-sporty person, this is a surreal moment, and I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I have a consistent, healthy relationship with working out. 

(And yes, I realize that on the surface, that many days of exercise in a row might seem compulsive, but trust me, it’s a pretty low-key practice overall. Sure, there are days when I will go for an hour-long walk with a friend, followed by some version of an at-home yoga class, but mostly I stick to The Ness’s 30-minute cardio bounce and strength classes, which I airplay on my TV via their app. And there were days when all I could do was a short stretch class, which is fine. The point was to move my body, every day, for at least 20 minutes.)

Last year, I wrote about hitting my one-year goal (aka 365/365), including all the reasons why I did it, how I got started, and the things that helped me along the way. The TL;DR for the latter include my Apple Watch, Jumpsport trampoline, go-to Adidas sneakers, favorite Free People sports bras, and Amazon leggings which are definitely a dupe for a fancier brand.

But let’s be honest: The thing that helped me the most is privilege. I have a supportive husband who feeds the kids breakfast while I exercise, am decently healthy (both physically and mentally), have the time and space at home to exercise, and I’m deeply aware that my vast support system allows me to be consistent. I’m endlessly grateful for these things, and aware that not everyone has the luxury to do what I did.

Now on the other side of this milestone, it’s funny to look back over the last two years and see how far I have come, but also what hasn’t changed in the ways I might have imagined. So what did I learn? Quite a bit, actually.

THREE THINGS I LEARNED THIS YEAR

1. It doesn’t really get easier.

I assumed that after a certain point in this journey, I would no longer have days (weeks!) where I struggled with motivation. While this might be the case for some folks, that was not my experience. I was also surprised by how quickly my cardio health falls off a cliff. 

There were a couple of periods in year two when I was walking and lifting weights more and doing less trampoline-based cardio, and I assumed going back to bounce classes wouldn’t be that big of a deal. I was wrong. It was humbling to see how quickly my cardio stamina disappeared! And I’m not just saying that; my Apple watch tracks “Cardio Fitness” in the Health app, and it was crazy to see my levels fluctuate as much as they did.

2. Flexibility really snuck up on me!

As I mentioned last year, I danced a lot as a kid, and so I was pretty flexible throughout my early 20s. But at some point after college, the dancing I did mostly happened in bars and clubs, and there was no cooldown/stretch element to my routine. That, plus a desk job and the tendency to wear four-inch heels to work (a concept now nearly as foreign to me as smoking on an airplane) meant that I lost a lot of that flexibility. 

So I was pleasantly surprised when I realized recently that I am not quite back to my ballet days levels of flexibility, but pretty darn close. This year, I definitely worked on flexibility more, but I wouldn’t say I’m putting in a ton of effort. Maybe 10 minutes, a few times a week, at most? But I think my consistent, dance-based trampoline classes should get the credit for significantly increasing my flexibility. (Honestly the fact that I rarely wear more than a one-inch heel has to help too?)

3. I’m unquestionably nicer and calmer when I get to move my body in the morning.

The part that I noticed the most is how much the consistent exercise impacts my mood in a significantly positive way. I’m more focused at work, more patient with my kids, and just a happier person all around. It has even gotten to the point that if 3 p.m. rolls around and I haven’t worked out yet, I’m straight up grumpy. That feels wild to me. 

Oh and one more thing: At some point in year two, my Apple watch bands (both the classic Sport Band and the Gold Milanese Loop Band) started to really irritate my skin. I switched to the Sport Loop ($49) in Midnight for working out, and then change it out for my Hermes band for non-exercise times. 

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Father’s Day Is Nigh; Shop Now To Protect Your Peace.

We are about two weeks away from Father’s Day, and while I am not into these Hallmark holidays personally, I also don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, so here are a couple of gift ideas that I’ve used in the past.

As always, I suggest referring to the strategy I wrote about in 2021 (How To Win At Giving Presents) and updated in my Mother’s Day gift guide.

I am going to give my own father (Dad, stop reading please, hahaha jkjkjk you don’t listen to me; I have come to terms with the fact that you will read on) a single, splurge-worthy gift, which was actually a present my folks gave me for Christmas. It is wildly expensive for a piece of kitchen gear, but when I tell you it’s given me 10000% joy in return, that is no lie.

The gift? 

Mannkitchen’s Pepper Cannon Pepper Mill ($199), which pairs perfectly with my favorite Diaspora Co’s Aranya Black Pepper ($12). 

When I tell you this is a next-level tool, I am not joking. It is satisfying, reliable, precise, and deliciously solid. If your dad likes to grill steak, or use freshly ground pepper in any way, this is the thing for him. It’s oddly phenomenal. And you can send him this piece from New York Magazine demonstrating the wide-ranging appeal of said pepper grinder.

Even better: The founder of Diaspora, Sana Javeri Kadri, is decolonizing the spice trade with her company, and her offerings are otherworldly. She sources 30 single origin spices from 150 farms across India and Sri Lanka, pays her farm partners a living wage far beyond what her competitors do, and is inventing a truly equitable spice trade. And trust me when I say you will be shocked to realize how dusty and sad your normal grocery store spices are compared to what Diaspora Co. is making. I was! 

If you’ve decided to commit to the fancy pepper mill—or the equally loved, more reasonably price Unicorn Pepper Mill ($49), which I don’t own but have heard great things about—you can round out your gift with another essential: a giant box of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt ($13). If someone you love likes to grill, they need this salt. Period.

(Wait, one more thing. Does he have a good apron? Hedley & Bennett’s options are the only game in town.)

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Swim Suits That Won’t Make You Feel Like Garbage

Now that it’s officially swim season, I feel compelled to tell you I found yet another new suit that I like.

I still stand by my previously mentioned loves: The J.Crew Cutout Tie-Back One Piece ($59.50) is currently on sale in black and is available in every size. Run, don’t walk, to get it. Also, while expensive and selling quickly, Mara Hoffman’s Lydia Bikini Bottom ($150) is without question the best bikini bottom I’ve ever purchased. I wear a size medium and love that it’s high waisted, but not dowdy, and compression-adjacent, without feeling like you’re wearing shapewear. I wear it with the Lua Bikini Top ($135) in gingham, also in medium, which is also the best fitting bathing suit top I’ve ever worn. It comes in a handful of other colors and prints, too.

But that’s not what I want to talk about!

I want to talk about Victoria’s Secret swim being back! And honestly so so so good. And so so so on sale. The brand’s Scallop Full Coverage Bikini Top ($22) shocked me, it fits so well. (Take your regular bra size.) Not into a scallop? My minimalist friends will love the Mix and Match Full Coverage Bikini Top ($18) on sale now. (Also I liked the bottoms, but didn’t love compared to the aforementioned Mara Hoffman situation, so I just bought tops to mix and match with other swim bottoms I own.)

And while you’re hanging with Vicky and her secrets, I very much recommend the Wicked Unlined Eyelet Lace Balconette Bra ($65), which isn’t on sale, but is a darn good option. 

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Two Beauty Products You Won’t Regret Buying.

And last, but certainly not least, let’s chat about beauty for a moment?

I cannot stop talking about Saie’s Glow Sculpt Multi-Use Cream Highlighting Blush ($32), which I like best in Peachglow solo, but also looks really nice layered with some of the other shades. You can also layer it on top of or below your go-to blush or bronzer, which is pretty cool. As the name indicates, it’s very glowy, and while the formula looks like a powder at first glance, it’s actually a cream, so it really melts into your skin in such a stunning way. 

Another product that’s perfect for summer? Fenty Beauty’s Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain ($27) in Zesty Besty. Personally, I’m not really a lip oil sort of person because while it feels great on, it doesn’t really stay. This lip stain starts more like an oil or non-sticky gloss, but wears down to the nicest tint that’s dreamy for warm weather. I personally blot it down immediately, and just go straight to the best post-popsicle tint you can get.

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Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.