Kathy Smith, a very decorated fitness instructor and fanatic, is one of the most motivating people we’ve ever met! She has two amazing DVDs out now: Ageless with Kathy Smith: Staying Strong and Ageless with Kathy Smith: Total Body Turnaround. We’ve had the pleasure to speak with this uniquely beautiful individual about everything from her fitness secret to when she became a workout nut!

Fit Celeb: What is your favorite exercise?

Kathy Smith: I often joke that that’s like asking me to choose my favorite child it’s just impossible to answer! I love all types of movement, from running to strength training, yoga to strength training, dancing to snow skiing. But hiking does have a special place in my heart. It’s why I moved to Park City, Utah – the mountains here provide an opportunity to combine my loves of hiking and being in the outdoors.

Fit Celeb: What’s your biggest fitness secret?

Kathy Smith: Consistency is the key to success – but that’s probably not a major secret. So if I had to choose a more specific one: I do think that women underestimate the power of strength training. Of course, cardio and flexibility are incredibly important too, but building lean muscle mass boosts your metabolism, strengthens your bones and, of course, helps tone and tighten the entire body.

Fit Celeb: Are you a calorie counter/do you believe in calorie counting?

Kathy Smith: I’ve been doing this for so long that I have a sort of internal gauge when it comes to calories – I usually have an instinct as to how calorically dense most foods are without having to read a label. But I focus on quality rather than quantity. In general, if you’re sticking to vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and certain whole grains, chances are good that you’re not taking in too many calories.

Fit Celeb: What advice do you have on a healthy diet?

Kathy Smith: Fill up on fiber. Not only does it aid digestion and help with eliminating waste, but it actually helps you feel fuller longer, which can help you avoid cravings and binges.

Fit Celeb: What’s your favorite body part/most proud body part?

Kathy Smith: How to answer that? I’ll humbly admit that I’m proud of my butt and legs.

Fit Celeb: Which area of the body is hardest to get in shape/lose weight in?

Kathy Smith: The midsection can be a tough one, whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned exerciser. The trick is to combine core exercises to strengthen the muscles and cardio to burn off the top layer of fat.

Fit Celeb: How do you motivate yourself to work out when you’ve had a bad day/just don’t feel like it?

Kathy Smith: I usually don’t have a bad day before working out, simply because I tend to work out first thing in the morning! It actually sets the tone for the rest of my day, helping me maintain a positive and balanced outlook.

Fit Celeb: What food do you like to indulge on?

Kathy Smith: That’s an easy one: Chocolate! The darker the better. And if there’s some peanut butter involved, I’m in.

Fit Celeb: What’s your best health advice?

Kathy Smith: Find something that you love. When it comes to adapting to a healthy lifestyle, you have to find something that keeps you coming back for more. Keep trying new things until you find a style of movement that really works for you. It might be a step workout, a Zumba class, a jog on the beach or meeting some girlfriends at the gym for a sculpting workout. When you find something that ignites your passion, you start to shift your relationship with exercise from “have to” to “want to.”

Fit Celeb: How did you get into your fitness career?

Kathy Smith: By the time I was 19, I’d lost both of my parents – my father had a heart attack, and my Mom and stepfather were killed in a place crash. Needless to say, I felt lost and alone. And simply because I didn’t want to be alone, I started joining my boyfriend at the time, a football player, for his runs at the track. And I was so amazed by the therapeutic effect that running had: I’d come back feeling a little more clear-headed – the depression and clouds seemed to lift, and my pain and confusion began to feel more manageable. So it’s not an exaggeration to say that running saved my life. This revelation – that what you do with your body affects your mind and emotions – was a real revelation to me. And I knew I wanted more of that. So I moved to LA, started teaching aerobics, which led to my first fitness “album” (an LP with my vocal instructions and a poster you’d follow along on the wall), which eventually led to my first video…and the rest is history!

To check out and more lifestyle, fitness, and wellness, go to www.AcaciaLifestyle.com

Photos courtesy of: Acacia