The Dancing with the Stars alum, Julianne Hough can also be seen acting on the big screen and singing her way to the top of the country charts. She reveals the secrets behind that killer body, and surprisingly enough it doesn’t have much to do with dancing.

When a slim celeb claims she wants to chow down, you usually think, Yeah, right. But when Julianne says it, you better believe her. She’s unafraid to share personal details:

Growing up, I could eat anything; but the minute I hit 22, I stopped dancing and kept eating whatever I wanted, and I gained weight. Then I started reading critical comments in blogs. That freaks you out and you get caught up in it. But if I deprive myself, I end up binge eating. I didn’t want to do that. Now if I want something, I’ll have it and I won’t feel guilty. Then the next day I won’t crave it.

Now equip with a calorie-burning workout routine Julianne is back in peak shape.

I hate being in the gym, but I love taking Tracy Anderson classes because they’re fun and dance-y.

And while she enjoys being active, sports like snowboarding and mountain biking are pretty much the only ones she has an aptitude for. Hough lets fans in on a little surprising secret:

I have no hand-eye coordination. Dancers are the most uncoordinated people at stuff like that. Baseball? I’m terrible. Pick me last.

When she’s on tour or on location she mixes things up, some days working with a trainer, some days doing P90X DVDs, and other days running around amphitheaters and torturing her band.

This is funny or maybe narcissistic, but one day we put on one of my fitness DVDs [she has two: Cardio Ballroom and Just Dance!]. The guys were trying to swivel their hips. We were all laughing!

Julianne Hough took home the Dancing with the Stars mirror-ball trophy two seasons in a row, both in 2007, paired with speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and race-car driver Helio Castroneves.

What is Julianne’s Secret to Her Success? Where does she get her incredible drive? She credits:

Being the baby of the family, you try to be the center of attention. But it’s more about being competitive with myself. I know what I’m capable of, and I don’t ever want to sell myself short.

As for this dancing diva, she is just trying to enjoy the ride. She doesn’t want to get caught up and miss anything.

I worked but never took time to enjoy the success. Now if I have three days, why not go somewhere? It’s like, why take a rocket to the moon if you don’t look out the window?

A perfectly legit question for a woman on a rapid rise.

photo courtesy of: julianne hough’s twitter, julianne hough’s facebook