Julianne Hough happy to ditch strict diet

Dancer and actress Julianne Hough has found food happiness after relaxing her approach to dieting.

The former Dancing with the Stars professional has always been in tip top shape thanks to her performance background, but her discipline did force her to be super strict when it came to food, and now she is a bit older, Julianne has decided to go a little easier on herself.

"In the past, I used to be so strict, and because I was strict, I used to fall off (her diet) really easily, and once I fell off, I would just go crazy," she told People magazine. "(I) was being very strict and disciplined, all or nothing."

The 27-year-old no longer feels the need to monitor her food intake as closely, and admits she feels so much better since she made the change.

"This phase of my life, it's not about that, it's about a mindset and a belief," she continued. "I'm doing this so I'm healthy, when I have kids, my kids will be healthy, when I'm older I'll be in shape to play with them. There's that thought process.

"I think by not being so strict, I'm basically allowing myself to do what makes me happy rather than (focusing on) what I should do."

Julianne, who is engaged to ice hockey player Brooks Laich, still enjoys dancing and exercising, and goes to CorePower yoga twice a week, as well as taking regular hikes with her dogs.

"I like to keep myself pretty occupied, and I feel like if I'm doing the same thing over and over again I get pretty bored," she said. "So I try to mix it up. After I work out I actually feel the best. When you sweat, I feel like you glow more. I also feel good when my fiance says I look good first thing in the morning with no make-up. It has to do with him too!"