We’re forging a new path today on Healthful Bites! Rather than just sharing videos during Good for You Moves posts, we’ll now switch it up between videos, cardio routines (something to look forward to next week!) and fun fitness-related interviews and helpful hints. Please let me know what you think of this new angle or share any suggestions in the comments.

To start off the new format on a high note, I was lucky enough to recently connect with fitness DVD star, group instructor, personal trainer and all-around exercise superstar Jessica Smith (left). She has released 10 DVDs to date, including two new-for-2011 “10 Pounds DOWN” workouts that involve similar cardio and sculpting methods to those she uses in her weekly classes that she teaches in Miami.

Read on to find out more about the trainer behind the DVDs, Jessica’s guilty pleasures and the one move she wish she could fast forward through during her workouts!

How did you first get involved in the health industry? 
In my late teens, I gained a lot of weight (for my body) and struggled to keep it off. I tried everything from diet programs, packaged meals to diet pills to try to lose it—and nothing worked. I ended up gaining anything I’d lost and then some. I finally started taking small steps like exercising for 10 minutes at a time (because it was all I could handle) and making gradually changes in my eating habits. That’s what helped me lose over 40 pounds, and inspired me to help other people who might have struggled the way I did, to lose weight the healthy way.

Were you personally always healthy?
Definitely not! I’ve always really enjoyed food (especially sweets). And my Mom is Italian, so we had plenty of pasta! I’ve found that I can’t eat only salads and skip bread all the time—I’d go crazy! I still indulge myself on occasion, watch portions, and aim to eat healthy 80 percent of the time. I give myself some room to play because a girl’s gotta have her chocolate! The concept of moderation has finally helped me to let go of going from strict dieting to binging.

Explain your ideal workout.
I sort of have two. My absolute favorite “workout” is walking. I try to walk outside for an hour most days of the week, weather permitting. I get some of my best ideas while I am walking. My second favorite is “cardio sculpt:” lighter weights and higher reps done at a quick pace with cardio interval bursts mixed in. That is what I do when I’m ready to WORK. I do an hour long cardio sculpt session two or three times per week.

We all have a move that we dread a bit (for me, it’s the burpee—so effective but not so fun!). What is that exercise for you and why?
I hear you on the burpees! I’d have to say my least favorite move is probably the push-up. I know it’s so darn effective, but they are challenging for me. I like to try to mix up my push-up positions as often as I can to help build strength and to hone my push up ‘skills.’

What is the most common mistake you think people make in terms of their exercise programs?
I often see people psych themselves out of exercise because they turn it into an ordeal. A lot of people that I’ve worked with think that unless they can go to the gym for at least an hour several days a week, they can’t stick with exercise, so they talk themselves out of it before they even begin! One of my favorite forms of exercise is walking. It’s free, you can do it anywhere and it’s a great way to build the habit of exercising. Exercise is something both your mind and your body needs, but it doesn’t have to be grueling or expensive to be effective.

If you were only able to pick three different foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?
Well, chocolate has to be on the list, and eggs, since they are such a great source of protein and nutrients. And probably oatmeal—it’s so filling, and you can use it in anything! I cook with it, put it in smoothies and eat it plain. Of course, fruits and veggies should be on this list, but…

Music is a huge motivator for many while working out. Do you have a playlist or some best song picks that you could share?
Absolutely. I agree. Without music I don’t know if I’d be able to finish most of my workouts! My favorite song right now is “Moves like Jagger” by Maroon 5. I’d say I find one theme song a month that I just love to move to, and I put it at the start of my playlist to get me going. My favorite place to buy workout music is 32mixes.com. They mix some of the latest songs with older hits and you can buy a full hour-long mix at a specific B.P.M. [beats per minute], which is perfect for workouts.

Thanks so much to Jessica for stopping by! You can find her on Tumblr or follow her on Twitter to learn more.

What would you like to see on future Good for You Moves posts?