When your resume boasts Broadway Dancer & Radio City Rockette, it’s no surprise people immediately come looking to you as a fitness expert. But what happens when you decide to develop an entirely new style of workouts, one the world (not to mention Instagram) has never seen before? Would people understand? Would they trust you?

After wrapping up her on-stage career, Amanda Kloots was chatting with a personal training client about this hot, new Studio B everyone was talking about. Amanda herself knew a few of the studio’s teachers from her time on Broadway, but it just so happened that this client was best friends with Studio B’s founder & owner, Jen Bandier. Amanda & Jen arranged to meet, where, within seconds of meeting, Jen told Amanda, “I’ve heard about you. I don’t care whatever you want to do, I support you. Let’s do it.” Amanda pitched an idea for a jump rope class, one in which you don’t just jump with the rope, you use it for all the exercises in the class. Jen asked how she could help get it started, and once it got started, she let the class—or rather everyone Instagramming it—speak for itself. Between her incredibly popular jump rope & dance classes—which Amanda herself describes as, “Jane Fonda meets Britney Spears backup dancer”—she is completely reinventing the way we, millennials, workout.

Besides having a fresh idea & some initial press that helped spark her success, Amanda remembers that asking for help played a huge part in getting her to where she is today. “You forget that you can ask people,” she says. “There are people out there who want to support you & want to help you. Do not be afraid to ask for help—I couldn’t have started my business without it.” The second secret ingredient in her recipe for success is fairly simple: be your own person. It’s something Amanda has mastered. Check her out on social media & you’ll see for yourself. On there, you’ll find posts about her unique style of workouts, but you’ll also find her style of stars & smiles in nearly every photo. She admits that it can be tough to not compare yourself to others, especially in this digital age, but she’s living proof that it pays off in many ways to be yourself.

With hit classes, celebrity clients, & requests to teach all over the world, what could possibly be next for Amanda Kloots? Well, she’s spilled that some major collaborations with athleisure brands as well as developing more of her own product are in the works. A lot is sure to change as her career continues to soar, but Amanda swears to stay true to her health & wellness rules through it all.

Here’s what she has to say about staying fit, healthy, & happy:

What’s more important for getting in shape, diet or exercise?

“It’s 80% diet. Yep, unfortunately nobody wants to hear what but it is.” Amanda also says that because of that lopsided balance that’s sure to bum you out sometimes, she’s created recipes like this one she’s shared with us as a healthier way to enjoy pizza. “Even my dad, who is afraid of all the healthy things, really likes this pizza!”

So does that mean no cheat meals?

“No, no, no! I like a cheat meal!” she says with a laugh. Amanda admits that Del Frisco’s steak is one of her go-to cheat meals—that, along with pizza & cheeseburgers, of course. As for when she’s traveling? “When I go to those places [Paris & Italy], all bets are off. I’m eating pasta for lunch. Sorry, life is too short.” Relatable? Yep, us too. “I mean, I grew up in the Midwest. It wasn’t always exactly the healthiest. It was back in the day when Pop-Tarts were an okay breakfast.”

How can we make sure we’re eating healthier every single day without sucking the joy out of food?

“Check in with yourself. Writing down what you eat is annoying, but I think it really works. At the end of the day, look at what you’ve eaten, count how many vegetables you’ve had, how many fruits, slices of bread…” As just one of many examples she could list, Amanda notes how big of a difference getting one of her clients to cut out an easy 500 calories a day has made. “She’s a mom & she was like, ‘I had to write down that I finished my kid’s two bites of grilled cheese, & by the end of the day I noticed all these extra bites.’ It’s just about holding yourself accountable for what you eat.”

Besides this pizza recipe, what are some of your go-to meals?

1. Post-workout smoothies with banana, almond butter, ice protein powder, almond milk

2. Dr. Praeger’s vegetarian patties on an English muffin with hummus, tomato, lettuce

3. Pasta with vegetables

4. Juice Generation Tart Cherry & Turmeric Shot (which Amanda mentions she starts every day with as tart cherry is great for inflammation as is turmeric, which is a great for cancer prevention*.)

5. Sakara Beauty Water (not a meal, of course, but an essential in Amanda’s daily routine)

Do you follow any health “diets” such as Keto or Paleo? What are your thoughts on them?

“My thought is that everybody’s body is different. I don’t think that one thing works right for everyone. I eat Sakara on a daily basis, which has totally switched me over to a gluten-free, vegan type of living. I don’t eat like that all the time, but I do notice that when I eat like that, I just feel better. A lot of people are doing Keto right now & they’re having great success. I just can’t, I have to have everything—I have to eat everything!”

Tell us the truth. How do we lose weight? Easily would be preferred!

“The whole thing is how many calories are coming in & how many calories are coming out. Yes, there are thing such as “good” calories & “bad” calories, so make sure you’re eating super healthy. Just because something says it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy. In my opinion, it’s all stuff we already know, it’s just how much you actually want to admit you know. We all know to order the salad instead of the burger & fries when we go out. We just pretend like we don’t know…”

Ugh, you caught us. TRUE. Ok, so then on the exercise side of things, what are 3 things I need to get the best results during at-home workouts?

“A jump rope, 3 lb. weights, & a mat. Jump 10 minutes a day—that’s 150 calories you burn & everybody has 10 minutes, right?”

What about tools for the kitchen that you can’t live without?

“I love my Sodastream. I’m addicted to seltzer water & I love putting lemon in my seltzer water. Lemon is such a great thing to add to your water. It levels out your acidity in your body & it’s just a great way for detoxing & cleansing. Great thing for first thing in the morning!”

What about some favorite restaurants?

Café Fiorello, Westbourne Downtown, Nix in Union Square, abcV, Amber Sushi, Alchemist Kitchen, & Haru Sushi

Saving the best for last…if you could spend the day in the kitchen who would it be?

“Ina Garten! I’d let her make whatever she wants. I think she’s just the cutest!”