Bankrate: When you do skate, is it a family affair now?

Kristi Yamaguchi: Yes, I'll go referee every now and then. I do miss being in skating shape so I'm guessing in the summer, I'll get back on the ice and skate a few times a week. It really does get me toned and in shape. And maybe I'll take the girls along with me. When skating, you use a completely different set of muscles than when just doing a workout routine. Obviously, it's a very good cardio workout. The enjoyment for me, though, is just being able to skate, have some freedom and move around in that freedom.

Bankrate: And now you're using yet another set of muscles gearing up for your dancing competitions. How does dancing differ from your other forms of exercise?

Kristi Yamaguchi: Sometimes you don't think dancing is really exercise, but when you get into situations like this ... today we practiced for six hours. I'm dying right now. My body at age 36 is really feeling it now so I'm going to go soak in a warm tub. I think the first dance we're doing is the foxtrot, which is very smooth, very slow, very controlled -- you're sustaining muscles to give the appearance of such control and smoothness so it's really tough and tiring.

Bankrate: Do you feel any pressure not just to be healthy, but to look healthy and look great out there competing in those dance outfits?

Kristi Yamaguchi: Anytime you realize you're going to be on live television with the amount of viewers that "Dancing" gets -- yeah! You have a little bit of extra motivation to get in shape.

I didn't really do anything special except adding Pilates back into my regimen. I figured once I started the dance training, that it would help out a lot. I'm not monitoring my weight or anything like that. After having two babies, I haven't focused on my fitness really so I think this is a great way for me to get back in tune with my body and get it back more toned. I don't want to lose weight; I just want to get fit and toned.

When I was competing as a skater, you're not being judged solely on your technical ability. People want to be entertained and enjoy what they're watching. So there was a little bit of pressure of being in good shape back then. I think you become more aware of fashion in skating and how it can compliment or distract from a performance. And I think "Dancing" will be about fashion as well as form.

Bankrate: You've been skating for many years and earning a very nice living from it. What's the first financial lesson you learned the hard way?

Kristi Yamaguchi: Well, luckily I had my uncle as my financial adviser before I even made any real money. I trusted him and I think that's important when somebody is managing your money. It was funny because anytime I was thinking of a purchase, I'd call him, "Can I buy this sweater I saw?" and he was like, "Why are you calling me -- yeah, go ahead."

I was put on an allowance my first few years when I was professional, just to teach me the responsibility of money and being on a budget, just being aware of spending. I was really lucky to have someone like my uncle to help me out. It's hard and you need to have boundaries and guidance because as an athlete, especially, you don't know how long it's going to last.