Los Angeles, California - Losing weight can mean endless frustration, as model Chrissy Teigen knows better than anybody. Now, she is looking at her eating habits in a whole new light.

The modeling industry put her through hell for years, she revealed, continually driving to her crazy lengths to maintain a perfect figure. But Teigen has had enough with other people making decisions about her body.

"If it makes me happy and makes me feel good, then I'll indulge," Teigen told People in an exclusive interview. "I spent too many years counting calories."

But just what was it that brought such a change of attitude to the former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model? Over the course of her career, the model turned author and entrepreneur has dealt with all the ups and downs of the "diet culture" that is often paired with fame. But now she wants to leave this mentality behind for good.

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"I think I'm at this point in my life now where it's more important for me to enjoy things as they come," says the 35-year-old. "I want to focus on what makes me happy."

Specifically, "I'm eating things when I want to eat them, because if I don't, my mind goes crazy," Teigen said. "I'm putting my mind and soul over my body a little bit from now on."

But a new attitude to nutrition isn't the only way the model wants to be happier in the future; personal happiness naturally includes spending time with her children Miles (2) and Luna (4) as well as her superstar husband John Legend (42).

"I've spent so long trying to figure out what all these workouts and wellness stuff mean to me that I realize now I'd much rather be on the floor playing with my kids or going to a park together. That's activity for me and I like doing things like that."

In the meantime, Chrissy Teigen often does yoga and Pilates to find her inner peace and balance, which is certainly a good choice after the heavy blow of losing her unborn child late last year.

"John is different, he's the guy who can go to the gym every morning at 6 AM, but I'm totally okay with that," she laughed.