Like many of the celebrities she trains, Valerie Waters endured a grueling start before her fitness career finally began to shape up.

The 43-year-old California resident is now the goto health guru for stars like Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel, but 20 years ago, she was just an exercise nut looking for a cheap way to pay for her gym membership.

Working as a personal trainer at a local gym was a natural fit and word eventually spread about her passion for fitness. Soon, Valerie earned credibility among Hollywood’s elite. In the 90s, Cindy Crawford became Valerie’s first celebrity client.

The pair worked together for 15 years. Valerie says people are drawn to her because she has a realistic attitude about fitness — she’s not preachy and doesn’t advocate extreme dieting or exercising.

“I want my clients to exercise for the rest of their lives and I want them to eat healthy for the rest of their lives,” she says. “Working out should be an hour of the day they look forward to.”

Valerie Waters says she’s had to teach several of her clients how to eat, including Jennifer Garner, who has been training with her for five years.

Thanks to Val’s secrets, Jen now gets the most out of the calories she consumes by eating egg whites, tons of veggies and lean meats, and yummy snacks such as yogurt and fruit.

Valerie encourages her clients to eat plenty of fruits and lean meats, and takes them through a strength-training circuit workout several times a week.

As a result, her female clients develop slender but muscular bodies that are toned yet feminine. “You have to put some effort into it,” she says. “But if you do, you’ll get so much out of it.” [source: Women’s Health & Fitness]