Water, food diaries, and a healthy blend of omega fats are essential when starting a workout regimen, says personal trainer Ashley Borden.

More Videos

RODALE NEWS, ANAHEIM, CA—When Ashley Borden starts talking fitness, you listen. Strong and sleek, the fitness and lifestyle consultant and trainer of Hollywood stars has the body to back up her advice. Rodale.com caught up with Borden at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA, earlier this month, where she talked about training famous people, the misconception about celebrities’ bodies and work ethic, and how ordinary people can get fit and healthy without expensive trainers and workout equipment.

THE DETAILS: Despite being so fit, one of Borden’s favorite topics is fat. “In Hollywood, the misconception is if you eat fat, you get fat,” she says, noting that many people are still living in the 1980s, in a constant state of panic over fat in their diet.

But Borden, whose client list has included Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, Ryan Gosling, Annabeth Gish, Natasha Bedingfield, Lauren Graham, and several professional athletes, encourages her trainees to incorporate healthy omega fatty acids into their diets. No matter who she advises—famous or not—Borden starts every client with these 3 simple instructions:

1. Drink lots of water
2. Write down everything you eat
3. Making sure you get enough omega fats (she prefers the brand Udo’s Oil, plus a multivitamin)

As for the quick-fix weight-loss secrets that we suspect only celebrities know, Borden says there are none. In fact, she laughs at the idea. “Fat doesn’t care if you’re celebrity, or how much money you make,” she says.

WHAT IT MEANS: If you want to be as svelte as your favorite star, be prepared to put in the effort. “A lot of people feel that celebrities just kind of kick back, and don’t work as hard to stay in shape as the rest of us,” Borden says. “It’s a big misconception.”

Add these strategies to your exercise regimen. They works whether you live in Beverly Hills, Boston, or anywhere in between: