New mother of twins, Jennifer Lopez has decided to do a triathlon this Fall. She is working with celebrity trainer, Gunnar Peterson to get ready for her bike, swim, and run against time. OK Magazine got the scoop from Gunnar — here are highlights:

“The workouts change daily, depending on the day, the time and the freedom,” he says. “She’s going to get it done because she wants to.”

But don't think the workout regime takes time away from her and Marc Anthony's new twins, Max and Emme, 5 months. Having juggled multiple careers and business ventures in her life, the actress has everything "in check," Gunnar says, and would never prioritize something else over her children.

"She may be the most efficient multitasker I know. She literally has every aspect of her life in check,” he says. “She doesn’t have a nanny, a chef or a nutritionist. She makes time for the kids. Family comes first.”

Having twins is an athletic event, not to mention a test of endurance, in its own right so I am thoroughly impressed that Jennifer has her sights on a tri. Go J Lo, go!

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When it comes to dieting, exercise really is the magic pill. Calorie restriction and exercise have long been known as the dieting duo necessary for success. Unfortunately the necessary amount of time spent exercising is often grossly underestimated.

New research from the University of Pittsburgh found that 55 minutes of moderate exercise, 5 days a week was needed to not only lose weight, but more importantly to maintain weight. The four year study, involving 200 women, emphasizing the calorie restriction alone is not enough. Moderate exercise is necessary for getting the weight off and keeping it off, which often proves more difficult than losing the weight in the first place.

Just a reminder: moderate exercise is considered any activity that makes you "slightly breathless," and should be at least 50 percent of your maximum heart rate (220 minus your age). A higher heart rate will burn more calories, so if you're exercising as part of your weight loss plan, feel free to work out in a higher heart rate zone. This heart rate calculator will help guide you.

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Playing sports is so important when you're young, especially for girls. Being on a team or training for an individual sport like tennis or track helps to build friendships, teaches you how to communicate and work with others, and builds confidence, and it's a great way to encourage kids to get in the habit of staying active. When I was a kid, soccer was my sport, but I'd play just about anything. So what about you? Did you play sports as a kid? If so, tell me: What sports were you involved in?

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When you run, bike ride, or do anything that uses your lower body, it's important to stretch your leg muscles thoroughly. One area that may need a little attention is your Iliotibial band (ITB). This is a long band of fascia (connective tissue) that runs along your outer thigh. Stretching this area will help prevent knee injury or pain, and you can do it anywhere there's a wall. Well, you could even use a tree if running outside.

To learn how to stretch your ITB read more