Jennifer Lopez attends Voto Latino DNC event presented by Pacific Gas and Electric Company at Vinyl on August 27, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

New video: Our Cheryl Woodcock was on the ground at the DNC with Jennifer Lopez and new mommy Jessica Alba as they joined Rosario Dawson on Wednesday at an event for her initiative aimed at empowering young Latino voters. VotoLatino aims to engage Latino voters between the ages of 18 and 29.

Most people hear “triathlon” and think Ironman—a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile marathon. “That’s for crazy people!” jokes Jennifer Lopez, who’s training for her first triathlon, the Nautica Malibu Triathlon’s classic distance (a half-mile swim, 18-mile bike and 4-mile run), to raise money and awareness for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Races like the Malibu tri and shorter, sprint-distance events are a challenging and fun way to get in shape, and you never get bored, says Lucy Danziger, SELF’s editor-in-chief and a huge cheerleader for the sport, who will be racing with Jennifer. “If you can bike, run and swim, each separately, you can do it,” Lucy says. We checked in with Gunnar Peterson, Jennifer’s trainer, to find out more about her training.

“The goal is to be comfortable throughout the event. Jennifer should be able to go out to dinner afterward, not check into the ER. We started by focusing on each of the three events individually to lay a strong foundation. Then we began working on the transitions. You don’t need to do the whole event during training, but you try to simulate the race conditions—biking, then immediately running. Or by doing a mini-tri—all three events at shorter distances.

“You’ve got to get used to the race conditions. It’s one thing to swim in a pool that is temperature controlled and another to get into the freezing Pacific with 3,000 other athletes. Other than the usual jitters, nervousness and having lots of people around, there shouldn’t be new demands on the body. So we get out on the bike path and swim in the ocean. That way, when she’s in the water on race day, she’s thinking, ‘Yup, I know what this feels like. I got this.’ Then on the bike, ‘Yup, I’m comfortable. I know this.’ It shouldn’t be, ‘Holy s—! This water is cold! Those waves are crazy! These hills are steep!’”

“Jennifer knows what she has to do and gets it done. She has a great perspective on workouts and what she derives from them. It’s not just about the exercise. Your workout will be better if you realize that by doing it, everything else you do will be a little better, too. You’re better at work and make fewer mistakes. You feel better and so are a nicer person.”

Try it for yourself! Make a commitment to fitness, and let SELF be your partner! Check out our Reach Your Goal program for a step-by-step plan on how to lose weight and get toned, sexy muscles. You’ll see how sticking to a workout not only helps you reach your body goals, but makes you feel incredible, too.

Jennifer Lopez is the kind of actress who makes your socks go up and down. So the Duncan Pavilion at the Denver Art Museum was jammed Wednesday afternoon with excited media and Hollywood types to hear her praise the work of Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund. Dressed in red, Lopez followed U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar in the short ceremony. She’s a mother of twins now, so kids matter more than ever. She said that’s why she started a foundation, to find out “what I could do to make a real difference.” She introduced Edelman as the hero she is — the voice of the voiceless.
Denver Post

Jennifer Lopez attends a reception honoring Marian Wright Edelman sponsored by Viacom and Capitol File at the Denver Art Museum on August 27, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.

People Magazine talks about Jennifer’s triathlon workout in this week’s issue.

There are a lot of reasons SELF named Jennifer Lopez 2008’s Most Inspiring Woman. She runs, bikes and swims! She’s raising money for charity! She’s a dedicated mom and career woman! And she’s shown us that no matter what your job, family and life commitments (of which she has plenty), fitness can help you feel even more like a superwoman and look your healthy best. And now she’s in Denver, giving us yet another reason to be inspired.

Today Jennifer is in the city of the Democratic National Convention to honor a woman who motivates her. She’s hosting a reception for the founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, the remarkable Marian Wright Edelman. The event will pay tribute to Ms. Edelman’s lifetime of achievement in ensuring a level playing field for all children and will spotlight the importance of policies and programs championed by the Children’s Defense Fund.

“Ms. Edelman is a pioneer in the fight for children’s rights. The more involved I become with philanthropic activities and wonderful individuals like Marian, the more inspired I become,” Jennifer said.

Check back tomorrow for details from the event, and later in the week for more insights from her training. There are only 18 days left until the race; show your support by clicking the Donate button above and give to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

At SELF, deprivation is a four-letter word. We believe that if you let yourself indulge occasionally in special foods or treats, it keeps you from overindulging later. Jennifer Lopez subscribes to that philosophy, too; she doesn’t deny or starve herself, and she doesn’t have to now that she’s torching tons of extra calories training for a triathlon. (She’s doing it for charity! If you want to help, click the “donate” button above.) But she has learned some lessons about her diet.

“The one thing I’m getting in order is my eating. I’ve been thinking about that a lot now that I’ve started going longer distances. I’m not eating terrible foods, but I need more energy. The other day I ate Chinese food, then did a mini, mock tri: a swim, then a bike and a run. I could feel the heavy, greasy food slooowwwing me down. By the end of the workout, I was thinking to myself, If I ate better, I’d feel better about now and I’d have more energy. So now I’m working on getting on a good, healthy diet. Today I had a banana before my workout.”

Just as she and her husband are raising their twins sans nanny, Jennifer doesn’t have a personal chef or nutritionist whipping up low-cal power meals for her. She’s learning on her own, just like the rest of us, that easily digestible proteins and carbs like chicken and pasta and fruit and veggies give the fuel you need to feel good throughout an entire workout.

She’s got another incentive to eat well, too. “I want to teach [twins Max and Emme] that there are healthy things that taste good. Growing up, I didn’t eat vegetables. I didn’t know there was brown bread. I’d eat a sugar doughnut, then go to school totally sugar-buzzed. We’d eat hamburgers for lunch, then rice and beans and meat for dinner. Rice and beans aren’t bad, but the meat was always fried. Culturally, that’s just what my mom was fed and so she fed it to us. I want to give my kids the healthy stuff early so they can build on it—then have little treats.”

If you’re looking for an easy-to-follow, high-energy, low-cal eating plan, check out SELF’s Reach Your Goal program.

Keep checking back to read more about Jennifer’s triathlon training progress and charity initiatives.

Political party, indeed. Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron and Rosario Dawson are among the throngs of celebs who will invade the Democratic National Convention (kicking off Monday in Denver), where Barack Obama will officially accept his party’s nomination. (He announced, via text and on his Web site Saturday, that Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware will be his running mate.) Lopez will headline a Children’s Defense Fund on Wednesday; the day before, her ex Affleck will attend an event for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Theron and beau Stuart Townsend will participate in a panel for the IMPACT film festival, which will showcase socially-themed pics, while Fran Drescher will address a women’s caucus on health issues. And that’s just to name a few. “The race is to find out where all the parties are,” Simpsons star Harry Shearer recently told Variety. “So you have a lot of people wondering, ‘How do I get into the best parties?’” Convention festivities kick off Sunday night, with an environmentally-themed concert, “Green Sunday at Red Rocks,” featuring Sheryl Crow and Dave Matthews, among others. Pete Wentz’s Fall Out Boy and NERD will perform for Rock the Vote Monday night, and Kanye West is set to perform for Bono’s ONE Campaign and the Recording Industry Assn. of America on Wednesday. But the biggest night? Closing night on Thursday. The convention is moving from the 20,000-seat Pepsi Center to 76,000-seat Invesco Field for Obama’s acceptance speech. (Ricky Kirshner, who produced the 2007 Super Bowl halftime show, will resume the convention’s co-executive producing duties.) Oprah Winfrey is expected to attend, but will not speak for Obama. Said pal Gayle King, “She thinks this is his moment. I know that she is planning to be there.”
Us Magazine

When SELF editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger trained with Jennifer Lopez for their upcoming triathlon, Jennifer’s natural athleticism shined. (But anyone who has seen her dance could probably have guessed she’s a great athlete. Her moves take serious coordination and fitness skills.) That trait helps during a race, but the physical aspect is only part of the story. You also need mental prowess, and Jennifer’s seems to be in as good a shape as her body.

“With all the different legs, I’m a little slow when I start, then I gradually pick up the pace. I start feeling good and as I’m thinking, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I get faster. Not fast like I’m going to break a record time, but like, OK, I’m stronger now. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

“There’s a hill at the end of my usual bike course. For about a mile, it’s all uphill. The first time I saw it, I thought it didn’t look too bad. But when you’re on a bike, pedaling after seven miles, it’s hard! What’s most surprising to me, though, is how much the body can accomplish. Your mind just needs to tell your body it can; your body can take it. I’m always surprised at how much I can do.”

We love her determination. A can-do attitude will help you reach your goals, whatever they may be. Jennifer’s, aside from crossing the finish line: Raise as much money as she can for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. If you can help, click the “donate” link above.

And for more tips on achieving your fitness goals, visit SELF’s Reach Your Goal program.)

Jennifer Lopez is on the move again, returning to UTA. Agency is where she jump-started her film career more than a decade ago. After her original stint at UTA, Lopez bounced around agencies, logging time at CAA and WMA, where had been repped for the past two years. In 2002, she famously split from ICM, which leaked an internal memo stating that it was cutting ties with the actress-producer-recording artist. At the time, her publicist insisted the parting was mutual. The multihyphenate, who took time off from her career to give birth to twins, hasn’t appeared in a wide-release film since 2005’s “Monster-in-Law” and is looking to return to showbiz — particulary acting — full-time. Talent co-head Tracey Jacobs, who recently was promoted the UTA board of directors, is leading the team of agents that will now handle Lopez as well as her film and TV production company, Nuyorican. Simon Fields, Lopez’s producing partner, will also now be repped by UTA. Lopez will star in two films shooting in the fall: the Don Roos-helmed drama “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits” that Marc Platt is producing alongside Nuyorican; and “The Governess,” produced by Yari Film Group and Nuyorican. Nuyorican recently set up a project at ABC based on the Lopez film “Maid in Manhattan” and will soon begin production on the teen/tween series “Amiga Sweet 15″ for Disney Channel. Lopez continues to be repped by attorneys Barry Hirsch and Bob Wallerstein.
Variety

Aside from chatting with the triathlete herself about workouts, SELF has been checking in with Jennifer Lopez’s trainer, Gunnar Peterson, too. He mentioned that one of the most important parts of prepping for a triathlon is making sure you’ve got the right gear, especially a bicycle saddle that, “won’t have you wincing and swearing with every pedal stroke.” So how did Jennifer ensure she would be comfortable riding the 12-mile cycling leg?

“I got on the ass-o-meter at the bike store. That’s what they call it! You sit on this foam-rubber pad with numbers on it to determine what seat you need. There were three sizes: 130 millimeter, 143 mm and 155 mm. Guess which one I needed? 155. Instead of a tiny, aerodynamic seat, they bring out this bigger thing for me. Ha! But it’s not about the size of your butt! It measures where your bones sit. And you know, it felt so much better than the other seats. I said to myself, Oh my God, now I can do this.”

“It’s not like you’re on a Barcalounger or a beach cruiser bike, but you need to be comfortable,” Peterson adds. “We got bikes by Specialized at Toga Bike Shop in New York and Cynergy Cycles in Santa Monica. Bike shop pros are the sherpas of the cycling world; they guide you through everything. A pro will make sure the pitch and position of your saddle and handlebars and everything else is properly fitted. That will improve how you ride and feel on a bike, giving you more power.”

Jennifer has a great incentive to keep peddling—raising money and awareness for one of her favorite charities, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles—and thanks to her bike, she can feel even better about it, literally!

Want to feel better about your workouts? Check out SELF’s better body breakthroughs and get tips to overcome common fitness frustrations.

Keep checking back to read more about Jennifer’s triathlon training progress and charity initiatives.

From the Self.com official Jennifer Lopez blog:

Jennifer Lopez talks tri and charity in Central Park

We’re not the only ones excited that Jennifer Lopez is competing in a triathlon for charity. She and Lucy Danziger, SELF editor-in-chief, were guests on Good Morning America yesterday spreading the news. See the segment.

The pair chatted with anchor Chris Cuomo live from Central Park about raising money for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, which Lopez has worked with for many years, and the challenges and rewards of training. Her advice to other novices thinking of competing: You can do it, too! “Start slow and give yourself time to work up to your goal,” she said. “It’s hard, but I have more energy, and I feel proud of myself. When I’m training, I keep telling myself, ‘It’s for the kids.’”

The segment was a huge success, except for one hiccup Jennifer had on her way in to Manhattan:

“We were late because we got a ticket by the tunnel! The police told the driver to pull over. I was sleeping in the back, and I’m like, What are we doing sitting on the side of the road?! I gotta be on the air in 15 minutes! Let us go! They didn’t really see me, though. We took the ticket, then drove there as fast as we could.”

Luckily the producers switched the segment’s time slot, and Jennifer made it on the air to inspire even more women. (If you’re one of them, and want to achieve a fitness goal of your own, visit SELF’s Reach Your Goal program.)

Keep checking back to read more about Jennifer’s triathlon training progress and charity initiatives.

- Jennifer will be participating in the 22nd Annual Malibu Triathlon next month (Sept 13-14). Lopez, 39, will attempt to swim half a mile in the Pacific Ocean, cycle 18 miles along the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway and run 4 miles along the sands of Zuma Beach.

- Lopez will be racing for charity, donating any money that is raised to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

Jennifer Lopez is interviewed in Central Park about training for a triathlon on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ August 1, 2008:

Hollywood actress Jennifer Lopez has revealed that it was during her pregnancy that she decided to participate in the triathlon, while she was flipping through the channels when she caught the glimpse of a triathlon on TV. The “Enough” actress was relaxing while carrying her twins when she got inspired by the TV triathlon, and thought that it would be a great accomplishment for a mother of twins.

“I thought, ”What can I do to make my babies proud?” I think about what they’ll think about the year they were born: who I was and what I did, Contact Music quoted her as telling U.S. fitness magazine. “It’s important to me to set examples for them, I want to lead with my life, I want to say, You should do this because I’ve done it, and I know it makes you a better person and it makes you feel great and sleep better and be happier,” she added.

Lopez has been working out vigorously post her pregnancy to get back in shape for the Triathlon. “Working out and getting back into shape isn”t exciting to me but training for a triathlon is, there’s a goal at the end of it, something to reach for,” she said. The event will take place later this year, and comprise of running, swimming and cycling.

Brush that dirt off your shoulder, Jen. According to the NY Post, some hack author named Richard Laermer penned a book entitled “2011: Trendspotting for the Next Decade” with a whole chapter dedicated to Jennifer called “Jennifer Lopez’s Antics: The J Down Lo.” Here’s a book excerpt:

“This woman has tried everything - no exaggeration: She’s been a movie star, a diva, a romantic comedian, a put-upon daughter, a lady from The Bronx, a married ‘mama,’ a half of a Hollywood duo, a disco starlet, a Chiquita, and my favorite: the next Gloria Estefan. Honestly, there is something to be said for people like Lopez who think they are gods in fact getting a comeuppance from their fans. In 2001, J.Lo was the biggest of the big, and is now the star likely to be found soon on Trivial Pursuit. And her album of 2007, called ‘Brave’ without a tinge of irony, was dubbed worst of the year, with one critic saying ‘too shallow even by Ashley Tisdale standards.’”

First of all, why does he have a whole chapter dedicated to her if she’s over? Also, he’s forgetting that this year People magazine paid her 6 million just for photos of her new born babies. Name a celebrity besides Angelina Jolie who was that saught after. Nice try.