This is the third part of my interview with trainer to the stars Gunnar Peterson. He dished about his celebrity clients, gave us tips on working out faster and smarter, and now, we're wrapping up the interview with tips for fitting into that sexy little dress ... by New Year's Eve!

Trying to get ready for a holiday party or hot New Year's Eve date? Gunnar suggests dropping carbs like bread, rice and pasta from your dinner (but don't drop them completely from your diet), getting plenty of sleep, staying hydrated and pushing yourself in your workout with your goal in mind. Fuel yourself for your workouts with some protein a couple of hours beforehand, and stay hydrated throughout your workout -- you'll get more out of it in less time.

If you're going strapless or backless, add some pull-ups into your routine. Gunnar is a big fan of assisted pull-ups using rubber bands, which allow even those who can't do a single pull-up alone to complete several reps. "It gives you a great feeling of accomplishment," he said, "which gets you fired up." Also, throw in some rear shoulder movements, like the reverse fly -- it'll help define muscles and give you better posture.

We learned last month that Jennifer Lopez was training for a triathlon, and now she's sharing more details with Self magazine. As a matter of fact, the diva herself invited Self editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger to come out and train with her and her trainer, Gunnar Peterson.

Lopez is participating in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon on September 14 and is using the race to raise money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The race starts with a half mile ocean swim, goes on to an 18 mile out and back bike ride, and ends with a four mile run. And the new mom is ready, spending an hour and a half each day working out in her home gym.

She said she decided to do a triathlon after watching one on TV while eight months pregnant, and credits her high school track background with her "Can do!" attitude. She told Self, "The team was a big part of my life back then and taught me so many things. When I look back on my life and what I'm able to do, it's partly because of that early training. It taught me discipline, how to be committed, about striving to win, stamina, all that good stuff."

Check out the video above to see part of the workout (and Lopez's flat and fabulous abs). And, if you're interested in supporting her cause, you can donate here.

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Svelte celebrities. I bet some are blessed with fantastic genetics and some workout as hard as rockstars party, and eat healthfully, too. But it's hardly rocket science to speculate a whole host of celebrities take the road to thinness with the attitude Nickelback shares in their song Rockstar, "Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars, And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars, The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap, We all stay skinny cause we just won't eat."

The inside scoop from celebrity trainers reveals crazy celebrity diets are the prescription for many aspiring stars to fit into size zero jeans. Here are a few of the nuttier ones, along with healthier alternatives to stay slim:

• Abuse of laxative teas: Teen actresses are gulping down up to ten cups of dieter's tea a day. Beyond serious gastrointestinal effects, all they're losing is water weight. Stay away from laxatives and try to lose fat, not waste. Once you eat and drink the scale goes right back up again.
• Pricey liquid cleanses: An already fit young actress working with one celebrity trainer invested $3,000 in cleansing supplements for a two week liquid/vitamin fast -- zippo solid food. She lasted a week before wolfing down an entire loaf of bread. Only later did she admit her fasting goal was not a cleanse, it was to lose more weight. Ridiculous. Water is the best cleanser.
• Coffee and booze: Here's Nickelback's Rockstar method with a little kick -- just don't eat, drink stimulants and follow it up with plenty of liquor. Yup, I'd be thin, too. But Beverly Hills trainer Gunnar Peterson said working out with a client who tried this method was a joke. Her organs were stressed, she was exhausted and her heart was pounding. Regular meals with a healthy mix of carbs, protein, veggies and fruit is the way to go.
• Lettuce and Swedish Fish: Peterson trained with another actress who took an additional six Spin classes a week and subsisted on lettuce and Swedish Fish. Of course, in total denial, she told the press she lost the weight through yoga and jogs with her puppy. You have to fuel your body with healthy fare, especially after six Spin classes!

Lettuce and Swedish Fish? Not an appetizing pairing.

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Despite having three kids and another on the way, Brooke Burke looks fit and fantastic at 36, ever though she claims that she's "not one of those people that can eat whatever they want and be naturally skinny." How does she do it? She recently spoke to eDiets about her program.

Burke uses, and endorses, a program designed by trainer Gunnar Peterson called Core Secrets. The program uses a stability ball, which she deflates and takes with her whereever she goes. And as for eating? She follows and low carb plan and occasionally gives into her cravings for cookies and pizza, but she makes sure not to overdo it.

Want to know more? Click here.

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