Jennifer Lopez Shows Off Chiseled Abs at MTV VMAs

And the winner for hottest body at the MTV VMAs goes too...Jennifer Lopez! It has been over two decades since she first walked the red carpet of the annual awards show, but the 52-year-old refuses to hand over the unofficial moonman. On Sunday night, fresh from the Venice Film Festival, J.Lo snagged the attention from stars 30 years her junior when she hit the red carpet in an ultra sexy, David Koma ensemble consisting of a leather lace-up crop top and sequin-embellished mini skirt, showcasing her rock hard and chiseled midsection. How does the star maintain her forever young figure? Read on to see 10 ways Jennifer Lopez stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bikini Photos!

1. She Boils It Down to a Simple Equation

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According to J.Lo, the secret to a sexy body is quite simple. "You got to work out, you got to watch what you eat," she told Us Weekly. "It's a job—you've got to buckle down."

2. Her Workouts: Quality Over Quantity

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Over the past few decades, Lopez has discovered the trick to making the most out of workouts. "In my 20s and 30s I used to work out but not like I do now," she told InStyle. "It's not that I work out more; I just work out harder and smarter. And it doesn't take me as long as it did in the past. I do it more for my health than I do for looks, which is funny. When you do things for the right reasons, you actually look better!"

3. She Doesn’t Do Rest Days

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Fitness is part of Jennifer’s daily routine. "Very rarely will I skip my workout," she told Us Weekly. "Sometimes, I work too late the night before, and I'm like, 'Ugh, I can't do this.' But I tell myself, 'Just do it. It's only an hour.' It's just talking yourself off the ledge of being a lazy bum."

4. She Is Inspired By Her Loved Ones

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Jennifer stays motivated by her loved ones. “I really believe that when you take care of yourself and work to stay healthy, you're better able to take care of those you love. So working out is definitely a priority for me," she told Hello.

5. She Finds Activities That Spark Joy

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The key to exercise, per Jennifer? Find workouts you love. "I am 100 percent convinced that working out is part of what makes me so happy. Dance has always been a huge part of my life and taking the time to move my body and do something that's so good for me is key to my happiness. When my confidence is lagging, I dance. There's something about seeing what my body is capable of and feeling the endorphin rush that comes with a good dance session that really helps boost my confidence and my mood. I still consider myself a dancer at heart and I love it,” she told Hello.

6. She Doesn’t Do Fad Diets

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Healthy eating isn’t a fad for Jennifer, it is a lifestyle. According to Romero, her diet is ultra-clean and consists of five basic categories: protein, vegetables, fats, carbohydrates and water. She “stays away from processed foods and gets her nutrients from whole sources.” Her protein sources include egg whites, white meat turkey, chicken breast and grass-fed beef three to four times a week, while she gets her fats from fish—including salmon and sea bass that contains high levels of omega-3s and 6s—and “a handful” of nuts per day. She also eats a lot of veggies, avoiding carrots and corn as they are higher in sugar than leafy greens. Complex carbs like sweet potatoes, brown rice, quinoa, rice bread and oatmeal, which she’ll eat with fresh berries, are also on her menu.

7. She Doesn’t Deprive Herself

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Jennifer does indulge cravings. "Throughout the years I’ve learned the importance of maintaining a healthier […] diet," she told People. "I still eat some of the foods I love, but in moderation. I don’t deprive myself."

8. She Drinks A Lot of Water

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Dodd Romero, who trains the star, revealed to US Weekly that she drinks tons of water. “She drinks a minimum of seven glasses a day,” Romero revealed.

9. She Mixes Up Her Workouts

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While strength training is her go-to workout, after playing a pole dancer in Hustlers she installed one in her home. "I have a lot of respect for people who do the pole," J.Lo explained Jimmy Kimmel. "It's, like, acrobatic, it's a different muscle group," she said. "And the things that they do with their legs and everything and go upside down...it's hard."