- This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.
Welcome back to our Saturday edition! Want to know how well you're aging? One longevity doctor gives her patients a 5-second walking test that measures functional fitness. Try it at home.
On the agenda:
- If you want to be less sedentary at work, start with these habits.
- Brush up on these four fine-dining faux pas before your next reservation.
- Florida's "Hamptons of the South" lives up to the hype.
- Taylor Swift shut down backlash, endorsed Kamala Harris, and came out on top.
But first: Cardio is out. Weights are in.
If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.
This week's dispatch
Gyms are becoming a treadmill graveyard
Cardio helped create the gym. Strength training is now forcing a makeover.
Business Insider's health team, Gabby Landsverk and Hilary Brueck, writes that gym rats today are trading in ellipticals, treadmills, and stair masters for free weights in favor of strength training.
And building a more sculpted body isn't just about looking fit.
Fitness industry consultant Pete McCall told Business Insider evidence shows "building muscle through strength training, as opposed to using cardio to manage weight, has a much greater effect on promoting longevity."
If you're still into cardio, "Fit Nation" author Natalia Mehlman Petrzela said, "the treadmill is not disappearing."
Instead, gym equipment manufacturers are creating more high-intensity equipment that meets both preferences. Meanwhile, some gyms are spending six figures to remodel their facilities to offer more weights and free-standing areas to execute strength-training workouts.
"What strength training really affords people is to make age just feel like a number," Mauro Maietta, district fitness manager at Crunch Fitness in Manhattan, told BI.
Time for that standing desk?
Most of us spend the time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays actively using our brains more than our bodies. But it turns out that's terrible for our health.
Health experts say sitting for extended periods can increase your risk of dying early. Luckily, research shows plenty of ways to combat this, from "exercise snacking" to being more active in the office. A Business Insider reporter decided to test these habits for a week.
Fine-dining faux pas
Dining at a high-end restaurant is a luxurious experience. But if you're used to more casual fare, there are four etiquette mistakes you don't want to make in a finer setting.
Interacting with staff, for instance, can make all the difference. And don't even think about showing up late.
A weekend in the "Hamptons of the South"
Area 30A is an up-and-coming beach spot in the Florida panhandle dubbed "the Hamptons of the South" for its stunning views and charming towns.
Terri Peters spent two nights in 30A to see if the region lived up to its hype. Here's what she found — and what surprised her.
Also read:
A stretch of Florida beaches has soared from a lesser-known gem to 'the Hamptons of the South'
How Taylor Swift won in the end
Some Swifties breathed a sigh of relief after the debate when Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for president. But it wasn't who Swift backed that was as surprising as when she did it.
Her announcement arrived amid a wave of backlash from some fans for her silence on the election. Even though she's known for planning far in advance, she also has a finger on the pulse — especially when it comes to the feedback of her dedicated fans.
Inside her strategy to shut down critics.
Also read:
- Taylor Swift used only Instagram to endorse Kamala Harris. There's a reason for that.
- All AI has done this election is convince Taylor Swift to endorse Harris
What we're watching this weekend
- "Civil War": Alex Garland's vision of a dystopian near-future America, starring Kirsten Dunst as a war photojournalist, is now on Max.
- "My Brilliant Friend": The fourth and final season of the HBO drama premiered this week.
- "In a Violent Nature": The year's most experimental horror movie is available on Shudder.
Deals we love
- iPhone 16 is here: Apple unveiled the next generation iPhone this week. The new AirPods and Apple Watch are also now available to preorder.
- Plus-size brands we love: From Universal Standard to Eloquii, we spoke to the experts and compiled years of research to gather this comprehensive list of the best plus-size clothes you can find.
- A love letter to the Bogg Bag: Believe it or not, the tote bag designed to look like a giant Crocs shoe is actually worth the hype. Here's why it's a functionality win for busy moms everywhere.
More of this week's top reads:
- 8 scents everyone needs in their perfume collection, according to a former fragrance consultant.
- Katy Perry's triumphant VMAs performance isn't good news for her career.
- Indonesia is halting new hotel building in Bali, citing rampant overtourism.
- A couple say they spent $400,000 trying to regain access to Disney's exclusive club and lost the legal battle.
- I'm a registered dietitian. Here are 8 items I buy from Aldi that I'd recommend to my clients.
- The 10 best foreign countries for a comfortable retirement, ranked.
- I watch the NFL and other live sports for free with this easy, old-school hack. You can, too.
- I've lived on the Amalfi Coast for 17 years. Here are 5 things tourists should do to experience it like a local.
- As a seasoned wedding planner, here are 10 of the best ideas I've ever seen at weddings.
- A mom who's been traveling with her kids for 19 years says these are the top hidden-gem destinations for families.
The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago.