BI Today: No alcohol, no problem

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Happy New Year! Since many are focused on their health goals this month, we designed a special Saturday edition. Enjoy our best fitness reads to help you keep your wellness resolutions.

On the agenda:

• Gen Z was running on empty. Then they started running.
• Three people share advice that helped them lose and keep off the weight.
• How a nutritionist incorporates ultra-processed foods into his diet.
• A doctor and longevity expert shares the 6 bare-minimum things you can do to live longer.

But first: It's mocktail season.

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This week's dispatch

Say hello to Dry January

When the clock struck midnight, Rihanna — yes, the billionaire beauty magnate and pop superstar — proclaimed to her 150 million Instagram followers that she "didn't drink all year."

Rih Rih joins so many celebrities and mere mortals alike who are giving up alcohol for one reason or another.

The singer's announcement came days before US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an advisory that alcohol is one of the leading causes of preventable cancer in the nation, behind smoking and obesity.

We took a deeper look at the data from the four studies cited in the Surgeon General's advisory. It's worth noting one of the healthiest ways to eat, the Mediterranean diet, includes wine in moderation.

Still, if you want to join Rihanna and go alcohol-free for the month of January, here are some tips to get you started.

1. If you mess up, don't worry. Data suggests that some people have at least one day when they're not sober and it's typically the first Friday of the month. Keep going.
2. If you still love the habit of opening up a cold can of brew, stock up on alcohol-free beers and other alternatives that will allow you to still get your fix without sipping alcohol.
3. Tell your friends and family your plan. Having a support system in place can help hold you accountable.

Gen Z's obsession with extreme fitness

Your mid-20s are tricky enough, but graduating during a pandemic is another challenge. As the traditional goalposts of homeownership and parenthood get pushed further back, many are looking for other ways to measure their progress and regain a sense of control.

Young people in their 20s are pursuing intense physical fitness challenges, from ultramarathons (yes, races longer than 26.2 miles) to Ironman triathlons. They're also inspiring their peers to follow suit. Why now?

Some are calling it their quarter-life crisis.

Meeting your wellness goals

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to cut out the foods you enjoy or endure tough workouts you hate just to lose weight. Research shows this rarely works in the long term and can have unintended health consequences, like malnutrition and disordered eating.

Take it from three people who lost weight sustainably after years of yo-yo dieting. From prioritizing health over appearance to adding a social element to their journey, they shared the advice that helped them succeed.

Their weight loss lessons.

A 'realistic' approach to UPFs

Ultra-processed foods, which contain additives, made headlines in 2024 for their potential health risks. Last year, nutritionist Rob Hobson tried eliminating them from his diet, instead cooking everything from scratch.

Hobson found cooking three times a day is too time-consuming. Now, he incorporates "healthier" UPF options, like picking up pre-made pasta sauce from the store, to "make life easier."

How he incorporates UPFs in his diet.

Easy adjustments for a longer life

Dr. Michael Roizen, 78, is the chief wellness officer at Cleveland Clinic. He's all about helping people make lifestyle changes to live healthier for longer. In fact, there are small, easy changes that can make a big difference, even if you can't completely overhaul your lifestyle.

Roizen shared with BI the six things he thinks everyone should do to live longer and improve mental, physical, and social health.

Six tips for healthy living.

What we're watching this weekend

• "Missing You": Netflix's latest Harlan Coben adaptation is a thriller about a detective who finds her "missing" fiancé on a dating app a decade after he vanished.
• "Nightbitch": Amy Adams plays a stay-at-home mom who becomes convinced she's turning into a dog in this black comedy horror film now streaming on Hulu.
• "The Front Room": The A24 psychological horror comedy available on Max stars Brandy as a pregnant woman who's being terrorized by her husband's ultra-religious ailing stepmother.

See the full list

What to shop

• Most popular picks of 2024: We looked back on the products our readers clicked on most from our buying guides and reviews this past year, including our favorite walking shoes, work totes, and deep-cleaning essentials.
• Boots to the ground: There's a lot to consider when it comes to boots, so we've rounded up a tried-and-tested list of the best casual men's boots to protect your feet this season.
• Time to cozy up: We've spent hours snuggling and researching to compile this list of the best throw blankets to fit your home's needs.

More of this week's top reads:

• 'Squid Game' season 2 smashed Netflix's record for biggest debut.
• BI's Hilary Brueck went inside biohacking tech bro Bryan Johnson's home and said it was a bit different than what was on his new Netflix documentary.
• A gut health scientist and chef shares 4 ways she makes eating fermented foods tasty and easy.
• Color experts on the hues you should consider removing from your home in 2025.
• BI's Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert had lunch at Disney's Club 33, and she said it made her realize why someone would sue to keep their membership.
• A travel writer who's been to all 50 states shares one thing she recommends doing in each one.
• One woman who goes abroad for injectables and skin laser treatments says she's saved $3,955 on treatments.

The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.