*By Michael Teich*
The ubiquity of smartphones and apps has enabled people looking to improve their health find more convenient, cheaper alternatives to the gym without even leaving their home.
Kayla Itsines, Co-Creator of the Bikini Body Guide, has capitalized on the rapid adoption of such technology to build her fitness empire, which reaches a global audience of over 30 million.
“The app is like a personal trainer in your pocket,” Itsines said in an interview with Cheddar Monday. "You can do it anywhere."
But the rise of technology has also paved the way for other fitness disruptors such as Peloton, which has nearly $445 million in outside funding and lets users live stream spin classes from their homes. Itsines said Bikini Body Guide, which has no outside investments, has a competitive advantage because of its attention to fitness categories such as post-pregnancy and yoga.
"We try to cater to all women, which really puts us ahead of the game," she said. "Our oldest customer that I know of is 76. We're not just for the young ones, we're for the moms and grandmoms as well."
Itsines added that she has found success with her app by focusing on the achievements of other women, not her own.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/kayla-itsines-reinvents-the-fitness-industry).
Rising safety concerns over water bead products marketed to kids have prompted major retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart to pull some toys off their shelves.
The Congressional Budget Office said Friday it expects inflation to nearly hit the Federal Reserve's 2% target rate in 2024, as overall growth is expected to slow and unemployment is expected to rise into 2025, according to updated economic projections for the next two years.
Intel is out with a new product to challenge other big players in the space like Nvidia and AMD.
Stocks fell after the opening bell Friday but will end on another positive week.
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Americans picked up their spending from October to November as the unofficial holiday season kicked off, underscoring that shoppers still have power to keep buying.
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate dropped below 7% to its lowest level since early August, another boost for prospective homebuyers who have largely been held back by sharply higher borrowing costs and heightened competition for relatively few homes for sale.
Mortgage rates have dropped below 7% for the first time since the middle of August.
Taylor Swift grossed nearly $2 billion this year, according to Billboard.
A study from US News and World Report has found the most affordable place to retire is in Ohio.
