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After a nice warm shower, they suddenly appear – red spots on the skin. Many people then complain about itching. The causes of this are usually harmless and can be remedied with simple tricks.

Red spots and itching: High temperature and alkaline shampoos as triggers

The skin can react sensitively, especially after a long, hot shower. To counteract this, lower temperatures can be tested. “Some have such a threshold temperature,” explains dermatologist Philipp Babilas. This temperature should then not be exceeded or fallen below – in this way the red spots can be avoided in many cases.

Another possible common cause is the shower gel, to which the skin is overly sensitive. This can manifest itself in two ways: In addition to red spots, many people often complain of itching after a long shower.

Shower gels often have a high pH value to which the skin reacts sensitively. Switching to pH-neutral soap can help and prevent itching. The shower process itself should also not be too long and too hot, otherwise the natural protective film will come loose. It’s also healthier for the skin after a shower to be gently and gently blotted. “Strong rubbing is unhealthy for the skin in the long run”

Cooking is simply more fun with a sharp knife. But how do you properly sharpen your knives? We’ll tell you.

Why do knives become dull?

Blunt knives should always be sharpened. But how does it even come about? The wrong cutting technique, a surface that is too hard or cleaning in the dishwasher are absolute no-go’s when dealing with knives. Do you already feel caught? We show you five mistakes that you should avoid in the future. Because, as is so often the case, prevention is the be-all and end-all.

If your cutting boards are made of marble, glass or stainless steel, i.e. very hard materials, these increase material wear. The harder the surface, the quicker your knife will become blunt. Wooden or plastic boards are better suited.
The wrong material to be cut, i.e. very hard food such as frozen products and bones, will damage your knife. It is best to use a kitchen cleaver for such purposes.
The wrong cutting technique also leads to accelerated blunting. High-quality kitchen knives should not be used for chopping. Instead, try to use loose and smooth cutting movements.
Stay away from the dishwasher! Improper cleaning can also damage your knife. Knives don’t handle the heat and harsh chemicals well at all. Instead, you should wash your cutting tool by hand with a mild detergent immediately after use. But you shouldn’t wait too long with it, because if the knife is left in the wet for too long, there is a risk of rusting.
Incorrect storage can also shorten the life of kitchen knives. They are best stored separately or in a knife block.

Sharpen knives at home – can I do that?

Sharpening takes practice because doing it wrong can ruin knives. Not all types of sharpening are equally suitable for beginners. If you have little or no experience, you should use a grinding machine, as it is relatively easy to use. Grinding on a whetstone delivers a particularly precise result, but this requires practice. As is well known, no master has fallen from the sky and that also applies to knife sharpening. You can definitely learn it if you are not completely untalented with your hands and you will be able to see learning progress after a short time. However, if you have two left hands or simply don’t have the time to sharpen your knives yourself, you can alternatively have this task done by professionals. Sharpening services are becoming increasingly rare these days, but if you have found a grinder, you can also have scissors, tools and garden equipment repaired there.

Sharpen knives – whetstone or sharpening steel?

Grinding with the sharpening steel

Sharpening steels are more suitable for maintaining sharpness than for actual sharpening. With them you can get your knife ready for use again quickly, but they cannot replace a basic sharpening of the blade. A basic distinction is made between two types of sharpening steels – the exciting and the straightening. Exciting sharpening steels made of ceramic or diamond remove some material from the cutting edge and thus ensure roughness. However, these sharpening steels bring only short-term success. If you want to keep your blade sharp for a long time, you should use a sharpening steel made of metal. No matter which sharpening steel you have chosen, you should make sure that it is harder than the knife to be sharpened.
When sharpening with the sharpening steel, make sure to maintain the correct cutting angle, i.e. the angle between the blade and the steel, of 15-20 degrees. The speed at which you carry out the sharpening movements is entirely up to you, just make sure that you guide the entire cutting edge along the sharpening steel. If you have aligned the angle correctly, you can now start the sharpening process. To do this, pull the knife down along the steel and repeat this on the back to sharpen the blade from both sides. You can repeat this process five to ten times, depending on the sharpness you want.

Sharpen with the whetstone

If your knives don’t cut ideally despite using a sharpening steel, you have to find another solution. The most well-known way to sharpen a knife is also the best way – for a great result with a whetstone you can get your knives particularly sharp again. This is also very flexible, because there are different stones for each grinding phase, from coarse to very fine. A sharpening stone* not only ensures a long service life for your knives, you can even use it to sharpen the knives thinly.

However, a sharpening stone also has disadvantages. On the one hand, a perfect result takes time and, on the other hand, sharpening with a whetstone requires a high degree of skill. If you change the angle even slightly during the process, it can destroy the result. For passionate grinders, however, there is no way around the grindstone. For beginners, it is advisable to use a knife sharpener guide*, which helps to keep the angle. Some sharpening stone sets* already have the guide included.

Sharpening stones differ in their grit: the higher the grit, the finer and sharper the result. With a little practice and a fine grit, you can achieve razor-sharp results. For knives that have been sharpened a lot, the so-called “thinning out” of the knife is also recommended. This will adjust the sides, which are becoming thicker and thicker as a result of the sharpening, and you will immediately enjoy your knife more. When choosing the grit of your sharpening stone, you should be guided by the degree of wear and tear of your knife. To sharpen very worn and blunt cutting tools, choose a coarse grit of 200 to 400. For normally worn knives, a grit of 800 to 1000 is recommended. If you want to fine-tune your blades or polish them, a grit of 3000 or advised from 6000.

When it comes to whetstones, a distinction is also made between water stones and oil stones, with the respective liquids forming a film on the surface. This not only reduces friction, it also prevents particles from getting stuck in it. To soak the water stones, place them in a water bath for about 15 minutes. You can tell whether they are ready for use when no more air bubbles rise. The stone must also be kept moist during sharpening, because only then can the necessary grinding sludge form, which sharpens the blades gently and at the same time very intensively.

More ways to sharpen your knives

Sharpening rods for quick sharpening

Sharpening rods are suitable for anyone who wants to keep their knife sharp. With a quick grip on the sharpening rod* you can keep your knives sharp and save yourself the hassle of sharpening with a whetstone etc. However, the sharpening rods are not suitable for sharpening knives that are already blunt or thinning knives. That’s why you should pay attention to regular grinding.

Pull-through grinder for everyday knives

Pull-through grinders* are probably the easiest way to sharpen your knives. They are very easy to use: just insert the knife, pull it out and you’re done. Repeat this process a few times depending on how hot you are. However, these sharpeners are only suitable for everyday knives. You won’t get your knives very sharp with it, since the cutting edge will always be a little frayed. The sharpness does not last long either, so regular sharpening is also recommended here. For the everyday kitchen knife, however, this is completely sufficient.

electric grinders

Electric grinders* are for those in a hurry. They are visually reminiscent of the pull-through sanders and are just as easy to use. The result of the electric grinder is definitely impressive and is even significantly better than that of the hand-operated colleagues. But: Electric grinders remove more material than e.g. whetstones, which can shorten the life of your knives.

Which method is suitable for which knife?

The sharpening stone, in particular the Japanese water stone, is the ideal tool for sharpening Japanese knives. If the grinding is carried out regularly and you value extreme sharpness, we recommend a grit of 1000. We speak of polishing stones from a grit of 2000 and up and can use this to sharpen the knives. The sharpness can be increased in this way, but the result is shorter than that of a basic grind.
European knives are comparatively more robust than Japanese ones. A sharpening steel is sufficient to sharpen these rather insensitive knives. This straightens the blade again and again and thus ensures a smooth and sharp cutting edge, but after a while a basic sharpening is also necessary for European knives.

Can you sharpen a knife with plates?

Not everyone has sharpening stones, machines or sharpening steels at home. With plates and cups it is of course quite different. In order to give you a material and wallet-friendly method of sharpening knives, we asked ourselves: What is the truth of the myth of using plates to get knives sharper? In fact, it works! To do this, pull the blades off the rough underside of your ceramic dishes several times. Of course, this DIY cannot replace the professional methods with whetstones and the like, but it does bring a small amount of success.

When boiling water, everyone uses a different variant. It is interesting whether you save more energy and costs if you use the kettle or if the saucepan is more economical.

Where does the water boil faster and more energy-efficiently?

Water is traditionally boiled either in a kettle or in a saucepan. But the question of what actually saves more energy and thus costs can usually be answered off the bat.

If you take a look at the time aspect, you might think: If you heat the water in a saucepan, it will take a lot more time. With the kettle, on the other hand, the water is usually heated in just a few minutes. A fallacy would now be that it is more economical to use the kettle. Because the bill was often made without modern induction cookers. Induction cookers heat water just as quickly as the kettle.

According to Stiftung Warentest, the kettle is the best choice when you compare the time, energy requirements and energy costs. The basic prices of 0.27 euros/kWh for electricity and around 0.07 for gas were used. The differences to the induction hob are minimal: while the kettle took an average of 3 minutes and 18 seconds to boil the water, the induction hob needed 4 minutes and 36 seconds. The energy requirement of the kettle was 115 Wh, that of the induction cooker 123 Wh; the corresponding energy costs amounted to 3.1 cents per liter for the kettle and 3.3 cents per liter for the induction hob. The differences seem minimal at first, but add up over time, so that you can save money with the kettle in the long run.

The relevance of the amount of water

If you only want to boil a small amount of water, for example for tea, it is advisable to use the kettle. The Öko-Institut points out other advantages of the kettle compared to the saucepan: it saves time, is easy to use, does not have to be monitored and is therefore safer. In addition, kettles are very cheap to buy. You should not use a metal kettle: These are not particularly energy-efficient, as they store the energy and therefore more is needed to boil the water. It is also important to descale the kettle regularly; this saves you time and energy.

If you have an induction cooker with a boost function at home, the water can usually be heated just as quickly as with a kettle. However, the stove is usually very expensive to buy; Although you can save energy by cooking on an induction stove, the initial costs are usually not covered by using it to boil water.

It is important that you do not use the kettle before boiling large quantities of water, for example for pasta or other food: If you first boil the water in the kettle and then tip it into the saucepan, you suffer a double loss of energy.

Conclusion

To save time and energy, the kettle is worth it; especially in small amounts. If you are dealing with larger quantities, you should not pour them out, but heat the water in the saucepan right away.

The ball beetle is a household pest that should not be underestimated. But what does it look like and what damage can vermin actually do in your home? What you should know about the bug and how to get rid of it.

Why are they so dangerous?

In themselves, the beetles are not directly dangerous or poisonous for us humans, but they indirectly damage our health. Since bullet beetles are omnivores, they stop at almost nothing: they eat wool, fabrics, fillings, grain, but also dead insects, animal and plant remains.

Once they have established themselves, they can spread quickly and besiege entire houses. The females produce clutches of up to 200 eggs, which is one reason for the rapid reproduction.

The beetles can infest half-timbered houses or apartments in old buildings, as these represent the ideal conditions for them.

As a result, they gradually eat their way through the building fabric and over time make living in it difficult or even unreasonable. Since the animals are very hardy and undemanding, it is incredibly difficult to drive them away at an early stage.

It becomes particularly problematic when the ball beetle also infests foods such as flour, spices or oatmeal. They contaminate food with their droppings, pupae and larvae skins

You can do that against the bugs

If you have a ball beetle infestation, you should definitely take the following measures:
Check your supplies regularly: the beetles will eat and burrow through packaging. Make sure the food is well sealed and see if you can spot any holes or debris from the faeces or larvae. Dispose of this packaging immediately.
Use masking tape: This is a great way to check if you actually have bullet bugs in your house. For example, put double-sided tape on the floor so the bugs stick to the tape.
Oatmeal and Newspaper: Set up small traps out of oatmeal and wet newspaper. The animals love the moisture and will congregate there. Therefore, use adhesive tape here as well, which you stick around your trap.
Prevent: Clean regularly, ventilate well and avoid moisture in the house. Also, make sure you regularly check your supplies and wardrobe. Always clean thoroughly and keep everything closed and dry.

However, if the bullet beetles have nested in you for several months or longer, you should definitely contact an exterminator for professional help. This is the only way you can safely rid your house or storage room of the bugs.

Weight training has many positive effects on the body. With the right diet, you can quickly see changes in your body and muscles. But you should note a few things.

Avoid the 8 biggest mistakes when weight training

#1 Training without a plan

Your training should be structured through. A training plan can help. Because strength training is only about fun, mainly about building muscle. A training plan will help you to train all muscle groups with different, varying exercises.

If you do the exercises from the stomach, they will always be the same ones that are easy for you. In order to achieve results, however, some effort and, above all, variety are required. You can have a training plan drawn up in your gym.

#2 No warm up

Do you shy away from warming up because it’s warm outside anyway or don’t have time? You should change that. With a warm-up, the body pumps more blood through the circulatory system and your muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints are prepared for the effort to come.

This also makes you less prone to injury and more enduring. So use a cardio machine of your choice for eight to ten minutes before every strength training session and cycle, step or run at a moderate pace.

#3 Quantity instead of quality

Only if you pay attention to the technique during training will you also use your target muscles and consequently grow faster. Even if you might be able to lift a few kilos less as a result.

Improper exercise also increases the risk of injury. So always pay attention and ask a trainer if you are unsure.

#4 Wrong training weight

Nobody needs show-offs in the gym. Therefore: only take as much weight as you can really handle and not as much as your neighbor can lift. Excessive training weight can lead to overload or even injuries. Your exercise execution suffers as well.

How do I know my training weight? Legs can move more weight than shoulders. The last reps of a set should be difficult for you. If you can’t do your exercise correctly, the weight is too heavy. If you can move the weight with ease, it’s too light.

#5 No rest between sets

Taking a break between each set is important, even if you feel pressed for time. Because during this break, your muscles fill up their energy stores. This allows you to last longer. But if the breaks are too long, your body cools down again.

#6 No increase in load

Your muscles build up with the training and get used to the strain. So that your progress does not stagnate, you should regularly look for new challenges and set new stimuli.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to increase the weights. You can also do more reps per set, switch to free exercises, or add additional exercises.

#7 No cool down

Cool down is the opposite of warm up. They show the body that the stress phase is over and that it can cool down. The heart and breathing rate can be easily regulated during a leisurely ride on the bicycle ergometer or when rolling out on the foam roller.

#8 No recovery period

More is not necessarily more! Give your body a break between workouts to recover. If you train too often, there is not only a higher risk of injury, you also train less effectively and persistently, which in the long run leads to stagnation of your muscle growth.

Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez – their trademark is their bottom. But what makes the perfect butt? We explain how you can calculate it.

British scientists claim to have found the formula for calculating the optimal hip-to-waist ratio. To do this, researchers from the “University of Lacashire” measured and examined more than 2,000 women. The result is a formula that attaches value to the female bottom. From this, an index was developed that contains a scale. The perfect scale value is 0.7. The fact that this value probably applies to very few women should not surprise anyone. The female society average moves around this value towards both extremes of 0.0 and 1.5.

waist circumference : hip circumference = bottom value

In words: The waist measurement is divided by the hip measurement and gives a butt result. Measurements are taken at the narrowest part of the waist and at the widest part of the hips. With the optimal value of 0.7, the perfect woman would have to have a waist circumference of 70 centimeters and a hip circumference of 100 centimeters, according to Adam Riese.

Which type is yours?

But even the optimal value of 0.7 on the index can take on a wide variety of characteristics. There are four categories that serve to classify: apple, pear, tomato and potato shape.
apple shape:
The smallest of its kind is the apple butt. Narrow, tight, but relatively small. Almost ten percent of all women are affected.
Pear Shape:
Characterized by a narrow waist and a wide pelvis is the pear bottom. Around 15 percent of all women have this bottom.
Tomato shape:
This variant is the most common! Based on the fruit, the tomato bottom is very round. Whether the curves are tight or rather slack depends on the woman.
Potato Shape:
This expression can be found in around 30 percent of all women. The potato bottom is relatively large and elongated.

Contrasting study from Texas

Scientists from the “University of Texas” do not agree with their British colleagues. Their point of view on the perfect butt refers to the curvature of the rear. An angle of 45.5 degrees between the spine and buttocks is optimal and is perceived as extremely attractive.

Those who want to burn calories and lose weight often start a diet. But sport is also important for success, which is due to the high calorie consumption of the muscles. Building muscle can help with weight loss.

Muscles have a higher energy requirement

Appropriate nutrition after training is crucial for building muscle. In particular, in addition to proteins, the calorie requirement must also be considered – “muscles need 100 to 200 kilocalories more energy per day in order to guarantee the build-up at all

Interesting is the high consumption of kilocalories of muscle mass. However, this is necessary, because the muscles have to be “supplied with blood, supplied, warmed up and ultimately also activated by the metabolic process all day long and that costs energy.” A kilo of muscle mass requires about 50 to 100 kilocalories per day, explains the Froböse.

Muscle also differs from fat in terms of weight: muscle is about 13 percent heavier and therefore requires significantly more energy. The big difference: “Fat is a passive organization.”

Burn Calories: Weight Loss by Building Muscle

The high calorie consumption of the muscles can be taken advantage of. Building muscle is also crucial for losing weight. Froboese explains this in a separate blog post

In it he describes that losing weight is a slow process with many small steps. In particular, he recommends beginners and returnees “start with two cardio and three strength units per week.” He’s not talking about several hours, the main thing is muscle building: “The fact is: If you want to burn excess fat, you have to build muscle.” As a result, losing weight initially stagnates, but the weight may even increase.

Nevertheless, the muscles are important because they help to get to the fat reserves faster. At rest, the body uses very little fat. But: “The more muscle I have, the more calories I burn – even when I’m resting,” he explains. If the body burns more calories in a day than it gets from food, it goes to the fat reserves – and the weight loss process begins.

If the training was too intense, aching muscles will develop. With relaxation, warmth and the consumption of protein-containing products, you will quickly get rid of the annoying pain.

Sore muscles: This helps with pain after exercise

Sore muscles are tiny tears in the muscle fibers that cause swelling, which in turn causes pain. The best thing is to prevent sore muscles and not suffer from them in the first place. Easier said than done, though, so we have great tips for you on how to relieve your sore muscles.

What happens to the body when muscles are sore?

A sore muscle is a micro-injury to the muscle. It generally occurs when an unfamiliar or new movement has been performed, or when the muscle has been overused. This is the case, for example, with very intensive training*. Tissue fluid penetrates the muscle fibers through the smallest injuries and they swell. However, according to the Bayreuth sports scientist Wolfgang Buskies, you don’t feel the pain immediately when the micro-cracks appear. Because the muscle fibers themselves have no pain receptors. For this reason, it takes a while before the pain receptors, which are located outside the muscle fibers, report the injury to the brain and we notice the painful muscle soreness.

Correct prevention helps against sore muscles

Before it comes to an unpleasant soreness, you can do a lot to prevent it from occurring in the first place. In general, it is advisable to only do sports when you are rested. The sports medicine doctor Dr. Axel Klein has more tips ready:

Make sure you have enough fluids in your body. That means drink, drink, drink! Water that contains plenty of sodium or apple or currant spritzer is best.
In addition, you should warm up properly before exercising. That means doing light movements for at least five to ten minutes. For example, brisk walking or jumping. Even after the sports unit*
Don’t give it your all right away, but ensure a moderate increase in the level. This gives the muscles a chance to gradually approach the effort.
A warm shower is recommended after exercise, as it relaxes the body.
You should not stretch too much before or after exercising.

I have sore muscles – what will bring me relief?

If your muscles are sore, you should first lean back and rest your damaged muscles. If possible, move the muscles in a relaxed manner, never straining. You can easily train the muscles that are not injured. In addition, you should adhere to the following:

The sore muscles should be stretched lightly, but not too much.
Warm up the muscles. This leads to increased blood flow to the muscles, which has a pain-relieving effect. In addition to a heating pad, we also recommend a visit to the sauna or a bath with mountain pine additives*.
You should also make sure you have enough protein
Get at least eight hours of sleep a night. This promotes the self-regeneration of the body.

Should I take medication?

Taking medication for sore muscles is not normally necessary. In any case, there are no medications for sore muscles themselves. If so, painkillers are often used, but they can have the opposite effect: painkillers can suppress the inflammation, which slows down the healing of the microcracks.

So it’s better to let your sore muscles heal naturally than to resort to painkillers. You can use heat to relieve the pain.

Should I see a doctor for sore muscles?

If the muscle soreness does not subside after several days, you should consult a doctor. If you still have trouble moving, be careful. Because in an emergency, rhabdomyolysis can be present.

In the case of three young women from Scotland, the severe muscle pain was definitely a case for the doctor: because their urine also turned brown. The family doctor, in whose practice all three were, immediately sent them to the hospital. The diagnosis: imminent kidney failure due to excessive strain on the muscles. Due to the causal overload, the mantle of the muscle cells was injured, causing them to push outwards. This released the muscle pigment myoglobin, which almost flooded the kidneys. For this reason, the urine of the women also turned brown. If the women had not been treated quickly, their kidneys would have failed and they would have died. The case shows how dangerous it is to exaggerate too much in sports.

Conclusion: Prevention, warmth and relaxation help with sore muscles

If you haven’t managed to prevent aching muscles, you can still do a lot to alleviate the annoying suffering. Heat has proven to be very helpful, for example in the form of a visit to the sauna or a warm bath with mountain pine additives*. You can also promote the self-healing of the muscle fibers by consuming protein products. Last but not least, you should also get enough sleep so that the body, and thus the muscles, can regenerate.

One in four adults does not exercise enough. More than five million deaths could be avoided if the world’s population would exercise more. It doesn’t matter whether it’s jogging, weight training or cycling: Regular exercise not only promotes physical and mental health, but also prevents numerous diseases.

Sport: Positive effects on the body

When you exercise, your blood pressure and insulin levels drop for a few hours after exercise. After a few months, your heart gets used to the new strain during sport and thus lowers blood pressure and heart rate in the long term, even outside of training. This relieves the heart and reduces the risk of many diseases. For example, many people suffer from high blood pressure without even knowing it. This is where exercise and the right diet can help.

Strength training also strengthens the muscles and bones in particular, which in turn prevents fractures, tension or muscle tears. There is also a big plus in the positive effect on our immune system. Furthermore, sport reduces the risk of diabetes and cancer and has a positive effect on the brain, which stabilizes thinking skills.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical activity also promotes metabolic health, musculoskeletal health and the prevention of depression. Sport has an impact not only on physical but also on mental health. Physical activity improves mental well-being, increases quality of life as well as mobility and independence, especially in older people, reduces stress reactions, fears, depression and other forms of dementia.

WHO: This is what happens when you don’t exercise

According to the WHO, physical inactivity has negative consequences. Any movement is better than not moving at all. At six percent, lack of exercise is the fourth largest risk factor for premature mortality, after high blood pressure at thirteen percent, smoking at nine percent and high blood sugar also at six percent. Overweight (obesity) is another major risk factor, accounting for five percent of deaths.

For Europe, the WHO estimates the consequences of lack of exercise at one million deaths every year, which corresponds to ten percent of all deaths. There are also drastic economic costs associated with the negative effects of physical and mental inactivity.

WHO recommendations for physical activity

The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week for the adult population aged eighteen and over. That’s two and a half hours a week and should definitely be possible. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a workout in the gym, a round of jogging in the forest or a relaxed yoga session with friends, all movement promotes health. Even a long brisk walk improves endurance and keeps you fit.

In addition, muscle-strengthening activities should be incorporated that are not limited to just one area of ​​the body. A mixture of endurance and muscle training is recommended here, in units with a minimum duration of ten minutes each. At best, you spread your sports units over at least twice a week.

From the age of 65, the organization increasingly recommends physical activity that focuses on balance, coordination and muscle strengthening at least three times a week. Children should move for at least an hour a day. Children and teenagers should work up a sweat three days a week to strengthen muscles and bones. Being physically active is crucial to your health and well-being.

One fitness device for at home is particularly popular: the hula hoop. We reveal how you can train and lose weight effectively with “Hooping”.

More than just weight loss: That’s how effective training with the tire is

Many people who do sports do not only train to cover their weekly recommended active time, but are looking for a solution to lose weight quickly and sustainably. On her website, Haschke points out that many of her clients and Huller enthusiasts have already used the hoop to get fitter. To do this, she documents before and after pictures on the website – as living proof that this sport can really be used effectively to lose weight – coupled with the right diet.

How fast and how much you lose weight is individual. But what is safe to say is that you can burn between 400 and 600 calories in an hour of hooping. It’s about the same as jogging or other endurance sports. However, hulling can be the more varied sport, since the workouts can be more varied than a jogging session. That’s why hulling is a good alternative, especially for people who don’t like running.

Another study on this subject came to a similarly positive conclusion. The researchers also found out that training with the tire not only strengthens the stomach – it also trains the back, buttocks, thighs and pelvic floor. Precisely because of the strengthening of the pelvic floor, midwives recommend hulling to mothers in the recovery phase. But the hula hoop is also useful for a straight posture and more body tension.

Improving posture: Sport not only trains the abdomen

“Not only the lower back is trained, but also the back extensors, and that makes the entire posture more upright. A stable center is important for our well-being and our mental fitness,” says hula hoop trainer Elli Haschke in a telephone interview with the world .

As with any sport, hulling releases endorphins, relieves tension and puts you in a good mood. Finding your own flow can also be a great exercise to clear your head, says the hula hoop trainer. She herself does it everywhere, when shopping online, reading, watching TV and even when playing with her children. Also, many tires are collapsible and portable – making them more convenient than rigid gym equipment. This is exactly what makes the trend so appealing: You can incorporate it into your daily routine at any time. And best of all: There are no maintenance costs or monthly fees.

Anyone who wants to try this trend is faced with the following questions: What do I have to pay attention to when training after I have bought a tire? And: How do you distinguish a good hula hoop from a bad one? “Unfortunately, there is a lot of junk being offered at the moment because all dealers want to ride with the wave. But an unstable, wobbly tire is difficult to keep up, so motivation is quickly lost. Good manufacturers are, for example, Swingfit, Proiron or Resultsport – but currently they are often sold out “, says Haschke. The expert recommends waiting until a high-quality tire is available again rather than buying another of inferior quality.

Fitness trend: This is something to look out for when buying a hula hoop

For adults, hoops with diameters of 90 to 110 centimeters are common – the hula hoops from the toy store for children are not a good option here. For the average adult, these are too light and almost impossible to hold on the waist due to the small diameter. The rule of thumb for the perfect hoop is: the diameter of the hoop should correspond to the distance between your toes and your navel.

As far as weight is concerned, it is important not to use tires that are too heavy. For beginners, the effort is still too great to keep the sports equipment up for the entire duration of the training – without losing form and technique. However, the hoop must not be too light either, because the weight determines how strong the centrifugal forces are – the higher the centrifugal forces, the easier it is to hold the hoop up. The expert recommends using a 1.2 kg tire for beginners under 80 kg. With a body weight between 80 and 100 kilograms, one that weighs 1.5 kilograms and heavier people should then use a tire with 2 kilograms.