Fitness Friday: Lose That Belly In 2 Weeks

Abs are built in the kitchen. How much we weigh, very much depends on what we eat.

Instead of three large meals, break your daily routine into 5-6 smaller ones. Remember the aim is to provide your body with just enough calories for what it needs. Eating a large meal will leave your body flushed with more calories than it actually needs. It’ll also slow down your metabolism, which is why many people go to sleep after a heavy meal.

Don’t skip meals. Starving yourself is the worst possible way to lose weight. Your body will fight back by holding on to the fat that it already has. Do not forget to eat breakfast. An early breakfast is the best way to kick-start your metabolism. Eating breakfast will also ensure that you have enough energy during the day. Statistics show that most people who skip breakfast end up overeating later on in the day.

Quick Food Guide:

Proteins: The human body burns more energy processing proteins than it does processing carbs and fat. That’s why diets high in protein work great for burning your belly fat. You can add lean meat, fish, poultry and nuts such as almonds into your daily routine to truly benefit from these important nutrients and lose weight. 

Vegetables & Fruits: Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and nutrients. They make us feel fuller and reduce our food cravings. Try to eat vegetables and fruits that are unprocessed. Canned food can have additives which can cause weight gain unknowingly.

Fats: Stay away from trans-fats present in products like margarine. You can substitute butter for olive oil or fish oil, which are lighter and healthier. You can also go for low-fat versions of dairy products such as skimmed milk and cottage cheese to reduce fat in your diet.

 Carbs: Avoid potatoes, pasta, white bread and rice. You can always adopt their unprocessed healthier versions such Brown rice, oats, whole grain pasta, quinoa. This way you can keep can not only reduce fat but also keep it fat at a distance in the future too.

Water: No article on weight loss would be complete without water being mentioned. Water helps to take away the toxins from the body. It increases the metabolic rate of your body which, boosts fat loss from the belly area and other parts as well.

Be Happy, Be Healthy!

-TK

Simplified: Hybrid and Green Technology

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy 

Hybrid. Plug-In. Electric. Green Technology.

What do these terms mean? Well we’re hear to clear that up for you.

Simply put, a hybrid is a vehicle that utilizes two separate power sources. The most common configuration is called an HEV or Hybrid Electric Vehicle. These vehicles use  a conventional internal-combustion engine (typical engine in most cars) that is mated to an electric motor. In most applications, like the Toyota Prius, drivers have the option to use both power sources together or separately, meaning that if the driver chooses, they can drive entirely on the electric motor.

So this is where we get into Plug-In’s. A Plug-In can be either an HEV (Chevrolet Volt) or a fully electric vehicle (Nissan LEAF). The term ‘Plug-In’ refers to the ability to actually plug the car into a conventional outlet at your home or garage to charge the battery packs that power the electric motor. In addition, one thing you may see when reading about electric vehicles is the acronym MPGe. No, that’s not a typo. MPGe is actually a new standard of measure that stands for Miles Per Gallon Equivalent, since electric engines don’t use fuel.

Among the leaps and bounds made in hybrid technology, manufacturers have also been experimenting with other methods of ‘Green’ technology by developing ways to increase fuel-economy while decreasing emissions with simple approaches. Mazda has developed what they call SkyActiv technology.

Mazda’s new SkyActiv technology is their attempt at a holistic approach to improving fuel-efficiency and emissions. Mazda has taken their Mazda3 and changed nearly every aspect of it. Using lighter materials and overcoming engineering feats, they have made the car lighter, stronger and more fuel-efficient. All of the car’s components now work in perfect harmony, allowing owners to enjoy the thrill of driving while getting excellent fuel-economy.

Whether it be a hybrid, fully electric plug-in or an everyday car that just happens to get great fuel-economy, Koons Automotive is here to suit your needs.

-KK

Happy Presidents’ Day From Koons Automotive!

We hope you’re all enjoying your day off on this fine Presidents’ Day. In celebration of this national holiday, let’s take a few minutes to remember how our day off originated. Presidents’ Day was established to take one day to honor all American Presidents, but most significantly Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

Initially, a day was set forth to celebrate George Washington’s birthday but many also saw fit to honor Abraham Lincoln’s birthday which was quite close to Washington’s. In 1968, things changed as the 90th Congress created a uniform system for Monday federal holidays. The law took effect in 1971 to change Washington’s birthday to the third Monday in February. The resulting controversy was sparked amongst citizens, politicians and entire states refused to honor the change. In protest, several states such as California and Idaho named the day Presidents’ Day. Today, the name ‘Presidents’ Day’ is widely accepted. For those of you in the DC area, it’s a great day to visit the monuments!

We’ve got our own celebration going on for Presidents’ Day. Check it out here:

Have a great Holiday!

–KK

Fitness Friday: Reducing Your Caloric Intake

If you’re serious about weight loss, then you simply must change your current eating habits. Until you do so, you’ll find it that much harder to lose weight.

When it comes to weight loss, calories are the enemy. After a meal, your body converts the calories that it needs into fuel and then stores the rest. The body requires at least 1,200-1,500 calories to carry out its everyday activities.

Your mission (now that you’ve chosen to accept it) is simple. In order to lose weight, you’ll need to ensure that you’re eating just enough food to fuel your body. This way, your body will be forced to turn to its fat reserves to make up the deficit.

Reducing your daily caloric intake doesn’t mean that you need to starve. In fact, it’s possible to eat five meals during the day without ever going hungry. To achieve this, you’ll need to change your diet to healthier foods.

Eat More Fruits & Veggies

Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grain meals. Complex carbs take a lot longer to digest and don’t have as many calories as processed foods.

Avoid Refined Foods

Avoid refined foods. They’re stripped of most of their nutrients and contain nothing but carbs. Instead of eating a biscuit or chocolate as a snack, try eating fruit. You’ll lose weight faster. You can also start a food journal to track what you eat daily. If you reduce your daily caloric intake by 500 calories, you could lose as much as 8 pounds in a month!

Be Happy, Be Healthy.

-TK

The 2013 Chevy Malibu Makes Its Debut in Tysons Corner!

The showroom of Koons Tysons GM Corner has been under renovation for quite some time, and we’re excited to announce that the construction is now complete! So come drop by and see our beautiful new showroom complete with various award-winning Chevrolet, GMC and Buick models.

Speaking of award-winning, we’ve got another surprise for you. Just a few days ago we received our very first 2013 Chevrolet Malibu in our showroom, and we’ve got to say, it’s quite the catch. The 2013 Malibu is a shorter, wider and roomier version compared to Malibu’s of the past. The 2.5l V6 delivers 190hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, which translates into below 8 seconds for a sprint from 0-60mph. In addition, the 2013 Malibu will utilize GM’s eAssist hybrid system that achieves an EPA estimated 26mpg city and 38mpg highway from their turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder engine. The interior has been fully redesigned and dressed in soft-touch materials with luxury in mind.

So what are you waiting for? Come on by!