It's like Christmas in June!

These days I enjoy going shopping for fitness gear and apparel more than I enjoy shopping for work or everyday clothing. There are so many wonderful products available these days! How's a girl to decide?!?! Well I don't have to decide because my checking account decides for me. And currently it is saying be frugal and don't get crazy. Too bad money isn't growing on trees.

I've heard mentions of Target, Wal-Mart, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls (to name a few) offering good fitness apparel at low affordable prices. No argument from me. I frequent these store racks on a regular basis (mostly just looking). 

My latest discovery is Academy Sports & Outdoors.

From Academy's website: "Academy Sports + Outdoors is a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer with a broad assortment of high-quality hunting, fishing and camping equipment and gear along with sports and leisure products, footwear, apparel and much more. The Texas-based company operates over 125 stores throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas."

I had not heard of this store before moving to Texas. It took me awhile to venture in but once I did it was like heaven.

They have an excellent women's fitness apparel section with many brands. They offer brands like Nike, Champion, Under Armour, New Balance, Adidas, etc. I particularly like the BCG brand. Its not name brand and it is in my price range. I love the compression, moisture wicking capris I purchased there and my checking account loved the price so it was a win win. :-) The other great thing about Academy is the clearance rack. It is my new bff!! I've found some great moisture wicking tanks for under $10.

On this purchase, I got a lovely Camelbak Charm hydration pack, BodyGlide, BCG tank from the clearance rack ($5 HOLLA!), and a couple GU Energy products to try. I am very excited to take my Camelbak out on long wog (walk/jog) Saturday.

Thanks Academy Sports + Outdoors for being such an awesome store!!!! :-)

What is your favorite fitness gear(s) and/or favorite places to purchase fitness gear?

**Please excuse the quality of the photos. They were taken on my iPhone and I am nowhere near a being a professional photographer**

And So It Begins: Week 1 Half Marathon Training

I have signed up for my first half marathon (Blog post: It's Official).

See Jane Run Half Marathon

I still don't consider myself a runner (that's a whole other post) since I can't really run for more than 5 minutes at a time. I'm slowly building up and I'm planning to walk and jog this half marathon.
Today is the first day of training. I spent time during my vacation researching plans and deciding what will work for me. It isn't perfect and it will change along the way but I'm glad I have a foundation to follow.

The plan for week 1:
Monday: Rest and/or easy 30 minute walk/jog

Tuesday: Zumba & strength training
Wednesday: 40 minute walk/jog
Thursday: Kickboxing class & strength training
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 4 mile walk/jog
Sunday: Rest

Follow my updates on Twitter: @jhooker517 and my blog :-)

**Note this plan is subject to change based on how I am feeling**

Wordless Wednesday: Nothing Like Family

Wordless Wednesday: The Sunshine State

- Posted using BlogPress from my Verizon iPhone

It's Official!!!

I just signed up for my first race!! Said first race just so happens to be a half marathon.
On October 9, 2011, I will be walking/jogging in the See Jane Run half marathon here in Austin, TX. Not only do I get a medal at the finish line but I get chocolate and champagne! Sounds like a win-win!

I'm so excited!! Lately I've been picturing myself crossing the finish line and it makes me all emotional. I KNOW that I can do this. It won't be easy but I've got lots of support (thank goodness for twitter chats: #runchat & #fitblog).
Time to finalize the training plan and get to it...after my vacation.

Feel free to come cheer me on or donate to help me obtain the appropriate gear to successfully (and in the least amount of pain) complete this race.





- Posted using BlogPress from my Verizon iPhone

On the road again...

Note: I am typing this post on my iPhone. Please excuse any errors and formatting issues.

It's that time of year...family vacation. This years destination is Orlando, FL and we decided to drive! Lots of hours in the van together! I actually flew from Austin to Nashville and my family picked me up there. It was my first flight with Southwest Airlines. It was very nice!




We then stayed the night at a hotel near the Tennessee/Georgia. Saturday morning we woke up and begin the long journey to Orlando. This trip should've taken about 9-10 hours but took closer to 12. We did get caught up in some not-so-awesome Atlanta traffic.


I didn't drive any on Saturday so I did lots of napping and playing on my iPhone. Side note: I recommend the game of Life. It has awesome graphics and is just like the real life board game.


Saturday night we made it to our hotel in Orange City, FL about 11-11:30pm. We were hungry so we went to Denny's. You have limited options at this time of night. I did not know Denny's had a fit n fare menu. Here's what I had...



I'd recommend it with a side of salsa. It was very filling and light which is what I needed at that time of night. I was also pretty cranky from lack of sleep and being in a van all day.

Today we decided to just chill and plan out each day. I've enjoyed doing a whole lot of nothing today. I mean I am on vacation after all. :)
My mom and I did go for a walk at the park that's literally across the street from the hotel. It has a track that goes along the perimeter of the park. The weather was so nice and I enjoyed the great conversation with my mom.










Of course I was thrilled about walking with my new SPIbelt. It's pretty awesome!



I absolutely LOVE Florida!! I need to live here permanently at some point! Don't know what it is but I feel so at peace when in Florida.
More adventures await me in the Sunshine State!

- Posted using BlogPress from my Verizon iPhone

Does this make me crazy?

I officially am considering myself crazy but in a good way (I think, you be the judge). Over the weekend I planned my calendar of races until March 2012. I have been debuting about whether or not to share the schedule but I am so excited about it that I want to tell everyone. Also, telling everyone will help me remain accountable to achieving to completing all of the races.

One thing you should know is that I have never done a race before not even a 5K so this is all new for me. I have been so inspired and motivated from the folks I have "met" on Twitter (shameless plug - follow me @jhooker517) and reading their blogs. The greatest inspiration and motivation has come from Brittany. She has more faith in me than I do but that's a good thing. Her faith has rubbed off on me and I am going for it. Go big or go home I say.

So the moment you have been waiting for...my (tentative) race schedule!

• July 2011: Caleb 5K
• I figured I should have some type of race under my belt before the half marathon
• August & September 2011: TBD for a race but I will be training for Octobers race
• October 2011: See Jane Run Half Marathon
• Chocolate & champagne at the finish line! Now that's motivation!
• November 2011: Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon
• I really want the shiny medal you get at the finish line
• December 2011: REST (in the sense of no races)
• January 2012: 3M Half Marathon
• February 2012: Austin Half Marathon
• I can't live in Austin and NOT do this race at least once
• March 2012: Cap 10K
• Another Austin race I NEED to do
• April 2012: ZOOMA Half Marathon
• Unsure about this one but it does offer a 5K (without the shiny bling at the finish line)

I feel crazy looking at this and it may be ambitious but I will never know if I can complete each one unless I try.

"But maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably"
Gnarls Barkley Crazy

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

abcdeFOOD

I found this last night on A Girl Who Loves Cupcakes and TJ's Test Kitchen and I thought it would be a great idea to do as well. Enjoy! Let me know if you recreate so I can check out your list. :-)

A: is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety?

Cameo, Gala, or Fuji

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of?

I will eat just about any type of bread. Currently I am eating Nature's Own Whole Wheat bread

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!)

Honey Nut Cheerios

D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy?

The long john with chocolate on top

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared? Scrambled with cheese and salsa. Although my first choice is egg whites

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product? Fat Free cottage cheese

G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at?
Walmart, HEB, Sprouts, Target, Sam's Club

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink?
Not a fan of hot drinks

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
Vanilla with hot fudge

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor?
Grape jelly for me please!!

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?
Never had a Kashi product

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today? I haven't had lunch yet but it will be a Boca veggie burger with Laughing Cow swiss cheese wedge on 2 slices of Nature's Own whole wheat bread, an apple, and Pop Chips

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
94% Fat Free popcorn

N: is for nutrients, do you like carbs, fats, or proteins best?
Carbs and fats: sweets, fried foods, pasta

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use?
Olive oil

P: is for protein, how do you get yours?
Chicken, ground turkey, turkey bacon egg whites

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats?
With brown sugar

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?
Can't say I have ever roasted anything

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind?

Peanut butter & jelly

 

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling? I try to eat things I don't normally eat at home and in moderation. Most of the time I go crazy but I am trying here people

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos?
I don't really get too crazy with my food

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take?
Women's one a day vitamin

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay?
No thanks

X: is for XRAY. if we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
Probably nothing but water because it is almost lunch and I am starving

Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?
Mac n cheese, ribs, meatloaf, swiss rolls

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it?
Never prepared it

Does this come with oxygen?!?!

I had a battle with myself all weekend as to when and if I wanted to get a workout in.
After spending many hours goggling "half marathon recap" or "walk a half marathon" and reading many blogs, I knew walking and/or jogging a half marathon was what I needed to do.
Also, I mapped out a tentative schedule of races I would like to do beginning July 2011. It consists of one race per month until March 2012. The first race is a 5K. I'm probably being ambitious because I don't even know if I'm going to survive my first half marathon yet I want to do like 3-4 more within six months of the first. Talk about go big or go home.
Lastly, I found an app that let's me create and track a walk/jog training plan building up to a half marathon by October (when the first half is). Apps work much better for me since I'm always on my phone or have it close by. I may or may not be addicted to apps but that's another story.

Any who, back to my workout battle. Eventually the workout won the battle on Sunday. I wanted to beat my last pace and goal. Correction, I was going to beat my last pace and goal Somehow I've become competitive with myself. Whatever works to get me moving I guess.
The post title comes from the fact that I literally can't run for more than 4-5 minutes at one time without feeling like I'm about to pass out from lack of oxygen. Too bad I can't run wearing an oxygen mask wheeling an oxygen tank. I suppose over time I will get better and build up endurance.

Here are photos of how I did along with my sweaty self in need of oxygen at the end of the workout.












- Posted using BlogPress from my Verizon iPhone

National Running (and Walking) Day

June 1, 2011 was National Running Day. I decided to join the celebration and go for my own walk/jog. Unfortunately, I had to go late but it did allow me to go outdoors before it got dark.

My first walk/jog (wog!) was not very pleasant. I decided to go around my complex which is about a 0.6 mile loop. Sadly the back part of that loop was blocked off because they redid the pavement and stripes in the lot. However I still managed and used the sidewalks. Then it started to get really dark and the back part of the loop is not well lit at all plus I have a fear of getting bit by a dog and I could hear them barking. I kept pushing but then I kept seeing this Jeep and the driver looked like a 10 year old boy. Nonetheless, my attention shifted from my activity to the Jeep and safety of them and myself. Then the Jeep disappeared after I saw it 4 or 5 times. I was so over it by this point. Here is what I accomplished.

I could have just walked briskly back to my apartment but I decided I needed/wanted to do more so I went to the apartment complex gym (hadn't been in a long time). I was met with a nice cool blast of A/C and a lovely unoccupied treadmill. Perfect! So off I went and here is what I accomplished.