Bethenny in Columbus!

O.M.G. Today I full-filled a life-long dream. OK, so it's only been a dream since I started watching Real Housewives of New York, so like a 3-year dream, but that is when I first fell in love with Bethenny Frankel. She wasn't technically a housewife; she was a 30-something single, independent woman with no children and had been working her whole life towards making a business as a natural foods chef. She would talk about how she's worked so hard for so long and had little to show for it. She would often question her choice to focus so much on her career because it had caused her to let her personal life fall by the wayside. Bethenny was immediately my favorite Housewife because she was HILARIOUS, honest, and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She often admits that she has a biting tongue that can get her in trouble but it's who she is: take it or leave it. And I'll take it!

Bethenny's celebrity sky rocketed after two seasons on RHONY and once she got pregnant and engaged (in that order, you go girl! Welcome to 2011!) she left RHONY and started her new show, Bethenny Getting Married?, that showed her trying to balance her career with being a wife and mother. This is when the world fell in love with Bethenny and I became obsessed. I can relate to her so much and everything she says on her show I feel like she's talking right to me. I know this sounds weird, but before you call the authorities and have my Bethenny Frankel shrine removed (just kidding...maybe), hear me out. So many of the issues Bethenny has worked out, or is working out in front of all of America, I feel like I've had or fear having. She talks openly about how it was difficult for her to figure out how to eat healthy and she based her whole career off of the fact that she used to have really bad eating habits but took control and learned to cook her own meals. She doesn't have the best relationship with her parents, her father who she barely spoke to passed away during her last season on RHONY and her mother barely recognizes her existence, and although my relationship with my dad is excellent, her experiences with her mother are so similar to mine with my mom, it's actually really freaky.

She took a huge risk being so open and honest about her issues with her family that I can't help but respect the crap out of her. One example really stands out to me. On her last season (show changed name to Bethenny Ever After) she was talking about her breakdown at Thanksgiving. She admitted she took on too much, doing 100 things including hosting Thanksgiving dinner for her new in-laws, and the turkey didn't cook all the way through and, well, Bethenny flipped her lid. She started yelling that Thanksgiving was ruined and that it can't be fixed and stormed out of the room. Her therapist was asking her how her mom acted around the holidays, and Bethenny said "everyone walked on egg shells around her." Her therapist said "how do you think your in-laws felt when you started yelling?" and Bethenny said "like they were walking on egg shells around me." She's also mentioned how her need for perfection is why some of her past relationships didn't work out and I can 100% relate to all of that. I've gotten better about my need for perfection but I remember my mom used to flip out if things weren't perfect, and I also used to be that way, making it hard for anyone to be around me at times. THIS is why I love her so much: because I will be watching her show, laughing so hard I'm crying, and then 5 minutes later, I'm yelling at my television "ME TOO, Bethenny, ME TOO!!"

So when I heard Bethenny was going to be 5 minutes from me this morning, I knew I would regret not going and meeting her. Even though it was a quick meeting (she signed my bottle of Skinnygirl Sangria, took a picture with me, and I was out) I'm still so glad I got the chance to tell her how fantastic she is. I'll give you a play-by-play of the encounter, in case you were wondering exactly how it went down.

My Conversation with Bethenny Frankel:

Me: "Hi, ohmygod, I love you so much, ohmygod, it's so nice meeting you, ohmygod"
BF: "Hi! Well, I love you too."
(end scene)

True story, Bethenny loves me.

I almost didn't go because I felt guilty leaving work to stand in line for an hour and a half to get a bottle of booze signed by a reality TV star, but as soon as it was over, I knew it was all totally worth it. So, moral of the story, guilt fades but signatures last forever :)

This picture is posted on the Skinnygirl Facebook page. They wouldn't allow us to take our own photos but they took a photo of each person with Bethenny and posted it on Facebook right away. Another reason why Facebook is the bee's knees: instant PR! Please disregard my appearance. I am, what you would call, a hot mess. And I don't even care.

So, if anyone wants to pass this little entry on to Bethenny Frankel (or her assistant Julie who was there too) I would appreciate it. I'll mention you on her show when she invites me to visit her, Jason, Bryn, and Cookie in NYC!

*Disclaimer: I'm really not as big of a freak as this post makes me sound. I really am a normal person, I just get excited when I meet famous people. Heh.

That Gym!

Demi!

So this past weekend was my personal training studio's one year anniversary! They had a party during the Grandview Hop and it. was. a. blast! My trainer, Demi, and her friend, Ashley, opened this studio a year ago right in the heart of Grandview. Demi is a family friend and when I finally decided I needed some help reaching my weight loss goals, I signed up to work out with Demi twice a week. I was worried at first because I didn't really know what to expect and I hadn't done this much exercise for literally 5 years. However, after the first month, I increased my sessions and started going 4 days a week for an hour a day. She knew about my half marathon goal so she would tailor my workouts around my running and helped me increase speed and endurance. She taught me how to make healthy choices with food and she's also made exercising fun! I really look forward to my morning sessions with her because we get to talk about a lot of things going on in each other's lives while breaking a sweat! I used to feel so guilty when I went off my diet or skipped a workout that I would just give up after a month or two. Now, I don't feel as guilty because I know I'll be working out at least four days a week and Demi is so positive, she won't even let a negative thought enter my brain. I can honestly say she's changed my life!

[source]

I'm so happy for her and Ashley for starting this business and for the success they've had in their first year! If you're looking for a way to jump start your own weight loss, or just to meet new people and make new friends, I definitely suggest working out at That Gym On Grandview. Both Demi and Ashley have different price options for how often you want to work out and they will tailor your workouts to your body and your goals. Check them out!

4th of July Shenanigans

Boy, do I have a yummy recipe to share! These flax & oat breakfast power muffins are one of the first "healthy" recipes I tried because I already had all the ingredients. I made these again for the second time last week and they are just as good as I remember! The first time I made them, I didn't use chocolate chips but this most recent batch, I added organic dark chocolate pieces from Whole Foods. I also ate a handful of them as I was baking (hehe). They definitely add a sweetness factor, so I suggest you experiment to see which you like better. Let me know what you think!

Jamie, Tiff and me

I have to admit, I'm having a hard time concentrating at work today. My favorite weekend of the year is coming up and I am so excited to get through this week and on to the festivities. My brother and his family are having their first 4th of July party on Saturday and I can't wait! It's been really nice having them so close because it's now the place our family gathers for holidays. We've never really gotten into holidays before because there was no place we all could go and get together, but now that Jamie and Tiff have a home, we seem to get together over there at least a few times a month. Tiff is such a great cook too, so the meals are always amazing! 4th of July weekend is always a huge deal for UA; all the class reunions are held during the 4th and people come home so it's nice to be able to see old friends that don't live in UA anymore (although I don't know why they would ever want to leave in the first place ;) ). BUT, the weekend isn't even the most exciting part: I have a week off of work next week! I'm not going anywhere, but it's going to be nice to have the afternoons off to get stuff done and I'm sure there will be some pool time in the mix.



BFF!



THEN, the FOLLOWING weekend is my very best friend's engagement party. Katie and Steve are getting married June 2012 so this is the first of many parties for them. I'm so happy for her; we've always talked about when we get married, and now she's actually doing it! There will be more on her/them/the wedding as the date approaches :) Needless to say, it's going to be an excellent start to July. All I have to do is get through this last week of June and then it's party time!

Is anyone else doing anything fun for the 4th of July?

Coach Dupe: the man, the myth, the legend

Seeing as how it's Father's Day weekend, I thought I would dedicate this post to my father, the most important person in my life. Coach Dupe (as he would prefer everyone call him, including his children) is the hardest working man I've ever met. Of course, I didn't always appreciate all he has to offer. He would be gone a lot when I was a kid because he coached football in the fall, swimming in the winter, and track in the fall in addition to being a full-time phys ed/health teacher. Needless to say, fitness is one of his passions. He's the one that taught me to "suck it up." If I didn't feel like going to little league softball, he would drag me there and say that I made a commitment and I have people counting on me. He showed me that you give 100% and you do not quit. It's one of the reasons I've been so driven in all aspects of my life, because there's no other option but to show up and do your best.

He's had Hepatitis C that he contracted from a blood transfusion since I was born but he didn't know it for awhile, so he would have to go to the hospital here and there until they finally figured out what he had (at the time of his diagnosis, it was called non-A non-B Heptatitis.) I didn't realize what he had or how serious it was because he never complained, never felt sorry for himself, and he always got up every morning and still went to work, putting in 10-11 hour days teaching and coaching no matter how fatigued he felt.

I'll never forget when he and my mom told me he had cirrhosis of the liver. I was a sophomore in high school. I came home from practice and my parents were sitting on the couch. My dad asked me to come in and sit down. I didn't think much of it until he got a little choked up and then I realized this wasn't going to be a good conversation. He said that his Hepatitis C had caused lesions on his liver that were cancerous and the only treatment would be a transplant. He also said he was going to have to stop coaching football at my high school, Upper Arlington, which was his first love. I think he was more upset at having to give up his coaching position than he was at the prospect of getting a liver transplant. I asked him what the next steps were and he said "to get on a (transplant) list." OSU wouldn't take him because he was too much of a risk, so he traveled to St. Louis, Miami, Louisville and Nebraska, getting rejected from all except for Nebraska, which is where he ultimately received a new liver on April 27, 2002. He and my mother lived there while my brother and I stayed in Columbus. We would chat with my mom on the phone but my dad couldn't even say two words without being out of breath. They stayed there, missing my brother's high school graduation, while he rehabbed and finally returned home on Father's Day, June 14, 2002.

Senior Night, 2004

Once news got out about my dad's condition, the whole UA community came together and created the Dan Dupler Foundation for donations. I'm not exactly sure how much money we received but just the fact that anyone and everyone wanted to help our family, specifically my dad, really opened my eyes to what a great human being he is.

I truly believe that my dad didn't die from his liver disease because so many people count on him for so much. If he had passed away, a lot of people's lives would've been changed forever and I know for a fact I would not be where I am today. He's given his wife and kids everything we've ever wanted and is one of the most selfless people I've ever met. Although his health problems continue, he's getting his pinky toe amputated on Wednesday (long story) and he's currently being monitored for lymphoma, he still makes everyone around him laugh and he's never stopped giving his children anything we've ever needed or wanted. He makes me proud to be a Dupler.

Mother's Day is a sad time for our family because we don't get the opportunity to show our mom how much we love her. However, Father's Day is great because we get to appreciate my dad (who claims he doesn't like attention, but I know he secretly does) and tell him just how amazing and special he is!

Coach Dupe: the man, the myth, the legend.

Is gluten-free for me?

For past few years I've had this rash on my arms and hands that only occurs in the spring/summer. It's itchy and really unattractive. It starts at the inside of my elbows and spreads down to my hands. I finally went to my family doctor last year about it, and since she knows my family history of liver disease, she tested my blood for different things, one being celiac disease, or an allergy to gluten. Considering my favorite foods are bread, pasta, and sweets, I was clearly NOT happy. It came back negative so she sent me to the gastroenterologist to run some tests on my liver and a dermotologist who gave me some topical steriodal cream which didn't really help. My rash ended up going away over the winter and since I've lost some weight, it hasn't returned. I believe it was directly related to my weight gain and my diet.

When I was waiting for my celiac results, I did some research on gluten-free cooking and actually went around the grocery store and read the labels to see what has gluten in it. Answer: almost everything I was eating. Since I've become more aware about gluten, I've noticed that there are a lot of gluten-free products out there and it's really not that difficult to buy my favorite things sans gluten. I also came across this website, gluten free you and me, and I can't wait to check out some of the products. Even better, it's local! Gotta support my Columbus peeps!

Don't get me wrong, I still eat/drink products that contain gluten. I just opt for gluten-free options on certain items when I can. It never hurts to get tested for celiac; just a simple blood test by your regular doctor can tell you. Almost every blog and/or site says that people who are intolerant to gluten don't even know it, and only after they stop eating gluten do they realize just how much better they feel. Just some food for thought! :)

blended banana bliss

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! I had a great time but now it's back to reality, which means back to my diet. I wanted to share with you one of my favorite new recipes: banana "ice cream." I eat this at least twice a week because it's just like ice cream but without all the guilt. I got this recipe from Peanut Butter Fingers. The best part is that it's so easy, even a caveman can do it!

All you need is two frozen bananas, vanilla protein powder (optional, but it will help keep you fuller, longer), 1 cup milk (I use unsweetened vanilla almondmilk) and some honey. Throw all of this in the blender, blend it up so it's really creamy, and dig in! I'll sometimes put it in a bowl and add fresh blueberries or strawberries, but you can also just pour it in a cup and enjoy it like a smoothie. I'll be posting more about smoothies because I'm a little bit obsessed with them. This recipe makes A TON which I like because it's very satisfying but not so heavy that you feel sick afterward. I dream of this treat while I'm running since it's been so hot hot hot out lately. Let me know how yours turns out!

Speaking of running...since I didn't run this weekend (oops) I need to run five miles today after work. I prefer working out in the morning before work so I have my afternoons for other things (like playing tetris on the computer) but I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting some miles in. I wasn't able to go to the TNT team trainings at all last week so I'm hoping to make it to the runs this week and weekend. Nothing like catching up with friends to make the runs go by quickly!

A sweater made out of sweat?

Holy cow! I am so overwhelmed with the positive responses I've gotten already on this baby! I'm a little embarrassed about doing this whole thing because, let's be honest, who really cares what I have to say? But it's nice to know someone (or, from the looks of it, a few someones!) is reading this. So THANK YOU!

Now, I got all excited about sharing my back story that I didn't really explain what the title of my blog, "The Salty Sweater" means. No, it doesn't mean I have (or want) a sweater made of sweat. Ew. Apparently, I sweat a lot. I didn't think it was more than other people, but I've come to realize it is hah Gross I know. Not only do I sweat, but it is reallllly salty. Like, when I'm done working out, you can literally see salt on my face and clothing. According to wikipedia, Michael Scott's favorite source, I guess some people are saltier than others. I was thinking for a long time about what to name this lil guy, and after trying lots of things that started with "L", to go with Laine, the name of the blog just popped into my head. So now you know.

First Annual GVBC 2010

I am SO EXCITED for this weekend! My roomie and I planned the second annual German Village bar crawl. Our friend Erin from college is coming to town with her husband Tom and a lot of other people are coming that we don't see on the regular. Bonus, the weather is supposed to be perfection!

Even though I'm totally pumped to enjoy the weather and the company, weekends are usually my weakness. I'm getting really good at sticking to my diet (most) Sundays-Thursdays, but Fridays and Saturdays are another thing. Since I'm an all-or-nothing gal, I tend to go a little overboard when I've let down my guard. As in, I'll eat one piece of pizza, and then another, and then another...until the whole large pizza is gone. I've been working very hard on NOT doing that, but I still slip as I'm only human, and then it's like all that hard work during the week is out the window. I've been doing better at this, but it's something I'm going to really focus on this weekend. I'm also going to focus on not feeling guilty if I do slip up. One of my new mantras is, "yesterday is over, today is a new day." Try it with me :) I hope you all enjoy your weekend and the fab weather!

My First Time

Blogging, that is! Thanks so much for checking out my page! I'm new to the blogging world but I've been following a few people lately (like Peanut Butter Fingers and Oh She Glows) and have been inspired to start my own. I've been working towards finding what makes me happy since the beginning of the New Year (better late than never, right?!), and it's working better than my previous attempts, so I thought I would share with the world what's working for me. Obviously, this is all based on personal experience and everyone is different. The great thing about the Internet is, among other reasons, you can always find something out there that suits your situation, body type, lifestyle, habits, and interests. This is just one person's account on how I'm making changes in my life toward happiness.



high school
senior year, 2004



A little (or a lot) of background on how I got to this point: I recently realized that I've never been truly healthy my whole life. Sure, I was thin before, but my eating and exercise habits were not what I would call healthy. I was always an athlete in high school, playing sports year round. However, I wouldn't eat the right types of foods. My family never ate together, no one ever cooked, so I would be on my own for meals, which usually meant eating out or eating junk. I would feel guilty after eating almost a whole box of crackers and 3/4 block of cheese for dinner, so I would go for a 40-minute run at 8pm, and then come home, not eat, and go to bed so that I would feel hungry in the morning. Not healthy.



summer after
sophomore year, 2006



at my heaviest,
summer 2009

When I went to college, I put on about 10 pounds over my freshman year through the start of my sophomore year. I started to feel very self-conscious and un-happy with my appearance, so I began exercising 3 or more hours a day, obsessing over calories eaten, and literally crying on 60-minute runs because I felt so guilty about something I ate. I did this for all of my sophomore and start of my junior years of college, getting down to 125 pounds. On my 5'8" frame, there was no way I was able to maintain that weight. From all the running and bootcamp classes I was doing, I ended up getting a stress fracture the spring of my junior year of college and, since I couldn't exercise as much as I wanted to, I went the completely other way and stopped working out and counting calories altogether. (I've also realized that I'm an all-or-nothing type of person.) Needless to say, I gained about 30 pounds in 6 months. I didn't look huge, but in my mind, I was disgusting. I literally stopped looking in the mirror. I couldn't stand the sight of myself and I couldn't stop eating. When my mother passed away the winter of my senior year of college, I continued eating whatever and whenever I wanted. I would attempt to go on diets or run, but since I couldn't run like I used to (I could barely run a mile) I would get discouraged and eat some more. This lasted for about three years and I don't know my highest weight because I stopped weighing myself, but I know I was well over 200 pounds.

 

I did it!
May 2011

January 2011 was the beginning of my new life. I decided in order for me to be happy, I needed to get back to what I do best: run! I signed up for a half-marathon with the organization I work for, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, on one of our campaigns, Team In Training. I was given a 5-month training calendar and a race date of May 7, and I was dead-set on following the calendar and completing the race! In the spirit of doing this the healthy way, I decided to get a personal trainer so I didn't get burnt out on just running. I actually love exercising, I forgot how much I love it, so it's been relatively easy to get back into a routine. However, where I've always struggled is diet. My trainer as well as the blogs I've been following have helped me come to a balance. I've been learning so much about what's good for my body type, my level of activity, and my personal tastes that I actually look forward to cooking new, "clean" meals. I've also told anyone and everyone about my weight-loss and race goals so they will hold me accountable. Before, I would never let people know exactly how much I was exercising or how little I was eating, but this time around, I'm determined to make it happen for the long-haul and that means letting everyone and their brother know about my plans!



May 2011



To date, I've lost 22 pounds and am inching closer to my overall weight-loss goal of 58 pounds. I've also completed my first half-marathon (in 2 hours, 14 minutes) and am registered to run another half in August and then the Columbus Full in October, again with TNT. Blogging will also serve as another way of holding myself accountable and show others that it is possible to lose weight and feel great with a little bit of salty sweat (and some salty tears, too!) Stay tuned!