PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet

Meet JoAnn from near St. Paul Minnesota. She and her own immediate family and her siblings have been caregiving for their 100+-year-old Mom through the last seven months of COVID restrictions and challenges, including her Mom being diagnosed with COVID and later recovering. I titled this episode “The Wrap-Around Family” because they seem to be able to wrap themselves around the needs of one another. JoAnn thinks their mother taught them how to do it. www.patcoakley.com

Bill Murray says acting suits him he said because he only has to be good at it for 90 seconds at a time. I am also very good at weight management 90 seconds at a time in 2020. But, unfortunately, that time span suits Hollywood and not weight issues. My successful weight loss plan in 2009 was built on flat land and my ability to maintain the weight loss for 10+ years has been due to building it on a slippery slope capable of absorbing challenges from within as well as from without. 2020 is the ultimate slippery slope and I am having to build new supports to be successful. www.artofthediet.com | www.patcoakley.com

In the beginning, Jay thought it was just a flu and that the news might be exaggerating it. He thought It would pass in a short period of time. Now, he thinks it is a natural calamity no one has ever experienced in their life.

The last ferry has left the island and I’m sitting by myself in The Reality Ballpark. What the hell? How did this happen: risk management is now a buffet of choices that do not manage risk but invite it in? Estrangement from the government I am used to in the last three years, but not estrangement from family and friends. Is this the new normal? www.patcoakley.com www.thephotogardener.com

My interview with Joan, a 74-year-old widow in Rochester, NY who, unlike myself, is not a sloth or someone who enjoys sitting for hours at a time reading, clicking, snoozing and I feel 100% sure never uses her bed as her living room, dining room, and office.  But, she got through quarantine in her own determined way and taught me a few things. One of them?  When in doubt, drive around.   www.patcoakley.com | www.thephotogardener.com

Meet Steph. She was born and lived in US until a year and half ago but now lives in Stellenbosch, South Africa with her husband and five kids while he completes his graduate studies at the University there. She describes what “quarantine” has meant and if you think the US rules were strict, listen to Steph. I spent most of the time listening and going, “Really?”. www.patcoakley.com www.thephotogardener.com

Meet Alice. A First Grade Teacher in a Catholic School in Washington, DC during COVID19. After listening, you may agree that Teachers, Students and Parents are some unsung heroes of this pandemic. www.patcoakley..com

Meet Carol. She’s 70+, lives alone, and has been seriously ill and undergoing a succession of chemo treatments for three years. In addition, she had to go into lockdown in March, 2020, due to COVID19 and living in Massachusetts. She told her Doctor one thing: Keep me alive until Trump loses the election. www.patcoakley.com

Meet Babz. 27 year old Occupational Therapist who moved to Boston, Mass in February 2020 just as pandemic effects were beginning to challenge the city and the entire state. Meet Babz. Needed to. Meant to. This is how she answered my question about any conflict about being a health care worker in the middle of a pandemic in Boston, Massachusetts. After the interview, I had a strange feeling. I couldn’t recognize it at first. It turned out to be hope. www.patcoakley.com www.thephotogardener.com pbc@patcoakley.com

'Voices From My Bunker 2020" in Massachusetts. (Formerly known as Podsnacks/Art of the Diet). Guests ring my virtual doorbell and I invite them in for a chat. At play in dangerous times in 2020, we tell our stories. We laugh. Eye roll. Cry. Sigh. We go on. Today, meet Melissa.

Podsnacks/Art of the Diet is evolving and being renamed “Voices from My Bunker”. This episode explains why and invites you to continue listening as well as be a participant. The art logo came from a family arty day years ago. Handprints dipped in paint and each left their individual mark on the canvas. At play in dangerous times in 2020, folks tell stories. I try to listen. We go on. www.artofthediet.com www.patcoakley.com  

Pandemic Diets require Click Supervision.

What is on my grocery list every week in a pandemic? Truth. Food is the only thing I have control over these days and it is oddly comforting. I dress for the Apocalypse when going to the grocery store and ask myself what do I need not what do I want. My goal for this period of time: to want what I need and to tell my food truth to myself every week. www.artofthediet.com

There are folks preparing for the Apocalypse and they have acronyms like GOOD=Get Out Of Dodge. I have an acronym for any dieters in the prepper population: SHWAA= So Here We Are Again & YSHTWYC: YOU STILL HAVE TO WATCH YOUR CARBS. 

What’s Next on The Fun Agenda? 2020 begins with a cartoon question that I saw recently on an artist’s Instagram account. His name was “clownchic”. His character answered it by simply stating “Abstinence”. I laughed out loud as this character looked like he had abused every illegal substance available. After the holidays, don’t we all feel this way? Of course, but I cannot deal with another self help strategy, my own included. So, in 2020, I am focusing in literally on “Art of the Diet”. Artists who have tackled food, glorious food, food issues not so glorious, addiction issues, LIFE issues in their art and they have resonated with my own issues in some way. This month I discuss several artists. Philip Guston, Samara Golden, Dana Schutz, Wayne Theibauld, David Shrigley, Francisco de Goya. The podcast art for this month is a wall hanging/teatowel that I designed as a calendar for 2020 and that is for sale. 2020 is the Year of Anxiety for me as I turn 75 and it’s a presidential election year in the US. How much anxiety can an ol’girl take and maintain a 60 lb weight loss? We’ll find out. www.artofthediet.com

RESIST (Carbs and Hate) is the word of my day and the weeks to come of weight management. Sometimes, you don't understand why the old habits don't seem to work but passivity is not the conclusion. Resisting passivity is the only next step. That's where I'm at in weight maintenance and the state of my country. Resist CARBS and HATE.

There was a time when reading or listening to someone suggesting that I treat myself with a bit more kindness would have been met with severe eye rolling. By "there was a time", I mean as recently as last month and I’m 74. But, today's episode highlights what has turned my deep eyerolls into acceptance and more importantly, even doing it. Breathe in. Breathe out. With kindness, begin again. Dieting, Living, closing your garage door. it simply goes better with a little kindness. It's the eve of Independence Day in the US. www.artofthediet.com

Episode 166: Your Car Knows How Much You Weigh. A spokesman for the Auto Association let that cat out the bag. I thought it should have led the news cycle. And, a connection with meditation practice and weight management that does not involve 10-15 minutes of meditation with a body scan. Just thinking about being kind to yourself today. Just think it. Instagram @artofthediet www.artofthediet.com/166

Creativity is the best health plan (along with a sense of humor) and is the secret sauce to my long term weight loss and might be yours as well. This episode discusses why that might be and offers some suggestions as to why to give it serious consideration. www.artofthediet.com www.thephotogardener.com

"People Who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of who do." Isaac Asimov This podcast offers up what I know (for sure) about weight maintenance in an aging body: you have to eat less whether by choice or anxiety, eating less is the fundamental way to maintain a significant weight loss. It's not exercising more to maintain it is eating less to maintain. Telling the truth is not a marketing strategy these days and I don't just mean politics. But, here's a truth I made into fabric: "If chocolate isn't the answer, could you please repeat the question?" www.artofthediet.com www.patcoakley.com

74 years of living and what do I know? "Begin, again." is a successful mantra for my 10-year weight maintenance as well as a new (9 months) daily meditation practice. www.artofthediet.com

Lorne has spent half her 45 years worrying about her weight. Her great aunt, though, spent more. On her death bed, at 92 years old, she told Lorne, “Well, at least, I’m losing a little weight.” Lorne is determined not to spend the rest of her life worrying about this issue and the looping ride of the rollercoaster of weight gain and loss. She does not belong to a national weight loss program but is seeking out new ways to understand her issues and to deal with them. www.artofthediet.com email: artofthediet@gmail.com

Breathe. No, really. Take a deep breath in 2019. My new tool for weight maintenance and just about everything else. It may help you as well. If interested in being interviewed on this podcast, contact me: artofthediet@gmail.com visit: www.artofthediet.com

The key to December buffet tables is the same as every other month: simple habits. A new interview with Gilah whose story will resonate with you and also give you some practical advice for the month and the new year ahead. www.artofthediet.com

I am delighted to add Episode #159 to the Art of the Diet Interviews! It is with a woman who is a WW lifetime and connect member as well as an all around wise woman about herself and her relationship with food. I’ve never talked with someone who uses WW from her workplace and she sheds some interesting thoughts on how to navigate those waters! So, I hope you enjoy it and it helps you to navigate the days ahead. The holidays and the election results. I can’t even pretend to be Zen about this despite this being the Art of the Diet podcast, these past two years have contributed layers of unease and disbelief that I’ve found exhausting. I’ve tried to deal with them with humor but on some days, and this past week was one of them, I just plain ran out of perspective and the only upside was my appetite disappeared. Managing stress used to be food related and now? I’ve committed in the past few months to a daily meditation practice. Sometimes 20-30 minutes, sometimes 5 minutes, multiple times a day. Yes, it’s true what they say: it helps manage stress and anxiety for sure, but it also seems to disengage me from interest in food as a remedy for anything. But, the challenge for my meditation practice will be Wednesday after I am aware of the results. The stakes for me? My next interview in December will either be conducted from a monastery or a Las Vegas 24 hour all you can eat buffet. Anyway, on to lovely wise Ilene. I’d to share your story so please email me at artofthediet@gmail.com! If you know of someone who would be willing to be interviewed, ask them! Have them contact me. Ok. Onward. I hope. www.artofthediet.com/159

A Commitment of Time Not a Number of Pounds to Lose. Today I interviewed Laurie who is on WW connect and I’ll include her Connect handle in the podcast notes. Laurie has some wisdom for all of us and I think you’ll agree after listening to our interview. I labeled this interview: A Commitment to Time not to Lost Pounds because that is just one pearl of wisdom that jumped out at me. When she began this last WW commitment she said to herself, “I’m going to make a commitment of time, a year, rather than to a # of pounds to lose. This time, it worked for her and I think there is wisdom in having time be the focus! But, I’ll let you decide for yourself. www.artofthediet.com My Etsy store: www.thephotogardener.etsy.com

A new interview with a WW member who has been at Lifetime goal for nine years. She beats the regain odds by a singular focus: accountability. She goes to a meeting every single week. www.artofthediet.com/157 If you are interested in being interviewed please contact me at artofthediet@gmail.com. My online store is www.thephotogardener.com

How to regain lost weight?  I have one sure fire way: pretend my behavior has no consequences.  Simple. What makes it not simple, however, is my physiological connection to carbs and how I manage them. This week's podcast was triggered by an article by Gary Taubes in the NYTimes called, Are You a Carboholic? Why […] The post How To Regain Lost Weight Fast. PODSNACKS/ArtoftheDiet102 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

  “It is a scientific fact that your body will not absorb cholesterol if you take it from someone else's plate.”-Dave Barry If I can't have Dave Barry as a neighbor, Liz would be my second choice. Today, I interview Liz who is a WeightWatcher Lifetime member trying to get back to her goal weight.  Liz was one of […] The post She Beat The Slowskies & Smoking. A Weight Loss Story. PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet 043 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

Today, I’m continuing to explore “self-control” on PODSNACKS episode 005 through my own experience of days when it is in good supply and other days when it seems depleted by 8 AM.   I don't get why it is so elusive on some days and rock solid on others. Researching this topic convinced me that […] The post PODSNACKS 005- Self Control Chemistry 101 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is.” ― Ellen DeGeneres This week I am delighted to have a new interview and a new story to share.  I  just read where the author of “Zen and The Art of […] The post Zen and The Art of Weight Maintenance-PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet 089 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

“OMG! I have superpowers! I can be invisible…No..wait! I'm just being ignored!!”-Anonymous This week I'm realizing that the whole business of weight loss ignores the painful reality that these businesses are based on folks regaining whatever weight they lose. I'm a skunk at the lawn party this week but truly believe that educating folks to […] The post WeightWatchers, Your Superpower is Invisibility or Being Ignored. PODSNACKS 060 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

Maintaining a significant weight loss is a daily battle with the your body playing for the wrong team.-Pat Coakley Ah, that would be me, Pat Coakley, and this is episode 39 of Podsnacks the weekly edition of the daily blog www.artofthediet.com and this weeks' tips for weight management come from Laura, and 8 year Lifetime […] The post Habits You Don’t Hate You Do.PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet 039 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

We are asleep with compasses in our hand.-WS Merwin Welcome to episode #99 of Podsnacks, the weekly edition of Art of the Diet.  Today, I do not begin with a funny quote as I have temporarily lost my sense of humor due to today's headlines.  Word to the wise, this episode mentions politics and if […] The post The Politics of Abuse PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet 099 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

“We are all here on earth to help others.  What on earth the others are doing, I do not know”.- W.H. Auden Hello, this is Pat Coakley and welcome to Podsnacks/Art of the diet, the weekly audio version of my blog, www.artofthediet.com As many listeners and readers know, but for the benefit of new ones, I document […] The post Beating the odds at the scale. One woman’s story of 6+ successful years. Podsnacks/Art of the Diet 030 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

Raise your glass for a Toast: “Champagne for our real friends and real pain for our sham friends.”• Francis Bacon The toast came from a recollection from the writer Julian Barnes speaking to Eleanor Wachtel on her weekly podcast, Writers & Company” on the CBC.  My favorite podcast ever by the way. It just seemed to […] The post TAL:Tell Me I’m Fat: Living Outside the Metronome.PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet 046 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

“It would be really nice of me to volunteer for something.  Who knows…maybe I will someday. I'm such a good person for thinking of possibly doing that.” • Allie Brosh• Allie Brosh.  Oh, the talent, the wit, the insight.  She blogs about her life, wrote a book called, “Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed […] The post Self. Motivation. Aaargh. PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet 021 appeared first on Art of the Diet.

Not so easy summer listening: All Art of the Diet podcast episodes: 1-144. The third year anniversary of PODSNACKS/Art of the Diet is mid August. From now until then, I am going to edit all episodes for relevancy and topic. Can I listen to myself that much? Dunno. But, each week I'll be rebroadcasting one I think worth re-listening to if you are a veteran listener or a good one for a new listener. I'll figure out what I'll do with those I decide to keep when the editing task is over. All I know is whatever form it ends up in, a PDF form, a book, a comic strip, I'll offer to my loyal listeners! You can sign up on my artofthediet.com website. I'll be occasionally using Facebook and WW Connect over this period but I'll be in re-broadcast mode until my green editor's hat is back in the drawer. If you have any episode you particularly found helpful, let me know the episode # and I'll include it in the rebroadcast queue. www.artofthediet.com/145 www.thephotogardener.com

Cake at 4 am! The Royal Wedding. Now, how many opportunities do we have to escape reality like this? Escapism is essential to maintaining a weight loss cuz it is the rare human who can do this monitoring 24/7 with no relief. I use my creativity, others use other ambitions, but usually we have to each privately create our own fairy tales and I don't know about my listeners, but mine have never included cake at 4 am! If you'd like to consider being interviewed for the podcast, email me at: artofthediet@gmail.com www.artofthediet.com/144 www.thephotogardener.com

Women and Doctors. Is it time to reboot our relationships with physicians or give them the boot? A recent experience made me pause and consider that I needed to try and reboot the relationship with my doctor or else give him the boot. I might be part of the problem so best to start with my part. But, apparently, I am not alone in how to navigate this relationship successfully. "When Doctors Downplay Women's Health Concerns" is a NYTimes article discussed this week. www.artofthediet.com/143 www.thephotogardener.com

Dear Hormones Gherlin and Leptin, Krumpe you. The scientific basis for those struggling to maintain a significant weight loss is not in willpower but in the hormonal reaction to a body losing weight. It's disheartening but it is real and best to know the challenge. www.artofthediet.com/142 My shop is www.thephotogardener.com

Let me see...should I scale Mt. Everest or should I maintain my weight loss? Hmmm. It's mountain climbing season in Nepal. Got me thinking. A TED talk on the meaning of work did also. A summit peak or a number on the scale, no matter how difficult it was to achieve, may be why we begin the journey but it is not the only reason we continue. www.artofthediet.com/141

Beethoven counted out 60 coffee beans each day to make his cup of coffee. Rituals for our drug of choice transcend centuries and artistic abilities but they do bind us together. Today we discuss rituals and habits on view at the recent Boston Marathon and on view daily with anyone dealing with weight issues. It is a marathon without a finish line. But, we all are a combination of habits as well as rituals. Some more interesting than others. My combo is coffee. Listen to Balzac, though: "Many people claim coffee inspires them, but, as everybody knows, coffee only makes boring people even more boring." This from a man who reportedly drank 40-50 cups of coffee a day! I only drink 4-5 cups. www.artofthediet.com

A recent routine Dr’s visit included the now standard question asked by the physician’s nurse to people my age: 
Have you experienced feels of depression and hopelessness recently? Years ago, Blind Eye Disease was one of my conditions when I didn't want to deal with an obvious weight problem. I avoided the truth, the facts, the number on the scale. If I didn't see it, I wouldn't have to deal with it. I’d pretend it was someone else’s problem. Not mine. (Yeah, how's that for a strategy?) It's now the exact same approach a vocal minority of this country is suggesting how we deal with this country's volatile, infantile, incapable of truth telling President of the US. This approach didn't work for me. It won't work for the US. But, not before, real damage is done. Ask me again, physician’s assistant, “Have you experienced feelings of depression and hopelessness lately?” The answer is, “Yes”. www.artofthediet.com/139

Hold Your Breath. Diet Tips from Houdini. Who knew? If you can learn to hold your breath for longer and longer increments, you might also be a able to manage other impulses, addictive impulses that produce dopamine in our brains. Drugs produce dopamine. Certain foods, like sugar and processed foods, produce dopamine. Addictions like online shopping produce dopamine. The problem is these behaviors also create the need for more and more dopamine until freedom of choice has vanished. So, breathing may be necessary and fundamental to our life on earth but Doritos are not. What do techniques for learning to hold your natural instinct to take a breath have to do with food management? That's what episode 138 talks about.