Imagine if everything you had been told about weight loss was wrong!
Welcome to the Real Health and Weight Loss Podcast, where you get real advice from real doctors to help you lose weight and revolutionise your health.
We are here to bust through some myths and give you actionable advice.
Real health and weight loss is a journey and we, your hosts Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns from Real Life Medicine, are here with you every step of the way.
You can change your future starting now!
Podcast Episode 169
The Nuance of Weight Loss
Long-lasting weight loss is achieved by having the correct basic framework and then applying the nuances that are relevant to your individual situation. Many weight loss experts try to simplify it and distil it down to one thing. Just like a mechanic has dozens of tools to repair and maintain a car, we need many tools to repair our metabolism and maintain good health. In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary discuss the basic framework and then the nuances around calories, metabolic hormones, macros, portion sizes and more
Podcast Episode 168
Stress Management for Weight loss with Qi Gong Expert Lee Holden
Dr. Mary interviews Lee Holden as we delve into the vitally important world of stress management and weight loss through the lens of Qi Gong. Join us as we explore the incredible connection between the autonomic nervous system, and overall well-being. Lee explains how Qi Gong is a simple, powerful and easy-to-learn tool can be embraced by everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Even dedicating just a few minutes a day to Qi Gong can lead to noticeable changes in stress, mood, and energy levels. Don't miss out on this transformative journey towards a healthier, more balanced life. Managing stress is essential for well being. Stress can slow weight loss and seriously impair our health on every level. Finding your favorite stress management tool is essential to ongoing well being.
Podcast Episode 167
What is Ikigai?
Have you heard of the term ikigai? It's a Japanese phrase comprised of 4 pillars, and the intersection is your ikigai - your life’s purpose. Join Dr Lucy as she chats with Helen Marshall and does a deep dive into all things ikigai. Helen shares her inspirational story where she goes from tired, overwhelmed and barely surviving to running a blissful soul-centred business and embracing her ikigai.
Podcast Episode 166
How to lose weight around menopause?
In this timely episode as Dr Mary celebrates her 42nd birthday, she and Dr Lucy dive into the nuances of ageing, challenging society's negative narrative around women growing older. With a refreshing perspective, they explore the concept of "optimal ageing," where embracing the natural process of getting older is met with empowerment rather than fear. Dr Lucy delves into the hormonal shifts of menopause, shedding light on the impact of oestrogen on health and vitality. Through a holistic lens, the doctors unveil the four key levers for achieving optimal ageing - nutrition, cortisol management, sleep, and muscle building. Unveiling the essence of their transformative 12 Week Mind Body Rebalance program, the doctors will inspire you to take small, meaningful steps toward transforming your health and well being, ensuring a life rich with energy and purpose. Be sure to mark your calendar for a future episode when the doctors reconvene on Dr Mary's 84th birthday, celebrating the art of thriving through time!
Podcast Episode 165
Paul Lost 54 kgs and Now Has Endless Energy
Today Dr Lucy is joined by a special guest Paul Terlato. Over the past 12 months Paul has lost 54 kg simply by changing what he eats. He had no surgery, no pills, no injections but embraced a low carb real food lifestyle with full gusto. As a busy father of 2 and business owner, Paul shares with us his top tips on his life changing results. At 160 kg Paul was tired, sluggish and relied on 15 coffees to get him through the day. He now has boundless energy and a new zest for life. As a 33 year old man, there is little doubt that Paul has changed the trajectory of his future health by making consistent lifestyle changes with significant effects. If you want to implement these lifestyle changes into your life, lose weight and fire up your metabolism then join the 12 week Mind Body Rebalance - starts Sept 2nd.
Podcast Episode 164
How to Get More Energy
Discover a world of energy transformation and vitality in this invigorating episode of Real Health and Weight Loss, where Dr Mary and Dr Lucy delve into the dynamics of energy sources and metabolic flexibility. You'll hear how your amazing body can choose between the super quick kindling of sugar or the sustained log burning energy of fat, and how these different fuel sources impact your energy. Dr Mary delves into the intricate relationship between sugar consumption, insulin levels, and energy crashes, while Dr Lucy embraces shrinking the change into manageable steps on your path to achieving your health goals. Join the dynamic Dr Mary and the vibrant Dr Lucy as they reminisce about rainbows and first boyfriends while sharing their expert strategies on burning your fat logs instead of that sugar kindling. Let the doctors at Real Life Medicine fuel your mind with the information and inspiration you need to replenish your batteries and fuel your body!
Podcast Episode 163
Is Weight Loss Hard?
Are you tired of struggling with weight loss and wondering if there’s an easier way? Join Dr Lucy and Dr Mary as they unravel the widely held belief that feeling deprived, hungry, slightly cold, and pretty miserable are inevitable, even necessary, if you want to lose weight. Both doctors candidly share how they believed for a long time that weight loss had to be a gruelling battle, and how they used to white-knuckle their way through hunger on restrictive diets, only to see the weight pile back on when they returned to normal eating habits. Dr Mary reflects on her journey from the calorie-counting land of deprivation to a place where achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight is no longer an arduous struggle. Dr Lucy dives into the revolutionary concept of eating smarter, not less, and elaborates on the science behind the game-changing idea that you can actually eat more and still lose weight! This episode is an eye-opener if you are wishing for a weight loss approach that focuses on nourishment over punishment, allowing you to enjoy delicious, satisfying meals that lead to lasting results. So enjoy the expert insights, tools, and strategies from the ever entertaining Dr Mary and the always informative Dr Lucy, as they demystify weight loss and answer the question: “Is weight loss hard?”
Podcast Episode 162
How Weight Loss Works
Join Dr Mary and Dr Lucy as they sail across the stormy seas of quick-fix diets, fat-blasters and magic pills to answer the question, how does weight loss work? Together, they unravel the mystery of weight loss and share the map to metabolic health - the key to boosting your metabolism and burning stored fat, without enduring the constant hunger of traditional diets. Dr Mary delves into mindset management being your inner compass, navigating you along this map to metabolic health and allowing you to set sail on a new course towards a healthier, happier, more energised you. Dr Lucy dives into the Minnesota Semi-Starvation Experiment shedding light on why it's time to bid a final farewell to outdated calorie counting diets. So, come aboard the Real Health and Weight Loss voyage, captained by the dynamic and informative Dr Lucy and Dr Mary. Let them be your guides as you chart your own course to weight loss success and lasting health. Bon voyage!
Podcast Episode 161
Overcoming PCOS: Finding Hope and Healing
In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, Dr Mary delves into the topic of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - a condition that affects one in eight women and carries far reaching implications for their health and well being. With a mix of emotions, Dr Mary shares her personal journey with PCOS, opening up about the struggles of dealing with depression, anxiety, negative body image, and low self esteem. You’ll hear about the lifelong impact of PCOS, as Dr Mary dispels the misconception that it solely impacts women during their reproductive age. From childhood weight gain and psychological challenges, to infertility, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a decreased healthspan and a decreased lifespan, she emphasises the need to address these issues and improve the quality of life for girls and women living with this condition. You’ll be inspired as Dr Mary offers a message of hope, encouraging women to utilise the powerful medical and cosmetic treatments available, as well as emphasising the significance of self acceptance and self love as cornerstones of the healing journey. Calling for awareness and collective action, Dr Mary provides valuable insights for girls and women living with PCOS, illuminating a path where knowledge, self compassion, lifestyle changes and the right medical support, can lead to a light at the end of the tunnel.
Podcast Episode 160
What This Doctor Has to Say About Weight Loss
In today’s thought-provoking episode, Dr Mary explores the current debate ignited by Taryn Brumfitt, 2023 Australian of the Year, around whether doctors should reconsider discussing weight during routine consultations with their patients. Dr Mary shares her unique perspective as a weight loss doctor focussed on metabolic healing rather than reducing the number on the scales. In a society plagued by a cultural obsession with thinness but ensnared in an insidious food environment fueling insulin resistance and obesity, Dr Mary weaves a compelling case for shifting our focus away from aesthetics and prioritising metabolic health. She recounts her own struggles with the dark cloud of body hatred as it followed her from childhood to recent years and how she has finally learned to love and appreciate her body, jiggly bits and all. You’ll love listening to the impassioned Dr Mary changing the conversation around health and weight, as she navigates this complex topic with nuance and compassion. Learn how it’s possible to embrace the body positivity movement while also advocating for metabolic health, with weight loss being a happy side effect, rather than the goal. This engaging episode invites you to join the dialogue around whether the topic of weight when visiting your doctor for other reasons is necessary or taboo.
Podcast Episode 159
Angry Low Carb Doctors
In today’s passionate conversation, Dr Mary is joined by self proclaimed “crazy eyes” low carb zealot, Dr Penny Figtree, to discuss how the pharmaceutical industry and the food products industry have infiltrated and corrupted our health in their relentless pursuit of profits. Listen as Dr Penny eloquently pulls back the curtain to expose the stronghold the pharmaceutical industry has over the medical profession, and how unwitting doctors have become sales people for these corporations. Discover the detrimental health consequences stemming from the pervasive and powerful food industry, intent on pushing nonnutritive manufactured products while demonising the real food staples that have provided sustenance and nourishment to humanity for countless millennia. Dr Penny makes it easy to understand why so many of us are on a seemingly inevitable path of declining health. You’ll hear how stumbling across the carbohydrate insulin model of obesity led Dr Penny to see the profound effect of nutrition on her patients’ health, and how she now embraces her role as a low carb enthusiast, unapologetically driving positive change. You’ll be inspired to reject the role of ‘consumerism unit’ for these powerful industries as Dr Penny gives us permission to step away from the cereals and orange juice, and nourish ourselves with lamb chops for breakfast instead! This is a brilliant episode with a fiery Dr Mary and a passionate Dr Penny inviting you to challenge the status quo, get reacquainted with the deli meats at your supermarket, rekindle your love for traditional meat and veg, ditch the bird seed, and discover the empowering alternatives that lie in embracing real food and a low carb lifestyle.
Podcast Episode 158
Carnivore vs Vegan - what should we eat for optimum health and weight loss?
In today’s wonderfully informative episode, Dr Mary explores the health impacts of the three main dietary approaches; carnivore diets, plant based diets, and omnivorous diets. You’ll hear how both Dr Mary and Dr Lucy reside in the middle ground of the omnivore diet, but ultimately identify as “real-food-ivores”, living by their belief in the importance of an individualised approach that is practical, attainable, and sustainable for each person. Whether you embrace a plant based or animal only lifestyle, Dr Mary will provide you with invaluable insights into the vitamins and nutrients that you should be mindful of to ensure your dietary needs are met in the most comprehensive way. You’ll hear why the optimal human diet draws from the evidence of scientific research as well as the rich tapestry of human evolution, as Dr Mary encourages you to discover what works best for you under the broad and versatile umbrella of real, unprocessed food. Dr Mary eloquently shares the compelling reasons why it is crucial that we step away from the processed junk made in factories by a food industry that does not care about our health or happiness. From low carb to higher carb variations, the key to real health and weight loss is to nourish yourself with real, unprocessed food. Dive into this thought provoking episode as Dr Mary uncovers the intricacies of dietary choices and celebrates meeting each of us wherever we are on our journey towards reclaiming our health.
Podcast Episode 157
How to boost your weight loss hormones
As Dr Lucy caravans around the top end of Australia, Dr Mary skilfully takes the helm in this fascinating episode exploring certain injectable diabetes medications and how they increase the availability of our own naturally occurring GLP-1 weight loss hormones. Some of these medications are also used off-label for weight management. The most amazing revelation Dr Mary shares is how you can naturally boost the production of your very own GLP-1, achieving the same benefits as those offered by these medications without the associated costs, side effects, injecting discomfort, or concerns about availability. It will be no surprise to our regular listeners that it is the transformative effects of adopting a low carb, real food diet that is key to boosting your own natural weight loss hormones, normalising satiety signals and eliminating incessant cravings. Dr Mary discusses the metabolic healing that occurs through this dietary change and emphasises the importance of simple yet powerful mindset shifts to make this approach work for you. She explains that her intention is not to dismiss or criticise the use of medications, but to share knowledge around how they work, and empower you with information. Tune in to explore the multitude of benefits that a low carb real food diet can offer, with the amplification of your own natural GLP-1 hormones being just one piece of the puzzle. This episode provides valuable insights and mindset shifts to set you on a path towards sustainable health.
Podcast Episode 156
Mythbusting Lipoedema
Get ready to be informed and inspired this week as Dr Mary and Dr Lucy delve into the often mispronounced, misunderstood and mismanaged condition, lipoedema. Although it may appear as just excess fat, this fat and fluid accumulation is not caused or managed like the excess fat associated with being overweight or obese. You’ll hear what lipoedema is, who it impacts and the myths around its cause and management. Dr Lucy introduces her four pillars of treatment for this commonly misunderstood condition and with her extraordinary talent for simplifying complex biological structures and functions, she effortlessly explains intricate concepts in a way that everyone can understand. Meanwhile, Dr Mary captivates and educates with her profound knowledge of inflammation, ketones, omega 3 acids, stress management, sleep optimisation and the importance of self compassion. Even if you’re not personally affected by lipoedema, the emphasis placed by Dr Lucy and Dr Mary on embracing real food, real health, and self acceptance as the foundational principles for managing this condition are vital for anyone striving to live their best life. So sit back and immerse yourself in this fascinating episode, where you will hear Dr Lucy's perspective on liposuction, cankles, and the secret power of sleep, while Dr Mary reminds us of the importance of cherishing our bodies for what they are capable of, rather than hating them for what they are not!
Podcast Episode 155
When to slow and When to go
Join Dr Lucy and Dr Mary as they dive into the art of self soothing, self indulgence, and genuine rest. You’ll discover the secret of distinguishing procrastination from much needed rejuvenation, and uncover the transformative power of self awareness and honest reflection. Through practical tips and insights, the doctors share how to align your immediate choices with your long term health goals, and develop the confidence to write your own script, editing and adjusting as you go. Dr Lucy shares her day of Netflix with her comfy blanket, Dr Mary chats sparkly shoes and cups of concrete, and you’ll hear wonderful insights on tending your health garden, gamifying your self reflection, and living your best life. So whether you’re on the go or taking it slow, tune in to this engaging and thought provoking conversation around redefining self care and finding the perfect balance between rest and productivity!
Podcast Episode 154
Dieting Doesn't Work
Join Dr Lucy Burns and guest, Nikki Simpson, for a captivating conversation around the world of lipoedema, diet culture, and the power of real food in healing both the body and mind. Lipoedema, a condition affecting the adipose (fatty) tissue of the body, remains widely undiagnosed, silently affecting countless women. Nikki courageously shares her personal journey of self diagnosing lipoedema after many years of believing that her growing lower body was due to overeating. This misguided belief led to a long deep plunge into diet culture, where she embarked on a relentless cycle of restriction, low fat eating, and excessive exercise. Dismissed by many healthcare practitioners, Nikki used her expertise as a medical scientist to research why adhering to the prevailing beliefs around calories and exercise was not working. This scientific exploration led her to the life changing benefits of a keto diet, which in turn led to a profound healing of the chronic fatigue and debilitating pain that Nikki had endured for years. Tune in to this compelling episode to discover how Nikki's journey towards healing unfolded, the book that launched both Dr Lucy and Nikki on their paths to real health, and the health levers Dr Lucy prescribes for taking control of your own health, ditching the diets for good!
Podcast Episode 153
Want to be a hottie?
You’re going to love today’s empowering episode as Dr Mary and Dr Lucy delve into the topic of embracing being a "Hoti" - Healthy On The Inside! In a world obsessed with thinness, ripped abs, and the pursuit of being a "hottie" at any cost, the doctors explore the profound benefits of prioritising internal wellbeing over external aesthetics. You’ll learn about the transformative and achievable steps of simplifying your diet and nourishing your cells, creating metabolic health that goes far beyond mere physical appearance. Dr Mary debunks the notion that health can be defined by external beauty standards, unravelling the food politics, fat politics and environment politics behind our epidemic of metabolic disease and our cultural obsession with thinness. Dr Lucy dives into how the food industry prioritises profits over our health, exposing the unsettling truth about the marketing tactics that trap us in a cycle of craving and consumption, as we unwittingly compromise our health for perceived bargains. You’ll love the doctors’ valuable insights into how to reject your role as an individual consumerism unit to big business, and reclaim your health and future as an actual human being. So brace yourself for a revealing discussion about the true definition of health, how our incredibly complex cells need simple actions to thrive, why staying out of hospital is one of the best ways you can help the environment, and why being a hoti is so much hotter than being a hottie!
Podcast Episode 152
KISS the carbs goodbye: simple steps to improve your health
Today Dr Lucy is joined by the adventurous Dr Lizzie Elliott, a GP with a diverse range of sub-specialities to her name, including expedition medicine and hyperbaric & diving medicine! Dr Lizzie’s current adventure is her focus on lifestyle medicine where she is empowering patients to reverse fatty liver and type 2 diabetes with low carb real food “life scripts.” Listen as Dr Lizzie dives into the flawed “calories in, calories out” mantra, how the caloric value of each food is determined by setting food on fire, and why this rudimentary measurement system fails to account for all of the enzymatic and hormonal processes that occur in our body. Dr Lucy and Dr Lizzie chat about the supplement industry and iron deficiencies, as well as Dr Lizzie’s favourite K.I.S.S. method for carb reduction for those of us who love to keep it simple! So get ready for an information packed episode where you’ll discover the reasons behind Dr Lucy’s daughter’s obsession with eating ice, why Australia has the distinction of having the most expensive urine in the world, and why keeping a food diary can be an invaluable tool on your health and wellness adventure.
Podcast Episode 151
Is fear stopping you from achieving your weight loss goals?
Are you stuck in an endless cycle, unable to escape old habits? Does the fear of failure or the fear of missing out hold you back from living a healthy and fulfilling life? In today’s powerful episode, you’ll hear Dr Mary beautifully explain how fear is a master storyteller weaving stories that can become ingrained in our minds, convincing us that we are destined for perpetual disappointment. Dr Lucy discusses FOMO (fear of missing out), and FOSO - a Dr Lucyism for “fear of standing out,” sharing how these fears can be dismantled with the right tools, the right mentors, and the right tribe. You’ll hear how the doctors’ signature 12 Week Mind Body Rebalance program prioritises these three pillars of change, focussing on nourishing your mind and your cells, rather than fixating on the numbers on the scales. Dr Lucy explains why weight loss is chemistry not maths, and delves into how traditional dieting methods ignore the intricate chemistry in our cells, inevitably leading to nutrient deficiencies and weight re-gain. Learn how the empowering 12 Week Mind Body Rebalance program encourages nourishment rather than punishment and abundance rather than deprivation, as well as offering a supportive community and live mentorship from both Dr Lucy and Dr Mary to help you reach your health and weight loss goals. Join the passionate Dr Lucy and compassionate Dr Mary on this transformative path, where fear loses its grip, and a balanced, healthy life awaits.
Podcast Episode 150
Is Keto the Key to Relieving Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
In today’s informative episode, Dr Lucy is joined by Carla Veith-Carter, a psychologist and nutritionist, whose own health journey dealing with chronic metabolic dysfunction and fibromyalgia led her to a low carb, and eventually ketogenic, lifestyle. Carla shares how the anti-inflammatory effects of the ketogenic diet dramatically changed her health, and how she went from having so little energy that she was barely functioning, to running a business, caring for her family, sleeping well and thriving in her body, her career and her life. Dr Lucy highlights the medical community's tendency to dismiss patients with complex conditions, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, as being too difficult to treat. She also explains how she educates medical students on the importance of avoiding unhelpful questions that may cause shame or embarrassment for overweight patients. You’ll hear why one biscuit is a blip and a whole packet is a big hole, and how to reframe the self sabotaging stories in your mind so your blips don’t become big holes. Carla explains why the most important part of nutrition is in your mind, and why using smaller plates is not the answer to losing weight. This episode is a powerful testament to why a low carb and ketogenic lifestyle is far more than just a weight loss tool, and why you shouldn’t fill your garage to the brim the day before you plan to empty it!
Podcast Episode 149
How to achieve freedom around food
Are you tired of constantly battling sugar cravings? Would you like to be in complete control of your food choices, rather than food controlling you? If you're looking for food freedom, you won't want to miss this episode! Dr Lucy and Dr Mary share their personal journeys of achieving food freedom and how they no longer feel controlled by cravings, or dominated by shame around their bodies and eating habits. Like so many of us, Dr Mary never imagined she would ever have the freedom of walking through the supermarket past all of the chips and chocolates and ice cream without feeling any desire to eat them. You’ll hear how Dr Lucy was the Queen of Dieting, oscillating between smug deprivation and shame filled binges. She shares the skills and lessons she has implemented to now be living a life with no deprivation or shame. Listen in as the doctors share how to heal your physiology, manage your psychology, and nourish your body and mind with love, self-kindness, and zero feelings of deprivation. You’ll understand why teenage Mary was not a bad human for having butter on her toast, how Dr Lucy does not miss the diet rollercoaster chitter chatter in her brain, why you cannot hate yourself thin, and so much more! Don't miss this inspiring episode about how to achieve true food freedom!
Podcast Episode 148
A Low Carb Unicorn
In this episode, Dr Lucy is joined by the wonderful Dr Terri-Lynne South. Dr Terri-Lynne is a rare breed of expert who brings a fascinating blend of medical and nutritional knowledge to the low carb world. It's almost like discovering a unicorn, but instead of a mythical creature, you get an accomplished medical doctor and qualified dietitian rolled into one remarkable individual. As she approaches a milestone birthday, Dr Terri-Lynne reflects on her professional journey and how her personal experience with her daughter's type one diabetes diagnosis led her family to embrace a low carbohydrate lifestyle. As someone who previously followed the Australian dietary pyramid recommending seven servings of breads and cereals, Dr Terri-Lynne’s story is a fascinating look at how personal experience can shape our understanding of nutrition. Listen in to learn about the Maintenance Myth in the dieting merry-go-round, why nuance doesn't get you 500 million Instagram followers and which phrase is one of Dr Lucy's favourite metaphors for life!
Podcast Episode 147
Can you reverse type 2 diabetes?
In today’s motivating episode, Dr Lucy is joined by outspoken low carb legend Dr Peter Brukner for an eye opening and entertaining discussion. Dr Brukner recaps his personal journey from being a metabolically unwell sports physician to a reluctant but determined advocate for low carb real food. He shares his concerns about the lack of attention given to type 2 diabetes, despite it being the biggest single health issue in Australia, and sheds light on the sneaky ways sugar is added to our food, with most processed food products containing far more sugar than people realise. You’ll hear how the marketing juggernaut that is the processed food industry has propagated myths to persuade us to choose taste and convenience over nutrition and health, and why Dr Lucy sees ‘Up and Go’ as the shining example of this practice! This inspirational discussion between two knowledgeable and passionate doctors is filled with a wealth of information for anyone interested in reclaiming their health, including the answer to the burning question, can you reverse type 2 diabetes?
Podcast Episode 146
Navigating the challenging world of feeding your family
Get ready for a lively, inspiring conversation as Dr Lucy talks to Leah Williamson, the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who loves a chat! Leah shares her philosophy of choosing simplicity over convenience when it comes to meal preparation, and how the abundance of highly processed, convenience foods and the bombardment of marketing from so many sources has made it difficult for us to choose the right foods for our health. You will love the simplicity of Leah’s secret for making a healthy meal, as well as her tips for minimising stress around mealtimes and easily making real food meals part of family life. You’ll hear about Dr Lucy’s personal experience of growing up with a mother who was heavily influenced by diet culture, and Leah’s own journey of how feeding her children inspired her to help families find a nutrient dense and bio individual approach to food. Leah offers tips on how to help children feel confident in their food choices, and Dr Lucy reminds us that eating is not a team sport! So, tune in to this informative episode and discover how we can all eat real food and make choices that work for us!
Podcast Episode 145
Why changing perspectives helps with weight loss
In this informative episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary explore the fascinating world of mindset and its impact on weight loss and overall health. Dr Mary shares valuable insights into the importance of examining the stories our brains tell us, and understanding where these stories come from so we can work towards overcoming limiting, and untrue, beliefs. Hear how the unhelpful thoughts triggered by the words “no sugar” have led to the rebranding of the No Sugar Challenge to the Low Carb Real Food Challenge, and how the name change more accurately reflects Real Life Medicine’s philosophy of abundance and choice, rather than a restrictive, deprivation based approach to weight loss. This episode is a great listen for anyone wanting to learn why mindset is not discipline, how to create and cultivate confidence (tip: it is not from drinking a magical elixir), how to become an overnight success in 10 years' time...and much more!
Podcast Episode 144
Meet the Meat Medics
Join Dr Lucy on this fantastic double feature as she talks to two medical doctors about their carnivorous diet! This is a golden opportunity to hear firsthand from medical professionals who have journeyed towards good health and have a deep desire to see their patients living their best lives. Listen as the delightful Dr Max Gulhane shares his personal journey from following conventional dietary guidelines to eventually adopting a carnivorous diet, resulting in significant improvements in his health, resolving issues such as severe acne, bloating, and recurrent colds. Next, you'll hear from the affable Dr Suresh Khirwadkar, who also shares his personal journey with a carnivorous diet and how he has finally overcome his sugar addiction and significantly increased his energy levels. Both doctors delve into the importance of making sustainable lifestyle changes for weight loss and overall health, emphasising that these are individual choices. As Dr Lucy says, "Eating is not a team sport!" If you're curious about the carnivorous diet and its potential health benefits, this insightful episode is a must-listen.
Podcast Episode 143
Anzac Biscuits: How our food has evolved over the last 100 years
On this day of commemoration and gratitude for all those who served in the armed forces, join Dr Lucy and Dr Mary as they examine the Anzac biscuit's journey from its humble beginnings as a wartime necessity to its present day commercialised incarnation. They explore the differences in recipe, processing and shelf life and discuss the implications of these changes on our health and wellbeing. You’ll learn how our bodies have also changed in the 110 years since the birth of the Anzac biscuit, and why the people enduring World War 1 were able to endure sugar far more efficiently and effectively than we can now.
Listen as Dr Lucy explains why the mantra of “just eating everything in moderation” is so harmful when it comes to ultra processed foods that are designed to be unmoderatable and hear Dr Mary clearly explain why and how our brains and bodies are being hijacked by these food products. This informative and thought-provoking discussion will show you why you are not to blame for overeating foods that have been specifically manufactured to be overeaten! If you're interested in food history, nutrition, and the impact of the processed food industry on our health, this episode is a must listen.
Podcast Episode 142
The doctor who teaches doctors
Join us as we chat to the joyful and passionate Dr Louise Phillips about how she incorporates her low carb knowledge around metabolic health into her teaching of other doctors, and how she works with her patients to target early signs of metabolic syndrome. She is a holistic general practitioner tackling the current mainstream medical institution with her compelling, evidence-based presentations that sow the seeds for medical students, registrars, and experienced GPs alike. You will love listening to Louise’s take on managing the tsunami of metabolic syndrome facing Australians today.
Podcast Episode 141
The keys to sustainable weight management
Join Dr Lucy as she welcomes back the indefatigable Dr Gary Fettke, one of our favourite pioneers in the low carb space. Dr Fettke shares his experience of being targeted for speaking out about sugar and processed foods and how it led to a battle of biochemistry versus politics, religion, and money. Listen in as he talks about the evolution of diet, the importance of paying attention to what we fuel our bodies with, and the need to overhaul the outdated and harmful food pyramid and dietary guidelines that are still being dispensed by medical professionals. Learn how the religious zealotry of the Seventh Day Adventist Church formed and still controls the monolithic grain and sugar industry and why well-meaning vegans have become unwitting foot soldiers for a church. Don't miss this insightful conversation about low carb, healthy fat eating, the power of one man’s determination against powerful industries, why Lucy detests “Just Egg” and why Gary loves the portal vein!
Podcast Episode 140
Can I eat more food and still lose weight?
In this refreshing episode of Real Health and Weight Loss, we hear the wonderful low carb dietitian (a rare unicorn!) Jessica Turton delve into the common misconceptions around calorie restriction and weight loss, particularly in relation to the popular notion of ‘eating less and moving more.’ Jessica and Dr Lucy talk about why this approach is just not sustainable psychologically or physically for maintaining any rapid weight loss that may occur initially. They also touch on the human tendency to compare ourselves to others when it comes to weight loss progress, which can lead to unnecessary despondency and demotivation, when the evidence shows that most people who lose large amounts of weight very quickly will most likely not have maintained this weight loss in a year’s time. So do yourself a favour and tune in to this insightful and informative discussion for a really clear understanding of why eating more of the right type of foods is a far more realistic and healthy mantra than eating less of everything.
Podcast Episode 139
Small steps for big changes
Get ready to be inspired and motivated as Dr Lucy and Dr Mary discuss the power of setting achievable goals and breaking them down into manageable steps, taking action no matter how small, and reframing negative thoughts into positive ones. Learn about the importance of tracking your progress, building a supportive community, and developing self-trust. You’ll hear about Dr Lucy’s early morning swims, why Dr Mary wishes the word “perfect” could be banished from our vocabulary, and why an “all or something” mindset can help you on your health and wellness journey far more effectively than “all or nothing” thinking. This episode is jam packed with laughs about housework, an insight into the psychology behind motivation and practical tips on goal setting and outsourcing your motivation!
Podcast Episode 138
What exactly is metabolism?
This week Dr Lucy chats with the brilliant exercise physiologist, Kirsty Woods, about metabolic health being one of the fundamental factors in overall health and wellbeing. Discover how you can be "tofi" - thin on the outside but fat on the inside, and the pointlessness of relying on scales as a measure of health...we could all just chop off a limb to get the number on the scales down! Listen as they delve into what metabolism is, what makes us metabolically healthy, and how metabolic testing can change the conversation to focussing on the root causes behind obesity and its comorbidities instead of blaming and shaming the people struggling with these conditions.
Podcast Episode 137
The keys to sustainable weight management
Join Dr Lucy and Dr Mary as they discuss the keys to sustainable weight loss in their latest episode. Learn why healing your physiology and managing your psychology are crucial for achieving real health and long-term weight loss. Discover how toxic diet culture and the pressure to be perfect can sabotage your progress, and why self-acceptance and consistency are integral to success. Be your own compassionate scientist and experiment to find what works for you. Don't let the number on the scale define your worth. Try something new today!
Podcast Episode 136
Courageous campaigner for the truth
The wonderful Belinda Fettke joins Dr Lucy again. In this episode, she unpacks the origins of the first dietetic association in the USA. Belinda is an incredible investigator, and you will learn the reason behind the demonising of animal protein and fats, and let us tell you…it has nothing to do with your good health! They also discuss why the wheels of government grind slowly, and it takes a lawsuit for regulations around trans fats. The harms to our health were known way before regulations were imposed, but vested interest groups got in the way. As usual, this is a thought provoking conversation that you won’t want to miss.
Podcast Episode 135
Understand your emotions and improve your health.
How are you feeling? No, really... How are you feeling? Can you name your feelings? Naming emotions is an important component of emotional literacy. By giving a name to our emotions, we can better understand them and gain greater control over our actions, habits and health. Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson discuss how working on your "emotional literacy" can improve your health long-term. How emotionally literate are you?
Podcast Episode 134
Why does your doctor prescribe medication?
Dr Lucy chats with Dr Laureen Lawlor-Smith, a low carb and keto doctor from Adelaide. A few years ago Dr Laureen found herself obese, with fatty liver and poor metabolic health. She was following the advice she gave her patients in being healthy and it wasn’t working. As a doctor this was deeply shameful. They chat about the reasons the current nutritional guidelines don’t work, the reasons many doctors prescribe certain medications and the origins of many clinical guidelines.
Podcast Episode 133
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Mitochondria, the "powerhouse" of the cell, are vital for energy production. They are also responsible for all kinds of amazing things including regulating insulin signalling and glucose metabolism. Having healthy mitochondria is essential to good health and feeling well.
Impaired mitochondrial function can make us feel sick and tired, and can lead to oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired glucose metabolism, which can contribute to insulin resistance.
Chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ischaemic heart disease, and some cancers have also been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns discuss the healthy steps you can take, including a low-carbohydrate lifestyle, to help boost the health of these vital little organelles.
Podcast Episode 132
It's never too late to look after yourself
Dr. Lucy and nutritionist Lynda Rose discuss the five key factors for ageing well: regular physical activity, a healthy diet, good sleep habits, stress management, and social connections. They also highlight the benefits of incorporating strength training and adopting a low-carb eating plan. Remember, it's never too late to start making positive changes for your health. By incorporating these pillars into your daily routine, you are maximising your potential for a healthy and happy future.
Podcast Episode 131
How do I eat to lose weight?
What does the science say about healthy eating and weight loss? It is important to be open-minded about new discoveries and insights in the ever-evolving field of nutrition. Recent research suggests that high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are effective for metabolic healing and weight loss. These diets prioritise protein intake and recommend around 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, which is often a lot more than many of us have been previously told to eat. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and it's essential to consider the current science when making food choices. Late-night snacking and cravings are a big problem for many of us! It is totally possible to overcome late-night snacking with the right tools. By healing our physiology with the right kind of nutrition and learning to become aware of our thoughts and emotions you can break free from destructive patterns and establish a more balanced, nourishing relationship with food.
Podcast Episode 130
Living a low carb lifestyle
Dr Lucy chats with low carb enthusiast Emma Martin who, like many of us, stumbled across the low carb lifestyle when she tried “the keto diet”. The improvement in her own health has her shouting from the rooftops. She provides practical and actionable advice on how to incorporate a low carb lifestyle into your daily routine.
Podcast Episode 129
You can change your mind
Dr Lucy and Dr Mary discuss the way our brain works and how many of our responses are automatic learned responses. Our brain has two jobs. One is to keep us safe and the other is to make us feel better. Many of our behaviours can be traced back to these two concepts. They chat about the meaning of being triggered and what that feels like in our body and what it does to our brains. Best of all Dr Mary gives you a simple tool that you can use when you are triggered that will help you feel calmer and make decisions that ultimately serve you better.
Podcast Episode 128
What should children eat?
In this world of confusing dietary and health messaging, Dr Lucy chats with nutritionist Claire McDonnell-Liu about her work in children’s health.
Claire's passion is helping schools improve the food they offer children at canteens and school activities. She started her work after her own children developed medical conditions that required dietary intervention. As a mum, she realised how difficult it is to navigate this path in an environment that is not set up to support families and now it is her mission to change that.
Podcast Episode 127
Is food simply the sum of its nutrients?
The processed food industry would like you to believe this is true, however food is not simply the sum of its macros and micro nutrients. There is plenty of evidence that consumption of ultra processed food (UPF) is detrimental to our health. Join Dr Lucy and Dr Mary as they discuss the mechanisms by which processed food is harmful to health and why we should limit the amount of UPF we eat. They also help you detect some of the sneaky health messaging on processed food and again, bring it back to the simple basics of eating real food with minimal processing for the majority of your diet. You can nurture yourself back to health with the power of real food.
Podcast Episode 126
A dietitian going against the grain
Join Dr Lucy as she chats with low carb dietitian Nicole Moore. Nicole has lived experience with the current dietary advice she was taught and implemented. She found that despite adhering to the guidelines and eating brown rice and legumes, she was unable to manage her weight.
Like many of us she was looking for a solution and tried low carb - initially as a weight loss diet - but ultimately she felt so well that it became her lifestyle. Her health improved and now she lives and breathes the low carb lifestyle.
Nicole is a wonderfully engaging speaker and many of you will relate to her story.
Podcast Episode 125
Why do we fail time and time again?
The idea of failure is familiar to many of us. We try to lose weight, things go awry and we go back to where we started – along with a few extra pounds. Today Dr Lucy and Dr Mary discuss the reasons why this happens, and for the majority of us it was that we were given bad advice. The wrong advice resulted in physiological hunger and the thinking that we just needed to be stricter or more disciplined. Unlearning this harmful approach can be so liberating. Managing physiological hunger then gives you the space to deal with emotional hunger. Unlearning those stories is where the magic truly happens.
Podcast Episode 124
Is Carnivore Healthy?
In this fabulous episode, Dr Lucy Burns and special guest Dr Anthony Chaffee discuss the issue of misinformation in nutrition and the limitations of studies linking certain foods to disease. They delve into the carnivore movement and Dr Chaffee shares his unique journey with diet and nutrition as a former professional rugby player and neurosurgical registrar. The doctors highlight the importance of being cautious when interpreting the results of nutrition studies and the influence of funding on scientific research. A must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the truth behind the nutrition world!
Podcast Episode 123
Love yourself on Valentine's
Today Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson chat about why it can be so hard to embrace the phrase, “love yourself”. They chat about the concept of self-love and why you cannot hate yourself thin or berate yourself well. As usual, Dr Lucy has a beautiful dog analogy to explain why self-love is so important, and Dr Mary gives some tips on how you can start the nurturing and nourishing process of loving yourself back to health. Happy Valentine's Day!
Podcast Episode 122
What's the point of weight loss?
On the surface this may seem like an obvious question but in fact it is much more nuanced. In this episode Dr Mary and Dr Lucy chat about why the process you follow to achieve weight loss is important for good health.
Weight loss at any cost is goal driven where the only outcome that you measure success by, is the number on the scales. Weight Loss that is process driven means the focus is on doing the things that are good for you. Focusing on things that are lovely and nurturing for your body and feeling good along the way rather than using punitive measures is super helpful. In this way you feel good along the way, rather than waiting until the destination to feel good about yourself. You cannot hate yourself thin, you cannot berate yourself well, and you cannot use punitive measures for real health and sustainable weight loss.
Podcast Episode 121
Sugar nearly killed me
We are all aware of the effects of sugar on our physical health but did you know it can affect our mental health too? Dr Lucy is joined by a real-life woman, Nerida Jelinek, who shares her story of sugar and carb addiction and its devastating effect on her mental health. She shares with us the remarkable transformation she has experienced, from being suicidal and wishing her life would end to now looking forward to her future and fulfilling her dreams. This has happened without medication simply by changing what she eats. Nerida is a living breathing example of the food and mood connection. Sugar and processed carbohydrates were literally stealing her life and whilst she has indeed lost 18kg, the joy of life she is now experiencing is the real revelation for her.
Podcast Episode 120
Make the right thing easy, make the wrong thing hard
Research suggests that 40% of our behaviours come down to habits, so with that in mind Dr Lucy and Dr Mary give you some tips and tricks to help you form good habits. They chat about some of the helpful things you can do to cement habits and the reason you need to be kind to yourself whilst you are forging new habits. You cannot bully yourself into good habits, although many of us try. Good habits come by working with your brain and looking at your identity as means for behavioural change.
Podcast Episode 119
This little light of mine
Penny Armour was judged about her body size her whole life. For decades the messaging from well meaning (and not-so-well-meaning) people was that thinner was better. As a child Penny believed that unless she was successful with weight loss, she was not good enough. She believed that she was unworthy of love unless she was “normal size”. This set her up for a life of yoyo dieting, self hatred and years and years of low self esteem. Consequently, Penny developed perfectionism. If it wasn’t perfect, then it was a failure. If she wasn’t perfect then she was a failure. She put everyone else’s needs above hers and as a result she got sicker and sicker. Listen to Penny’s story as she tells how the kindness of strangers made her recognise that she was worthy of love and good health. Penny discovers the power of self compassion and is able to let go of perfectionism. She is no longer an “All or Nothing" person and her health transformation is nothing short of spectacular.
Podcast Episode 118
Sneaky Sugar
Dr Lucy and Dr Mary discuss the sneaky ways sugar has now saturated food products found in supermarkets. Foods that you may not realise even have sugar in them have now been infiltrated by the sweet and savoury versions of sugar.
They discuss the reasons excess sugar is harmful to health and the devious ways processed food companies disguise the sugar in their products.
Podcast Episode 117
Why are Doctors Overweight?
In this episode Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson share their own stories around how they found themselves overweight, with poor metabolic health. They discuss toxic diet culture and the harm this process does to both our physiology and psychology. They chat about how they healed their physiology with low carb nutrition. They stumbled upon the miracle that low carb eating reduces hunger and only when this occurred were they then able to address their psychology.
Long term health involves changing your relationship with food but most importantly changing your relationship with yourself. For many of us, the desire to be smaller has been ingrained for decades. This can result in low self esteem and self loathing. Changing this to one of self acceptance is a fundamental mindset shift, and one needed for good health.
Podcast Episode 116
Momentum in the New Year
Happy new year! The idea of a clean slate and a new start is highly alluring, yet we know that most New Year's resolutions fail. How can you turn your resolutions into real change that actually improves your life, your health and your well being? You can do it by setting intentions. Intentions require planning, scheduling, commitment, prioritisation and celebration of the process (and not just the desired end point). At first glance they do not seem as much fun as wispy, magical and dreamy resolutions. However, setting proper intentions is how we achieve the change that brings us real joy and real health and what we really want. Change is so much easier with the right support.
