Episode 60: Weight Loss and ADHD with Dr Mary Barson

👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Dr Mary Barson, founder of Real Life Medicine, about:

✅ Real-life strategies for ADHD & weight management

✅ The truth about dopamine, eating, and shame

✅ Family-friendly, flexible health solutions

✅ Why traditional diets don’t work for ADHD

⏰ Timestamps ⏰

00:00 Struggling with Weight and Transformation

05:06 ADHD's Impact on Dieting Struggles

07:08 ADHD, Food Cravings, and Eating Habits

11:48 High-Protein Meal Prep Ideas

17:20 "Shame and People-Pleasing Origins"

20:08 Stress Response and Hyperarousal Explained

23:09 Break the Shame Spiral

25:22 Reconsidering ADHD Perceptions

30:36 High-Protein Diet Benefits

34:14 Emotional Aspect of Weight Loss

36:25 Make Healthy Choices Easier

38:45 "Real Health & Weight Loss Resources"

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Dr Mary Barson is a GP based on the Victorian Surf Coast. She is an absolute genius and has an honours degree in biochemistry, as well as a medical degree. Dr Mary understands all things “sciencey”. She is our go-to person for interpreting scientific research, and can separate out true science from popular “woo”.

Dr Mary marries this with her skills as a counsellor and hypnotherapist, and has a huge interest in lifestyle medicine. She practices compassion-based therapy.

Connect with Mary:

Website: https://www.rlmedicine.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real_life_medicine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reallifemedicine

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1XRiZ7sJ-thR6CobrH5Vg

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/real-health-and-weight-loss-podcast/id1539858012

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/real-life-medicine/

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KEY POINTS

Dr. Mary Barson shares her personal journey with ADHD, PCOS, and overcoming lifelong weight struggles using real, sustainable health strategies.

The episode uncovers why traditional dieting and “just use willpower” advice don’t work for ADHD brains, and how dopamine and shame impact eating habits.

You’ll get practical, family-friendly tips for high-protein breakfasts, supporting picky eaters, and building flexible routines that actually fit neurodiverse households.

NEXT STEPS

Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily

Book 1:1 Discover Call: https://calendly.com/sharonthefunctionalfamily/15-min-discovery-call-with-sharon

WORK WITH Sharon Collon

Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:

ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.

Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com

CONNECT

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/ 🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com 🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog