Real Health and Weight Loss Podcast

Peptides are all over social media, but are they actually safe? In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary unpack what peptide hormones really are and why the booming, murky peptide market has them concerned.  They explore where these products are really coming from, what can go wrong when nobody's checking what's in the vial, and why some of the newer trends aimed at young people worry them most a...

Is magnesium really worth the hype, and which one should you actually be taking? In this episode, Dr Mary and Dr Lucy cut through the confusion around "magnificent magnesium" to help you make clearer, more confident decisions without the marketing spin.  You'll hear why magnesium matters for energy, metabolic health, sleep and nervous system regulation, and why so many people may not be getti...

Lipoedema might be the missing piece in your health story. In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary shine a purple light on this under-recognised condition that mostly affects women and is often mistaken for “just being overweight”.  You’ll hear how lipoedema is different from lymphoedema, why the fat on your legs and arms may not respond to diet and exercise like the rest of yo...

If you've ever felt like exercise is just another thing you're failing at, this episode is for you. The truth is, you don't need a punishing gym program to protect your brain and your metabolic health. The evidence suggests that small, varied movements woven into your day may be just as powerful as any structured workout routine.  In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Mary introduce the concept of...

What if golf changed your life in ways you never expected? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns chats with Rebecca Laut, a woman who picked up golf in her 30s and found far more than a hobby. Rebecca shares how getting out on the course helped her stay active while managing PCOS and insulin resistance, and how combining movement, lifestyle changes, and a GLP-1 medication led to something she never thoug...

Do you reach for food when you're stressed, tired, or overwhelmed? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns break down the real reasons behind emotional eating. No guilt, no shame. Just clear, practical tools you can use right now. Learn the PHALTS framework to spot your triggers, understand what your brain is actually doing when cravings hit, and discover simple "hot tools" to pause befo...

Does your brain seem to work against you when it comes to healthy habits? In this episode, Dr Mary and Dr Lucy explore ADHD and why so many women, especially in midlife, find healthy living hard to stick to.  They explain the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it, and share simple, practical tools to bridge that gap.  You will learn why it is not about trying harder, how t...

Did you know women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as men, and oestrogen may be a key reason why? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson break down the real science behind oestrogen's role in brain health and dementia prevention, why the infamous 2003 WHI study sent doctors running scared for decades, and what the latest evidence actually means for women in midlife. I...

Did you know dementia is now the leading cause of death in women in Australia, and your metabolic health plays a huge role? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns break down the different types of dementia, including why Alzheimer's is sometimes called "type 3 diabetes", and how insulin resistance, inflammation, and poor sleep can quietly damage your brain for decades before any symptom...

You know metabolic health matters, but what can you actually do about it? In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson break down the key levers you can pull to improve your metabolic health, and none of them require calorie counting or hours in the gym. You'll learn why just 10 minutes of movement after a meal can lower your blood sugar, how even five minutes of exercise improves your sleep,...

Do you feel tired, hungry, and like your body is working against you? Dr Lucy Burns and Dr Mary Barson break down exactly what metabolic health is and why it matters far more than just the number on the scales. In this episode, you'll learn how your body converts food into energy, why high insulin can lock your stored fat away like cash in a term deposit you cannot access, and how conditions like...

What if the reason you can't get your HRT patch has nothing to do with your pharmacy and everything to do with a 20-year-old mistake? Australia has had a chronic shortage of menopause hormone therapy patches for nearly five years, and the reason will surprise you. Dr Lucy Burns sits down with Johanna Wicks, co-founder of Lorai Health, who got so fed up she decided to build her own pharmaceutical c...

Dr Lucy Burns sits down with Clio Austin, an exercise physiologist, scientist, and women's health specialist, to talk about what women in midlife actually need to do to protect their bones, build muscle, and stay strong for life. You'll learn why the cardio-and-calorie-cutting approach so many women default to in perimenopause is working against them, and what the science says to do instead. Clio...

What if you could lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease without giving up the foods you love? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson chats with Dr Nelum Dharmapriya, a GP with over 30 years’ experience, who shares how she reversed her own pre-diabetes, regained her energy, and simplified her approach to health after years of doing “all the right things” without results. Dr Nelum...

Dr Mary Barson sits down with Dr Louise Phillips, a Queensland GP with over 20 years of experience, to talk about what’s really happening with metabolic health in Australia right now. They break down complex topics like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in plain, simple language, and explain why low-carb eating can be a powerful tool for improving your health. Dr Louise also shares insi...

In part 2 of this gut health deep dive, Dr Mary Barson continues her powerful conversation with gastroenterologist and microbiome expert Dr Paul Froomes. You’ll discover why the carnivore diet can calm symptoms at first but may harm your microbiome long term, how hidden chemicals in processed foods damage your gut lining, and what that means for inflammation, insulin resistance and chronic d...

 Did you know the trillions of bacteria living in your gut could be contributing to weight gain, bloating, anxiety, and even depression? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson sits down with Melbourne gastroenterologist Dr Paul Froomes — a gut health expert with over 30 years of experience — to unpack the science of the microbiome in plain English. You'll learn why "functional" gut condi...

Did you know your gut and brain are in constant conversation -  and what they say to each other could be driving your cravings, low mood, and brain fog? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns break down the gut-brain axis in plain English: what it is, why it matters, and how poor food choices, chronic stress, and lack of sleep can throw it off balance. Learn how certain gut bacteri...

Ever wondered what "fibre maxing" actually means — and whether it's helping or harming your gut? In this episode, Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns cut through the 2026 social media hype to give you the real science on gut health. You'll learn why not all fibre is equal, how the processed food industry is health-washing its products, and what's actually damaging your gut lining without you kn...

Having personally seen how changing food transformed her depressed husband’s and anxious daughter’s lives, speaker, researcher and author Belinda Smith is on a mission to show that nutrition sits at the heart of our physical and mental health. In this episode, Dr Lucy Burns talks with Bel, one of Australia’s leading independent voices for children’s health, author of The Lu...

Are you worried that holidays will ruin your health progress? In this episode, Dr Mary shares her real-life experience of travelling to Japan with kids and how she stayed on track without being perfect. You'll learn how to enjoy holidays without the "all or nothing" mindset that leads to weight gain and regret. Discover practical tips for handling plane food, navigating buffet breakfasts, and maki...

At 70, Maria thought weight gain, joint pain and exhaustion were just “old age” – until her cardiologist referred her to Real Life Medicine and she discovered powerful hormonal drivers like insulin and leptin resistance were behind her constant hunger and weight struggles, not a lack of willpower. In this episode, you’ll hear how a simple “metabolic reset”, by c...

I know what to do, I just don’t do it.” If that sounds like you, this episode is for you. Dr Mary and Dr Lucy unpack the “knowing–doing gap” in simple, practical language, so you can finally understand why you get stuck and stop calling yourself lazy or weak. You will learn why your brain clings to old habits, why pushing yourself with “a good kick up the pants&...

“Can I ever eat sugar again?” Dr Mary Barson and Dr Lucy Burns unpack sugar and processed food addiction in a simple, hopeful way, so you can finally understand why you feel out of control around certain foods and what to do about it. You will learn Dr Lucy’s “three bucket” model of addiction, how food companies design products to hijack your brain, and why short &ldq...

Dr Mary and Dr Lucy lift the lid on your brain and reveal why you keep doing the things you don’t want to do, like eating when stressed, lonely, angry or bored. You’ll learn the two main jobs your brain has, why it clings to safety and quick rewards, and how this secretly sabotages your metabolic health and weight loss. They share simple tools like the SLAB acronym and tiny doable step...