Is this for you?
This may be for you if…
You struggle with consistency more than knowledge.
You’re tired of plans that rely on constant motivation.
You want structure that works even when focus and energy fluctuate.
This may not be for you if…
You’re looking for fast results.
You’re looking for strict rules.
You’re looking for a short-term challenge.
The Ares Method is built for sustainability, not intensity.
What this is (and isn't)
What this is
This is a structured, ADHD-aligned approach to weight loss that focuses on reducing friction, rebuilding self-trust, and designing systems that work consistently over time.
What this isn’t
This isn’t a quick fix, a challenge, or a set of rigid rules. It doesn’t promise speed or perfection, and it doesn’t rely on willpower to carry the process.
ADHD Weight Loss
Why weight loss feels different with ADHD
Weight loss with ADHD isn’t harder because of laziness or lack of discipline. It’s harder because most advice assumes stable motivation, emotional regulation, and linear progress — areas where ADHD brains often struggle, especially over longer periods.
Why standard advice often fails
Standard weight loss plans are built around willpower, rigid routines, and constant self-control. For many people with ADHD, this leads to short bursts of success followed by exhaustion, guilt, and starting over.
What actually helps long-term
Long-term progress comes from reducing friction, simplifying decisions, and building systems that still work on low-focus days. Structure matters more than intensity, and consistency is built through design — not force.
Intermittent Fasting for ADHD
Why fasting can help some ADHD brains
Intermittent fasting can work well for ADHD minds because it simplifies structure. Instead of managing eating all day, attention is focused into fewer, more predictable moments.
Where people often go wrong
Problems usually start when fasting becomes rigid or extreme. Treating it as a rule instead of a tool often leads to burnout, binge cycles, or unnecessary self-blame.
How The Ares Method approaches fasting
The Ares Method treats fasting as a supportive framework that can be adapted to real life. It’s designed to work even when motivation is low.
Emotional Eating & Cravings
Why emotional eating isn’t a failure
For many people with ADHD, emotional eating is a form of regulation rather than a lack of control. Food can temporarily reduce stress, boredom, or overwhelm when other regulation tools aren’t availab
Why restriction often makes cravings worse
Strict restriction tends to increase mental focus on food. For ADHD brains, this can intensify cravings and lead to rebound eating rather than control.
What helps break the cycle
Reducing shame around eating
Increasing predictability in meals
Allowing flexibility instead of rigid rules
When eating is structured but not forbidden, cravings often lose intensity over time.
Motivation & Consistency
Why motivation is unreliable with ADHD
ADHD brains respond strongly to novelty and urgency, but less reliably to long-term goals. This makes motivation an unstable foundation for sustained change.
Why consistency is often misunderstood
Consistency is often framed as doing the same thing every day. For ADHD, this expectation can create unnecessary pressure and self-blame.
How consistency is actually built
Consistency is built through environments and routines that support action automatically, not through constant self-control.
Built from lived experience
Why this method exists
The Ares Method exists because standard approaches didn’t hold up over longer periods of time. It was built out of repeated attempts, failures, adjustments, and a need for something that could actually be sustained with ADHD.
How it was developed
The framework was developed over time through lived experience, observation, and iteration — not as a single plan, but as a system refined through use.
About the Method
Built within real constraints
The Ares Method was shaped under real constraints rather than ideal conditions. It developed within limits that forced practicality, adaptability, and a focus on what could be sustained over time.
Why constraints matter
Those constraints shaped the method’s emphasis on structure, flexibility, and sustainability. When conditions aren’t ideal, systems matter more than intensity.
About Ruud
Ruud is the creator of The Ares Method™. His work focuses on building a practical system for weight loss that accounts for ADHD, real-life constraints, and long-term sustainability. The method is shaped by lived experience rather than theory or optimization.
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This website provides general information only and does not offer medical, health, or professional advice. Content is shared for educational purposes and reflects personal experience. Always consult a qualified professional before making changes related to health, diet, or exercise. By using this site, you agree to the applicable terms and privacy policy.
© 2026 Ruud Swinkels.
The Ares Method™.
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