Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women

Today Heather and her guest, Ruth Harper, a registered dietitian, and nutrition therapist talk about Ruth's journey to making peace with both food and aging. Ruth struggled with body-consciousness and a strong perfectionist mentality as a teenager, as a result of her involvement in track and field. She tried to control her eating habits by eating less and running more, but ended up feeling devastated when she couldn't maintain control over her body. Ruth shares what helped her overcome her struggles, how her journey with food, control, and body image issues has gone, and what has happened as she's added aging to the mix. Heather and Ruth discuss the fear and terror that arises when undergoing body changes and how to approach aging and menopause while dealing with unexpected complications. They reference Ruth's personal struggles with emotional regulation, body image, and appearance expectations. Ruth offers tips on intuitive eating and relaxing for those going through perimenopause or menopause, and explains how the right mindset can help navigate this difficult period. This episode is perfect for anyone seeking body image freedom while struggling with the pressures of aging.  Learn more about Ruth Harper here: https://nourishmentor.com/ Learn more about Classical Conversations, today's sponsor, here: www.classicalconversations.com Learn more about Christian body image coaching with Heather Creekmore, here: www.improvebodyimage.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Compared to Who?, Heather Creekmore is joined by Erin Kerry to discuss a simple and effective way to feel better in your body without weight loss or changes in diet and exercise. Erin, an integrative nutrition health coach and a survivor of bipolar disorder, advocates for safe sun exposure for vitamin D production, gut health, and overall wellness. She also recommends apps like D-minder and talks about an interesting study using cacao powder to ensure optimal safe sun exposure and reduce sun sensitivity. Tune in to learn more about the benefits of sunshine and safe sun exposure for overall health and wellness. Learn more about Erin's health coaching services, listen to her podcast, or connect with Erin Kerry at: www.sparkingwholeness.com Here are three key takeaways from the episode: Improve body image by addressing internal issues of the heart, instead of just physical appearance. Vitamin D is essential for overall health, and the sun is the easiest way to get it. However, individualized, safe sun exposure is important and may require help such as an app like D Minder. Morning sun exposure can stimulate the production of serotonin, which can regulate sleep cycles and improve mood all of which can help you feel better about your body and improve your body image. Topics Covered: [00:03:39] "The power of the sun: Benefits of Vitamin D" [00:08:22] "The Struggle of Implementing Free and Easy Wellness Practices" [00:12:29] "Benefits of Outdoor Exercise: Don't Miss Out" [00:14:01] "Navigating Safe Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Absorption" [00:19:29] "Revolutionary D Mind App detects Vitamin D" [00:21:10] "Genetic Snips and Vitamin D Absorption" [00:25:23] "Partnering with Your Body: The Key to Health" [00:28:05] "Embracing Grace: Letting go of Checklists & Striving" Interested in homeschooling? Check out this month's sponsor, Classical Conversations, to learn more about a great way to help your children learn and grow. www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowho Ready to find more freedom on your body image journey? Ready to feel better about your body this summer and all year long? Visit: www.improvebodyimage.com and find the coaching tab to find out more about whether or not Christian body image coaching is right for you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you struggle with thinking bad thoughts about your body? Today Heather will unpack a new way to think about the famous passage in Romans 12:1-2 which tells us to be transformed through the renewing of our minds. Heather will talk about how the key strategy to thinking differently about your body isn't found in the transformation but in believing that you are a new creation from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. Heather also offers a super practical tool for how to stop bad thoughts about your body from consuming you. She explains something called the Philippians 4:8 filter and how to use it and why you should memorize this passage (or at least have it written somewhere you can always see it) so that you are prepared to transform the way you think about your body every time a negative or damaging thought pops up. Today's episode is sponsored by Classical Conversations, a Christian homeschool program that Heather's family has used for more than a decade. Learn more about this program at: http://www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowho Did you know Heather has a brand new plan out on You Version? Learn more about this plan called "Have a Comparison-Free Summer" on the Bible app. Ready for Christian body image coaching? Learn more or grab a free ten minute call to see if coaching is right for you: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/Christian-body-image-coachingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's show is dedicated to giving you a new playlist for when you have a bad body image day. If you're struggling with how you look or feel down about your weight or appearance, pull up these songs and listen on your way to work, while you exercise, or wherever your day takes you. If we can train our ears, hearts, and minds to worship instead of obsessing over our bodies, we will feel freedom like never before. This is a list of Heather's current (Spring/Summer 2023) favorites. What are some of yours? Here's the link to Heather's playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5mxHyxr2dmUpgyI4Zx4kCC?si=8a5bb7763471452d Also check out Heather's Christian workout music playlist here. Ready for some Christian body image coaching? Learn more at: www.improvebodyimage.com Today's show is sponsored by Classical Conversations. Learn more about this Christian homeschool program at: www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowho Here are the Christian songs to improve body image mentioned in today's show: You by Apollo LTD Fingerprints by Dan Bremnes For the Love of God by Andrew Ripp You Keep Hope Alive Mandisa featuring Jon Reddick God Really Loves Us - Crowder featuring Maverick City Music Running Home - Cochran and Company I See Grace - Micah Tyler Anxious Heart - Jeremy Camp This is Our God - Phil Wickham That's the Thing About Praise - Benjamin William Gratitude - Brandon Lake Easy to Praise - Patrick Mayberry This is My Song (Featuring Mac Powell) Northpoint Music Ain't Nobody - Cody Carnes You've Already Won by Shane and Shane Live Up To Your Name by Danny Gokey You Say by Lauren Diagle Not mentioned but should have been: For King and Country's new song called, Love Me Like I Am Mercy Me: Say I Won'tSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

day we're talking about all things music, television, movies, and social media. If you want to be free from body image issues, chances are you're going to have to re-examine how you relate to these forms of media. It's impossible to stay free if you are feeding on a constant diet of unhealthy images and messages. For Christian women who want body image freedom, we have to carefully evaluate every thing we are consuming with our eyes and our ears, much in the same way we were carefully evaluating everything we consumed with our mouths. Only, it may be what you consume with your eyes and your ears are even more harmful to your body image issues than anything you'd eat! Heather confesses to getting sucked in by a famous body makeover plan's ads on YouTube and discusses how easy it is to be affected and influenced by the messages we hear and see. She also talks about God is the only one we know who doesn't have an ulterior motive for our lives. When God tells us something or asks something of us, it's not so he can get our money or win us over--it's for our good and His glory. Marketers have a much different quest. Ready to be free from body image issues? Consider Christian body image coaching with Heather. Learn more at:www.improvebodyimage.com Today's show is sponsored by Classical Conversations. Learn more about this fantastic homeschool community that Heather and her family have used for more than a decade. Visit: www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowhoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've had many women reach out to me over the years with this sentiment, "Help! I hate pictures of myself!" Today's episode of the podcast is dedicated to you. Let's talk through why we hate to see ourselves in pictures, what's really going on in our heads, and what's really going on in our lives when we get our pictures taken. Today, we talk through why pictures of ourselves can be so triggering, how BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) is stirred by photographs, and what we can do if we are afraid of getting our picture taken because we know we'll hate it. Heather shares from her own experience of struggling with how she looks in pictures and what she's learned about making peace with photos of ourselves. Today's show also talks about what to do with vacation photos. If you don't like how you look in pictures, how to navigate getting your photo taken without letting it ruin your summer vacation! There are lots of great tips in today's episode for everyone who struggles with body image issues and seeing themselves in pictures and longs for freedom! Are you ready for Christian body image coaching? Check out: www.comparedtowho.me for more information. Today's episode is sponsored by Classical Conversations. Find out more about this Christian homeschool community by visiting: www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowhoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have what we've been told about exercise and the way it changes the look of your body been skewed? Today Heather looks at some relatively new data that shows how not every person responds to exercise in the exact same way. While it is certain that exercise has mental and physical health benefits for most of us, there is a certain group that does not respond in an expected way. They are termed "exercise non-responders," and these are people who can follow the same 6-week or 12-week plan as the rest of the group and yet not see the same physical changes or physical benefits as the rest. The numbers of who this applies to are much larger than you would expect in one particular outcome called VO2 max, which is a way to quantify physical fitness. We rarely hear about this as an actual possibility. Most of the time we're told that if you do the exercises, put in the work, you will get the same results. We believe the ads that say, "If you want a body like this, work out like this." But, what if that's just not true. What if it's not physically possible for some people to re-shape their bodies in the same way as others. Today Heather wants to free you from the cultural belief that if you do this type of exercise, you will get a body that looks a certain way. Exercise has lots of great benefits, but it's time to lose the shame and frustration around working out hard to get your body to look different. She challenges the paradigm of what we've been taught around exercise and what it will do for us. Action step: Think about what you've believed and how you've assessed yourself or judged others in the realm of fitness and exercise because their bodies don't (or your body doesn't) look like you believed they should look if they were doing the "right types" of exercises. Learn more about exercise non-responders and the article Heather looks at here: https://www.acefitness.org/continuing-education/certified/february-2023/8234/could-your-client-be-a-non-responder/ Here's the pubmed study that Heather cites: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6349783/ Don't forget to leave a review if Compared to Who? has blessed you! Learn more at www.comparedtowho.me/podcast Interested in Christian body image coaching? Find out more at: www.improvebodyimage.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we talk about all things fitness. What does it mean to be fit? Is physical fitness something that all Christians need? Why should we pursue fitness and is there ever a danger to pursuing physical fitness? Today Heather digs into how fitness and health aren't always synonymous. She also talks about how fitness can help us fulfill our calling and serve God with our bodies. But, she shares from her own experience with pursuing fitness at the expense of her health and how this kind of pursuit of fitness wasn't about being fit to serve the Lord better, but was for a more futile purpose.  Heather also looks at what scripture says about fitness in our physical body and fitness from a spiritual sense--readiness to do what God has called and asked us to do. She poses several questions for those of every fitness level to examine their own hearts, lives, and relationship with fitness to find a place of greater peace and spiritual health. Ready for Christian body image coaching? Visit: www.improvebodyimage.com to find out more or grab a ten minute coaching call to see if coaching is right for you. Have you joined our Facebook community yet? Join the Body Image Help for Christian Women group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764271297116024 Don't forget to snag your copy of The Burden of Better while it's still just .99 on Kindle. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/burden-of-better-book-for-christian-women-on-comparisonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you love exercise? Do you hate exercise? Today we're talking about what a healthy relationship with exercise looks like and what a healthy theology of exercise is. What does the Bible say about exercise explicitly, and what can we extrapolate about exercise from the ways God designed our bodies? Here are some things we dig into in today's episode: Does God command us to exercise? Did he design our bodies to move? How can we apply grace to our views of exercise? How can we think about exercise in a way that is healthy and holy according to the Bible? Are there other ways that we are moving our bodies naturally as a part of using our gifts? Can this "count" as exercise? If exercise is a triggering word for you, what would it look like to remove the word exercise from your vocabulary and just get moving in service of the Lord? How do we listen to our bodies around exercise instead of listening to guilt and shame that comes from culture's expectations around exercise? How do you know when your relationship with exercise has gone bad? Exercise Bulimia When exercise becomes an idol or your treasure When exercise becomes too important of a priority in your life or an idol What happens when God asks you to lay down a specific form of exercise Figuring out your motivation for exercise When you're working out too hard and overexercising When exercise is stressing you out too much in already stressful seasons If exercise is an addiction or a problem: Ask why you are working out so hard. Thinking about body kindness as it relates to exercise. Here's the pelvic floor program, Tighten Your Tinkler, I mentioned in today's show that I talked about last Fall on the show. Check out Jimmy Pena's testimony at prayfit.org . What does the Bible really say about the importance of physical exercise? Check out 1 Timothy 4:1-8 and think about its implications of spiritual fitness versus physical fitness. Do you need extra support for your body image journey? Consider coaching with Heather. Learn more at www.comparedtowho.me Leave a review for the show! Learn more at: www.comparedtowho.me/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 2:25, we read how Adam and Eve were in the garden and "naked and unashamed." But most women with body image issues aren't experiencing this kind of freedom in their intimate lives. Just thinking about being "naked and unashamed" is nerve-wracking for most of us. But the truth is: What your body looks like has little to do with how well you can connect with your husband in the bedroom. If having a "hot" body meant great sex and great marriages, then Hollywood would be the mecca of great relationships. And, yet? That's not what we see playing out there. What is sex designed for? Does sex require us to look a certain way in order to enjoy it? Sex isn't supposed to be "Look at me" but how can we join together and love each other well. On today's show Heather makes three observations about this Genesis 2:25 verse. She discusses all the ways we've absorbed culture's messages around sex and our bodies and how they hurt our intimate lives. Heather also digs into how culture teaches us to strive for being "naked and unashamed" in every area of life. But what if this goal is misguided? Could it be that the only context in which we are designed to be naked without any shame is in the context of marriage after we've become one flesh with another person? What's our motivation to be naked and unashamed? Heather encourages you through this episode that intimacy issues are rarely about our bodies, which gives us great hope for better marriages and sex lives--no matter how our bodies age or change. Other resources: Dr. Juli Slattery was on the show last year talking about sex, body image, and marriage. Listen to that episode here. Coaching is open! Learn more at: www.improvebodyimage.com If you need help sorting through body image in marriage issues, book your session today. The Burden of Better is available for only .99 on Kindle for one more week. Check it out here and learn more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.