Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women

What do I do if I feel bad about having ruined my body? How do I believe my body is good even though I feel responsible for having messed it up? Isn't God mad at me because He gave me a good body and then I messed it up by the way I ate (or didn't eat) and exercised (or didn't exercise)? Today, Heather explores the reality that our bodies are made differently and some bodies are more susceptible to issues and disease than others. But, the real answer for this struggle is a theological answer. What do we believe about sin and the consequences of sin? What do we believe about repentance and forgiveness? What do we believe about making bad choices and how God handles that?  The questions under the question is: Has my sin ruined my life? Have my choices changed my life in such a way that I'm no longer able to live the life God planned for me? Can God still use me even though I feel like I've made bad decisions? Heather explains how often the sins that we believe we are guilty of around our bodies are not what we think they are. And, how the real sins of pride, envy, lust of the flesh, greed, idolatry are what was under and driving those decisions to eat or exercise in a certain way. So-called food "sins" are often not about the food at all. Heather also digs into the concept of guilt, worldly remorse, and true repentance. Taking inspiration from Tim Keller's sermon, The Problem With Guilt , Heather explains how these concepts can help us get out of that place where we feel stuck feeling guilty for the ways we've inappropriately cared for (or neglected) our bodies. This topic is nuanced and tricky, but hopefully the truth of scripture about how God is still good and still has a good plan for your life, no matter how you feel you've "messed things up," will encourage you. Learn more about Compared to Who? at https://www.improvebodyimage.com Learn more about the 40-Day Body Image Workbook: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather talks with Shannon Popkin and Lee Neinhuis, authors of a new book about comparison for teen girls, about how women of all ages are tempted to compare themselves to others. The trio discusses the challenge of finding identity in Christ. The struggle to figure out how God made you and what he made unique about you while wanting to fit in and not be "different" from everyone else. Lee and Shannon offer beautiful stories and illustrations that will encourage you and equip you to encourage a teen in your life who may struggle with comparison.  Do you struggle with comparison? Does a teen in your life seem to always be comparing herself to others? Do you wonder how to effectively encourage teens not to compare themselves to others and to learn confidence in Christ? Then this episode is for you! Learn more about Shannon and Lee and their brand new book, Comparison-Girl for Teens here: https://leenienhuis.com/comparison-girl-for-teens/ Buy a copy of the book here (amazon affiliate link) https://amzn.to/4bTXyDN Connect with Compared to Who? or learn more about the 40-Day Body Image Workbook here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Body shame is real. We've all experienced it, but what do we do about it? Earlier in May, Oprah Winfrey hosted a three-hour-long forum with body love experts, actresses, and influencers to start a conversation about bodies, weight, and how we can start changing the narrative. Titled, "Making the Shift" and hosted by WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers), the conversation had several meaningful moments where women from all over the country shared the hurt, shame, and confusion they'd felt about their body image. In today's episode, Heather digs into what happened in the Oprah conversation. She explores how the one piece missing from these eloquent conversations is the key unlocking body shame. If you've been struggling with your body size or shape, and are looking for a fresh answer that's meatier than telling yourself positive affirmations in the mirror, this conversation will be a great encouragement to you.  There are real answers out there for your body image struggles -- and the good news is they don't require Jedi mind tricks or "naked jump roping in front of the mirror" (yes, that was from the Oprah special!!!). Learn more about Heather Creekmore, Compared to Who? and how to improve your body image and find freedom from body shame here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Want to join Heather and a group of amazing women in reading Heather's new 40-Day Body Image Workbook? The groups started this Tuesday but it's not too late to join! Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Listen to Tim Keller preach on identity here.  Watch Oprah's "Making the Shift" special on YouTube.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Summer's coming. Even if you weren't looking at the calendar you may have sensed that from the number of diet and exercise ads you see. The change of season can inspire us to set new goals and do things to try to feel better in our bodies, but what if there's a better way to meet your health goals without falling into the "going on a diet" or "following a new plan" pit? Today, Heather recommends a new way of thinking about your goals, goal setting, and how you measure success. This method can help you stay consistent, feel like you are making progress, and encourage your heart. Become the "kind of woman who..." and grow in spiritual, physical and mental health.  Learn more about Compared to Who? and Heather Creekmore's books and coaching: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Reading Challenge (Starts Tuesday, May 21st but you can join until May 27th!) - 40-day-challenge   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Woah! Today's episode is so good whether you are a "Swiftie" or truly believe she is the "anti-hero," you're sure to get something out of it. Taylor Swift is a household name and someone most, universally, recognize for her beauty and success. But, Taylor has been open about her struggles with body image issues and an eating disorder. She's felt the same pressure and shame many of us have felt about how we look. Today, Heather looks at what we can learn about our own body image issues and the lies we believe by studying how someone as successful and beautiful as Taylor Swift, still struggles. Heather explores the concept of body image idolatry and how the "idols" our culture worships, like Taylor, make us promises about peace, rest, joy, and satisfaction that they just can't keep. Today's show ends with four important things we can all learn from Taylor Swift to help us improve our body image and help the next generation of girls not get sucked into the same body image issues that we've wrestled. Connect with Compared to Who: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather continues her conversation with Erin Todd from Intuitive Eating for Christian Women about the expression, "Turn to Jesus, not food." While we know that Jesus should be our source for everything, is it helpful or even accurate to say that we can turn to Jesus instead of eating the food we crave? Is this how we treat other decisions surrounding our bodies and what they need (Do we say, "Turn to Jesus, not sleep?")? Today, Heather and Erin continue their conversations to hash out what is helpful to remember about turning to God, and how this expression may sound more like diet culture than the Bible.  If you've ever felt guilt and shame over giving into a craving at night or eating that food you swore to yourself not to eat, and then told yourself you should have turned to "Jesus not food," this episode is for you. Connect with Compared to Who: https://www.improvebodyimage.com  Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Connect with Erin or listen to the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast Here: https://intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com/     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Heather Creekmore and special guest Erin Todd delve into an expression we've heard a lot in Christian circles: "Turn to Jesus Not Food."  We've all been there. It's late, you've had a hard day. And what you really want it brownies, or cookies, or the ice cream. Maybe you bake or maybe you drive to the store. You give in. You eat the thing that you had hoped you wouldn't. It's like the craving took over. And, now you feel guilt, shame, and worse: You wonder if you've sinned by turning to food not Jesus. You believe you should have just prayed the craving away or handled the emotional need in a way that did not include food. Today Heather and Erin unpack this expression. They talk about whether or not our physical food cravings are sinful. They discuss how eating can and does help a stressed or tired body calm down, but how this doesn't have to be the only tool in the tool belt. Erin and Heather also talk about the importance of really listening to our bodies so that we can nourish them appropriately. We don't always have to "give in" to the cravings, but neither do we have to over-spiritualize them. Heather and Erin reference these episodes today: Gwen Shamblin and Starving for Salvation: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/starving-for-salvation-diet-culture-gwen-shamblin Gluttony Part 1: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/what-is-gluttony-really-what-the-bible-really-says Exploring Every Bible Verse on Gluttony: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/more-thoughts-on-gluttony-what-the-bible-says-part Connect with Compared to Who: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Connect with Erin or listen to the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast Here: https://intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com/     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather chats with Amy Connell about the ways we as moms who were fully entrenched in diet culture can start to change the conversations in our home around food and body. Amy and Heather were both fitness instructors and focused on “health education” trying to, out of love, do what was best for their kids around food and exercise. But, as they discuss today, some of what they did was likely unhelpful. As the research shows, some of the rules they enforced and the ways they modeled a restrictive relationship with food or over-emphasized exercise may have sent the wrong message to their kids.  Amy and Heather talk about how our children and teens are on the journey with us out of diet culture, whether they know it or not. They talk about how tricky it can be to have our children watch our pendulum swing from restricting all the foods or maybe always being on a diet to giving up dieting and trying to eat more intuitively. They also discuss how our kids—both boys and girls--are being influenced by social media and YouTube influencers around what they should eat and how they should look or exercise. They talk about how to manage this challenge when you are trying to teach your children and teens a different way. Similarly, Amy and Heather talk about helping our children see the agenda that the culture has for them--and how diet culture plays into this agenda that wants them to be so focused on food, exercise, body, and appearance that they can miss out on what God has for them and find themselves in anxiety, depression, eating disorders or worse. You'll be encouraged by today's podcast, share it with a friend or leave a review! Ready to sign up for the 40-day body image workbook reading journey? We start May 21st! Learn more or sign up here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Purchase Amy's new book, Your CORE Strength on most online stores including Amazon and Bookshop if you prefer to support independent bookstores. All formats, including paperback, ebook and audiobook are available. You may also grab the Parents Guide - a Cliffs notes version for you to learn the main concepts as well as receive other helpful resources like recommended Instagram accounts, books and podcasts, and ways to support your daughter. Want some more Christ-centered, diet-culture-free encouragement for your daughter? Invite her to listen to Amy's podcast for Christian teen girls, Lessons to My Teenage Self (also on YouTube if they aren't regular podcast listeners.)Connect with Amy:@gracedhealth (for women over 40)@lessons.pod (for teens)GracedHealth.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you trying to do everything right to be “healthier” but feeling overwhelmed with all the rules? Have you been sucked into watching a "master class," influencer videos, or subscribing to the program of an influencer who offers the “right” ways to eat, act, and move so that we can beat all our diseases or live a long life? Today Heather questions the food rules, whether or not they are helpful, too severe or disordered, and whether or not they are healthy for us spiritually and mentally (do they invoke humility or pride?). Is food the most important thing to our health or, if we look at history, are we putting too much emphasis on our food rules and the connection they have to optimal health? What about the ways we personally believe or hold to our own health and food rules? Are we willing to try anything and do anything to get what the idol of health gives us? Do we believe that we’ve “lost our lives” and do we try everything because we are desperate to “get our lives back”? In this information age, it's easy to believe that the end of all of our suffering is available if only we just work hard enough to find it. This can put us on a wild scavenger hunt to find the end to our sufferings. But, if it doesn't work, or even if it does, how does this affect our mental and spiritual health? Heather closes the show with five suggestions to help anyone be more discerning about health programs and their offerings, and what we click on. Learn more about Heather and Compared to Who? by visiting: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Join the 40 Day Reading Challenge here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How can we age well? Internet searches tell us that aging well is about wearing sunscreen, avoiding smoking, drinking less, eating right, and exercising more. But, the focus on aging seems to be all about our bodies, but what about our souls? Can having a more eternal perspective allow us to face the reality of aging and to get real about the ways our bodies are failing while remembering and feeling energized by the real purpose and why we were put on this earth? Today, Heather looks at the importance of community and friendships to aging well. She also talks about the hopefulness and joy that can come from keeping in mind that we are eternal beings. She talks about how God’s faithfulness to us through the years we’ve already lived can remind us that He will be faithful to be with us as we age, even if we face physical or mental struggles. She also talks about how remembering that you are a "Forever Person" can help you keep your focus on what's really important without getting too fixated on what's happening to your body in the aging process. Want to read Heather’s new aging devotional? Learn more and grab your copy here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/aging-gratefully Want to read the 40 Day Body Image Workbook and join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook reading group that starts May 21st? Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.