Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women

“My body became my business card,” Belinda explains in today's interview. You'll hear all about Belinda’s journey from experiencing weight loss success and even coaching others in a popular weight loss business to being overwhelmed with body image issues and desperate for help. Belinda just completed the Body Image Freedom Framework online course and group coaching program. Belinda reached out on her 40th birthday for help and is now sharing her story after spending 12 weeks in Heather’s coaching and course. Belinda had the “after” picture, but it hadn’t fixed her body image issues. Today Belinda shares what she thought and expected from the program, how the program worked for her, and where she’s at now in her body image struggles. “God wants you to be healthy and thin” was the message she heard, but it soon became an idol that Belinda was chasing and feeling more and more trapped instead of more freedom. Now she feels like she has tools to knock down the lies and fight to believe what God says about her worth and her body. Belinda shares how she had to re-learn principles around food and body from a biblical perspective and how she’s wrestled her heart posture and beliefs around beauty. She shares how this course helped her take that head knowledge and make it heart knowledge. They also talk about how heavy the body shame is when women are struggling with body image issues and always trying to change their body to feel better about it. They also talk about how the group coaching program connected Belinda to a group of women who understand not only her body image struggles but also understand a biblical perspective on how to solve them. Connect with Belinda here: https://www.instagram.com/healthinhisimage/ Ready for coaching this year? Get started with Heather's Body Image Freedom Framework Coaching or online course for just $40 in January. Use the code: Start40 on www.improvebodyimage.com course page. Or, drop Heather an email at: heather@comparedtowho.me to learn more Have you read Heather's brand new 40-Day Body Image Workbook? Learn more about this fantastic resource at: 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 welcomes Amy Reinecke host of the "Love Your Body Well" podcast. Heather and Amy discuss what Amy means when she talks about loving your body well and how it's not about body pride or a feeling you have about your body, but rather about an action you take towards your body -- how you treat it and think about it. Amy shares her story of weight loss and weight gain, struggling with back issues and an autoimmune disease, and how God has walked with her to a place where she feels more confident and comfortable with her body, even though it's not the size she prefers. Today Heather and Amy also talk about: **What's underneath our desire to "press the easy button" and try another diet to "fix it all" (and why this never works!) **How to unlearn our dieting behaviors **Amy shares how she felt like she was making "everyone else happy" with her weight loss, yet how she was miserable and stressed out on the inside. **How there's not a one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss or health. We will each have to figure out what works for us. **Why your story and life are still valuable, even if you wish your body looked different. Learn more or connect with Amy Reinecke at: www.loveyourbodywell.net or on her podcast: Love Your Body Well Ready for coaching this year? Get started with Heather's coaching or online course for just $40 in January. Use the code: Start40 on www.improvebodyimage.com course page. Have you read Heather's brand new 40-Day Body Image Workbook? Learn more about this fantastic resource at: 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.

It's January so everyone's talking about fasting! Churches are doing corporate fasts, Organizations are running sugar fasts. People have cleared out their pantries of all foods that aren't legal on the Daniel Fast and stocked their fridges with vegetables they'll only ever eat in January. Today, Heather digs into fasting. Is fasting good? Should we be fasting? What is the purpose of fasting? Heather challenges listeners with the real purpose of fasting and offers cautions for those who have a history with eating disorders or disordered eating who try to fast.  Heather also challenges listeners with the truth of scripture in regards to the Daniel Fast. Heather takes a deep dive into the story of Daniel and what happened when Daniel and his friends refused to eat the king's rich food. Why did they do it? What was their purpose in fasting from these foods? What happened to their bodies when they fasted? Heather looks at the surprising truth of scripture that reveals how their fast actually made them "fatter in the flesh." Here's the episode Heather referenced with Amy Carlson from last year: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/should-i-fast-if-i-had-an-eating-disorder-a-look-a Heather ends the episode by encouraging listeners to have a vision for their lives that is bigger than themselves and their bodies. Here are some of the hot topics from today's episode: The Spiritual Reasons for Fasting The Daniel Fast Sugar fasts The one question you need to ask yourself before you fast or while you're fasting Should people with eating disorders or a history of an eating disorder fast? How we can serve and honor God through fasting and other spiritual disciplines. Learn more about Heather's brand new book, the 40-Day Body Image Workbook or grab the facilitator's guide here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/books-for-christian-women-body-image Learn more about the Body Image Freedom Framework online course and group coaching program here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It's a New Year! In this episode, host Heather Creekmore offers three challenges to encourage and inspire you to become healthier and more beautiful in the ways that matter the most to eternity. Heather explores Oprah Winfrey’s weight loss journey, the WW president’s apology that ushered in their new programs to sell weight loss drugs in addition to their program, and more. Heather encourages listeners to think about health and beauty in a more holistic way and offers practical tips that are easy to implement now and all year long. Here are your three challenges: Make your body goals about something more than your weight. Make your life about something more than your body. Make your heart about Jesus, not body change. Here are resources mentioned in today’s show (This list includes affiliate links, a small portion of any purchases will be paid to Compared to Who?):            New York Times op-ed on Oprah 40-Day Body Image Workbook Body Image Freedom Framework Online Course and Coaching Program Feed Yourself by Leslie Schilling   Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole Heather’s episode on Ozempic. Dolly Parton and Judging Bodies Episode Heather’s interview with Leslie Schilling about Feed Yourself book Use the code: START40 to get started with Heather's online course or group coaching for just $40 in the month of January. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Did you know that your body image issues and cleaning your house like a crazy person may be connected? If you've ever turned into a cleaning Gestapo before company came over or if you've ever stressed way too much over how your house looked, you may be surprised to find out that there's a body image connection. Getting free to be yourself in your body may help you become a little more chill when it comes to cleaning your house before guests stop by. If you've ever cleaned the house to make it look like "no one lives here," you'll be able to relate to this episode in many ways! Here are some other things we talk about as we discuss how cleaning house connects to body image issues: What image are we trying to protect or portray in our physical homes? Is this related to the image we're trying to present in our soul's earthly homes--our bodies? How control issues flare in similar ways between cleaning our homes and caring for our bodies. What is the difference between loving others and desiring to be approved of and accepted? The mistake we make when we over-clean is the same as when we over-exercise or over-restrict food from our bodies. Who are we trying to impress? Is image management playing more of a role in our lives than we know? The "Mirror Tilt"-- How we can learn to better manage our image and understand Jesus's desire for us as image bearers. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/KlYCi3QMj0o Read the original blog post that got so much attention here: How Cleaning Your House Like Crazy Connects to Your Body Image Homework: How have YOUR body image issues connected to how you care about the appearance of your home? Are we email friends yet? Join the 5 Day Body Image Freedom Email Challenge here: https://www.comparedtowho.me Grab Heather's brand new book, the 40-Day Body Image Workbook and the freebies here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian Ready for some extra support on your journey to body image freedom? Do you want to believe you are more than a body but still feel stuck? Struggling with the hot or holy paradigm? Check out Heather’s coaching options. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather digs into the concept of addiction--but not in a way you might expect. Heather isn't talking about drugs or alcohol or other things that you expect people to be addicted to. Instead, she talks about being addicted to body change--of chasing idols of body image and beauty through controlling and manipulating her body size and shape. Heather breaks down some amazing teaching from Dr. Tim Keller on the topic of addictions and idolatry and she applies this teaching to our issues with food and body. The sermon she refers to throughout today's episode is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcuE9ewrwVw Here are some other topics talked about in today's episode, I'm a Body Change Addict: How the prophet Jeremiah shows us Israel's idolatry problem and how this applies to us today! The deep spiritual desire we have to find affirmation. What addiction really is and how it's a spiritual problem. The addiction cycle and what Jeremiah 2:27 teaches us about it. How we can see what our addictions are as we compare what bothers us versus what bothers are friends. How addictions can't be solved just through changing our bodies. The Biggest Loser definition of salvation. How scolding and shaming never helps us change anything. What does work to break us out of addiction and sin. How our priorities reveal our treasures and our idols. Tim Keller's solution of thinking about these issues as issues between our bridegroom (Jesus) and his bride (us) and how this changes things. Why we all want to look flawless. Take the 5 Day Email Challenge from Compared to Who? and join the friends list at www.Comparedtowho.me Learn more about Heather's new book The 40-Day Body Image Workbook and get the bonuses here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/books-for-christian-women-body-image Connect with Heather or drop her a message at Heather@ compared to who.me.    Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Host Heather Creekmore teaches through 1 Timothy 4:1-10 and looks at the ways scripture instructs us to think about our food, pleasure, contentment, and even exercise. This passage includes instruction about how we think about and relate to food and our bodies and even exercise. As she examines these scriptures you’ll see the two concepts that Paul wanted to communicate to the young pastor Timothy and the concepts God still wants us to understand today are godliness and contentment. Listen and be encouraged to feel better about your body image and enjoy God's good gifts this Christmas season and all year long. Today Heather asks: Can we be content with his gifts? As we learn from 1 Timothy, the more we know him, the more we grow in godliness, and the more we enjoy his gifts-- even the gift of our body and food. Having a godly perspective, the training in godliness has so much to do with the way we relate to our bodies, our food, and others, in this life and is also good for the life to come. As you'll be encouraged to remember in today's encouraging show: Having an eternal perspective changes everything.  Here are the verses read in today’s podcast: 1 Timothy 4:1-10 Luke 17:11-17 Here’s a link to Jeff White’s sermon on this topic: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/the-freedom-of-contentment-life-of-grateful-joy-10th/ Check out Heather’s new book, the facilitator's guide, and the walking workouts: The 40-Day Body Image Workbook: Hope for Christian Women Who’ve Tried Everything Episodes referenced in today's show: Here's a link to a podcast episode on contentment and Philippians 4:13 https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/can-philippians-4-13-be-my-weight-loss-or-fitness  Episode to learn more about Heather's new book: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/the-body-image-solution-a-40-day-workbook-to-break Link to gluttony podcast episodes: Part 1 on gluttony: https://omnystudio.com/p/compared-to-who/clips/5775b9f0-b418-46bd-ad75-b02200dd7563 Part 2 on gluttony: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/more-thoughts-on-gluttony-what-the-bible-says-part Link to the Burden of Better book that contains data on gratitude, grace, and contentment  Link to Amy Carlson podcast episode that talked about abstaining from premarital sex not the same as abstaining from pleasure around food: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/have-we-christianized-disordered-eating-featuring Mind Over Milkshake Study: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/04/14/299179468/mind-over-milkshake-how-your-thoughts-fool-your-stomach Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In today's "Ask Me Anything" episode Heather tackles two listener questions: 1) What do I say when a friend loses weight (and everyone else is complimenting her)?  2) Why is it bad to put myself down? I'd never say anything mean about someone else's body, so what's the problem with criticizing mine and saying that I don't like the way I look? Heather tackles both of these questions from the perspective of what the Bible asks of us, that is: speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). She gives a hope-filled answer for the one who is struggling to know what to say after a friend loses a considerable amount of weight (through a risky method). Heather also offers some encouragement for how you can help the friend, family member, or co-worker who can't stop putting her self down.  Don't forget to check out Heather's brand new book, "The 40-Day Body Image Workbook." If you purchase the book this month you can get the 5 free walking workouts to help you process the content. Plus, you can also download the facilitator's guide. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian Ready to go deeper in your journey to freedom next year? Sign up for coaching and Heather's online class: The Body Image Freedom Framework. https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's thought-provoking new episode may challenge the way you think about judgment and body image. Host Heather Creekmore delves into the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, exploring how our tendency to judge others based on their bodies might not align with biblical principles. Heather emphasizes the impact of the judgments we make about others on our own body image struggles and the importance of recognizing our own idols of the heart as part of the impetus for judging others. Heather even tackles the topic of Dolly Parton's attention-getting half-time show performance on Thanksgiving, when she appeared in a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader uniform. Should we judge Dolly? Or, should we simply say, "You do you, boo?" Or, is there another answer the Bible prescribes? Heather goes through Matthew 7, the Bible's most famous judging verses, and talks about what it means to judge others, and explains the Bible's very clear prescription on parameters around how we should judge. Heather examines the challenges of judging people's bodies by their size or appearance, shedding light on the dangers of complementing weight loss and the complexities of body size and health. Heather also talks about how our quickness to judge may reflect more work that needs to be done in our own hearts around the topic of body image. Heather explains, "Until I'm able to stop idolizing the woman that has the body size that I think would make me happy, until I'm able to stop judging others by their bodies and, really, therefore, objectifying them, it's really hard for me to break free from my own body image issues." Don't forget to check out Heather's brand new book, "The 40-Day Body Image Workbook." Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian Ready to go deeper in your journey to freedom next year? Sign up for coaching and Heather's online class: The Body Image Freedom Framework. https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching Photo credits: Jeff Schultes, Shutterstock. DFree, Shutterstock   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

December is full of episodes and articles telling you how to "stay healthy" during the holidays by avoiding holiday treats or exercising more . . . but today Heather encourages you with easy, tangible ways you can feel healthier during the holiday season that have nothing to do with restricting food or stressing over your weight.  In today's episode, Heather talks about the keys to being able to truly enjoy the holidays, feeling the meaning and significance of the Christmas season. Body image and food issues can keep us self focused and stressed, but there is a way to find the real peace, joy, and rest that Christmas should bring.  Here are three fun facts shared on today's episode: 1) Heather shares a personal story of overcommitting and the lesson learned from not saying no to a task, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing rest and relaxation. 2) Heather encourages listeners to take a break from social media and engage in activities like reading or doing an advent devotional to combat the unhealthy comparisons on social media. 3) Heather emphasizes the importance of deep breathing and its positive impact on overall well-being, suggesting taking deep breaths both figuratively and literally to see positive results. Ready to start your body image freedom journey? Grab the 40-Day Body Image Workbook now available everywhere Christian books are sold. Learn more about this great resource to help Christian women with body image issues and BONUSES available for ordering this month here:  https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-Day-Body-Image-Workbook-Christian Looking for more personalized help in the new year? Consider joining the Body Image Freedom Framework online course and coaching program. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.