Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women – Details, episodes & analysis

Do your body image issues get worse when you're around family? Today, host Heather Creekmore digs into what may be the reason behind why you feel worse about your body at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Heather explores the question: Did your mom have an impact on your body image? While many women know she did, others can't recognize it quite as clearly. But, on today's show, Heather dives deep into the intricate dynamics between mothers and daughters, exploring how maternal influence shapes our body image and how much of this shaping happened well before the teenage years. 

Today Heather uncovers some of the potential influences and connections between body image issues and the mother-daughter relationship. She also speaks to the reality that many of those who have a disordered relationship with food and body image issues will experience a flare-up of these issues when around mom--especially at the holidays!

Heather also addresses the intergenerational nature of body image issues, how they run in families and how your mom could simply be acting out of the way she was taught by her mom. Likewise Heather talks about how a healthy sense of self requires us to have agency over our bodies and our choices around food. And, though it becomes more difficult when we're around family, this "growing up" process is vital for our body image healing journeys.

The episode takes inspiration from Catherine Fabrizio's book, "The Good Daughter Syndrome."

Learn more about agency in this episode: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/finding-body-image-freedom-through-understanding-a

Learn how to forgive mom in this episode: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/forgiving-mom-or-others-for-their-roles-in-body-im

Need more help? Consider working with Heather or our team in coaching. Or, join us on the 40-Day Journey starting January 7th. Learn more at https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ready for a quick, 7 Minutes of Scripture episode? Today, host Heather Creekmore delves into Ephesians 5  She begins by reading Ephesians 5:1-8 from the English Standard Version and focuses on the theme of imitation and influence. Heather emphasizes the idea from scripture that we are called to be imitators of God as beloved children and walking in love, as Christ did. She challenges listeners to reflect on whether they aspire to imitate Jesus or if they're more influenced by cultural figures or influencers, especially in the realm of body image. Heather encourages listeners to walk in love, focusing less on self-love and more on loving God and others, advocating for what Tim Keller calls "the freedom of self forgetfulness."

Are you ready to transform your body image? Join the 40-day Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Learn more about Heather's latest book release on comparison here: https://amzn.to/3Uucwd4 (Amazon affiliate link)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Why do we find ourselves saying "yes" when we mean "no"? Is our people-pleasing tendency just a mild habit, or is it something more serious? In this eye-opening episode of Compared to Who? host Heather Creekmore dives deep into what Joyce Campbell--a licensed counselor and therapist--terms subjugation. Subjugation is a clinical condition where people inadvertently damage their lives by consistently putting others' wishes before their own.

Join Heather and Joyce as they navigate the complexities of subjugation, unearthing how deeply embedded negative thought patterns can start in childhood and carry into adulthood, affecting every aspect of our lives—including our mental and physical health.

Do you struggle with being the "good girl," living under the pressure to be perfect, or maintaining a facade to gain approval? This episode unpacks the layers of this condition, taking a look at how anger, resentment, and unmet expectations can wreak havoc on your spiritual, emotional, and even physical well-being.

Heather also prompts listeners to consider how self-denial—a biblically endorsed concept—differs from harmful subjugation and how to discern God's will for our lives in giving balanced responses to life’s demands.

Make sure to tune in and discover how transforming the pathways in our minds can lead to freedom and a life not defined by pleasing others but by God's purpose for us.

Related Episodes:

• Do you have healthy boundaries?

• What do I do if I feel bad about having ruined my body?

Don’t miss the continuation of this conversation where Heather and Joyce will focus on how to break free from the chains of subjugation and step into the full life God intends for you.

Connect with Compared to Who? here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Join the next 40-Day 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.

Did you know that one of the key ways we experience spiritual warfare is in the fight for our identity in Christ? The enemy works very hard to distract us by convincing us to find identity in other places or things and, in that way, he steals our identity. If you've ever felt caught up in being recognized for your looks or size, you may have experienced it! 

Grounded in biblical truths, today's episode explores the dangers of attaching our identity to external factors, and the culture's push for us to have more pride as the 'solution' to our struggles. We also discuss self-love versus self-denial and question whether or not the hot topic of self-love is compatible with Christian beliefs.

Hear practical advice on how shifting our focus from self-centeredness and comparison to genuine love, appreciation, and gratitude for what God has done for us can unlock genuine and lasting freedom. We also discuss the battle to love others as ourselves as one of biggest way we experience the challenges of walking in the spirit, daily!

Are you ready to get free this Fall? Sign up for the new Body Image Freedom Framework online course and coaching program here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching

Interested in the Fearfully Made conference in Dallas? Learn more here: in-his-image-body-image-conference-for-teen-girls-and-women-2023

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In today's episode, we continue discussing the existence of evil and the spiritual battles we face daily including our battle with body image issues. As believers, Heather stresses the importance of surrendering control to God and relying on His divine protection and using our authority in the name of Jesus to tell the enemy to flee. Throughout the episode, Heather addresses the concept of spiritual warfare, highlighting that as Christians, we cannot be demon-possessed if we believe in Jesus and have the Holy Spirit living inside us. However, she acknowledges that we can still experience oppression and encounter demonic activity around us. She discusses the devil's goal of stealing, killing, and destroying (John 10:10) and emphasizes the need to recognize and confront spiritual battles in every aspect of life. Drawing from Paul Tripp's teachings on Ephesians 6, Heather explains that the struggle is not against other people but against the demonic world. She challenges listeners to approach life as if they are at war and to rely on God's truth and authority. She asserts that these struggles are not solely physical but also spiritual, highlighting the battle between God's truth and Satan's deception. Heather shares her own struggles with body image and emphasizes that the devil is the deceiver.

Here's the Tim Keller sermon Heather references: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timothy-keller-sermons-podcast-by-gospel-in-life/id352660924?i=1000625372146

For more in-depth guidance on body image and spiritual struggles, sign up for Heather's course and coaching program, The Body Image Freedom Framework. Remember, you are not alone in your battle, and God's love and truth are always available. 

Learn more about the Body Image Freedom Framework: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching

Learn more about the In His Image conference this October in Dallas: https://www.wonderfullymadenutritioncounseling.com/events/in-his-image-body-image-conference-for-teen-girls-and-women-2023

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we dive deep into the realm of spiritual warfare, exploring the dark forces that wreak havoc on our body image. It's time to blow the enemy's cover. It's time for him to be exposed in the arena of what is happening with how we think about and treat our bodies.

Host Heather Creekmore shares her own experience of believing a lie in elementary school that her legs were too big. Heather explains that she has received numerous messages from others who have also believed the same lie about their bodies. She suggests that the enemy doesn't need creativity to instill negative beliefs in people. Acknowledging the messiness and scariness surrounding the topic, Heather emphasizes that we cannot ignore the presence of spiritual darkness related to body image.

Throughout the episode, Heather encourages listeners to understand that body image and food struggles are not mere physical battles but spiritual battles.

Join us as we unravel the lies that have threatened to define our worth and discover the powerful weapons at our disposal to combat these spiritual attacks. We uncover the truth behind our struggles and find hope in the unshakable love and acceptance of Jesus. 

Scriptures to read from this episode: 

Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28:12-17, Revelation 12

Ready for body image freedom? Check out our signature Christian body image online course and coaching program: https://calendly.com/heather-458/podcast-recording-clone

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather talks to author, speaker, and Bible teacher, Tasha Calvert about the ways we all struggle with beauty and body, how those words we heard in middle school can hurt, and about the subtle trauma of those early rejections. Heather and Tasha discuss how neither of them made the cheerleading team, and what they associated with that as teenagers. They also have an enlightening and encouraging conversation around the book of Esther. We've too often painted Esther as the Bible's Cinderella story, but there's so much more to it than that. Tasha gives three interesting facts that most overlook about this rich book of the Bible.

Tasha hosts the Digging In podcast and serves as the Global Director of Women's Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Connect with Tasha at: https://tashacalvert.com or on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/tistashcalvert

Find Prestonwood Bible studies and other content at YouVersion, Rightnow media, or on their You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@prestonwoodwomensministry1479

Are you ready to break free from body image issues? Check out the brand new Body Image Freedom Framework Signature Course and online coaching program. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching

Are we email friends yet? Sign up for the free, 5-Day body image challenge at: www.improvebodyimage.com

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, Heather digs into this common sentiment, "I just want to feel good" or "I just want to feel okay" about my body. She explores how this is a struggle for so many women who are wrestling to feel confident about their bodies. They don't want to look like supermodels, they just want to feel okay to be in the skin they're in.

But what is this desire of having a body that you can feel good in or good about? Could the core of this issue be something you'd never expect? Heather digs into an unusual biblical concept, that is, boasting. Not that we want to tell other people that we are great, but instead, perhaps we want our bodies to tell our story for us. Do we want our bodies to tell everyone who sees us that we know how to take care of our bodies well? That we know the secrets to fitness or weight loss? Or, that we are just really good at making our bodies look their best? It's a concept few of us have spent a lot of time thinking about it.

Heather walks through some fantastic teaching on the topic of boasting taken from Romans 3:27-31 and shows us how we can find a place to boast that is far better than the appearance or weight of our bodies.

Anything you look at and say, "This is where my value is," can become an idol. Listen, be encouraged and exhorted today.

Listen to the Tim Keller sermon that Heather references here: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/boasting-and-faith/

Ready to jump into body image coaching and the brand new body image online course: The Body Image Freedom Framework? Learn more or sign up 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 shares how to have an "after" story. Chances are, you've seen before and after pictures. Weight loss, fitness, and supplement marketers love to use before and after pictures to show you a picture of the "freedom" their plan offers after you use their products and change your body. But, the truth is, the only "after" story that lasts goes much deeper than changing our bodies. The only after story that stands the test of time is one that happens in our hearts. And, only Jesus can do that work.

In today's episode, Heather is sharing the "after" stories of some of her coaching clients who have found freedom they never knew or believed was possible through doing the heart work of body image coaching. Heather also shares how you can be a part of her brand new Christian body image coaching and online course called: The Body Image Freedom Framework.

In today's episode, ten different women share how coaching with Heather changed their lives. If you're tired of being stuck in body image issues and ready for freedom, don't wait. Join this program today.

Registration is now open!! Group coaching sessions begin in late September. There is an opportunity to enroll in individual coaching year-round. Find out more at: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-course-coaching

(Ministry leader or pastor's wife? Reach out to Heather at: Heather @ Comparedtowho. me and ask about discounted rates for women's ministry leaders.) 

Want to hear more of Heather's interview with clients Kim and Angela? Listen to this full episode where they share their stories here: Body Image Coaching Changed Our Lives: With Clients Angela & Kim or at: https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching-changed-our-lives-with-clients-angela-kim/

Are you on the Compared to Who? friends email list? If not, join now to find out about special savings and other opportunities to participate in the new course and coaching programs: www.improvebodyimage.com

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Melissa Johnson joins Heather today to discuss the concept of beauty and how it can be redefined. Melissa shares her personal journey of simultaneously undergoing eating disorder treatment and spiritual formation classes, which prompted her to question societal beauty standards and discover true beauty. Through her own experiences and encounters with God, Melissa began to see the broken nature of cultural beauty and how it disintegrates individuals.

Melissa highlights the mind-blowing beauty and expansive love of God revealed in his Creation and creations. True beauty, she explains, integrates and draws individuals towards wholeness and unity. To see and appreciate such beauty, Melissa suggests adopting a posture of presence and using our senses to notice the world around us. The conversation delves into Melissa's personal experience with the harmful beliefs around food, body image, and worth as a woman that she had to undo through intensive treatment. She emphasizes the importance of stopping objectification and embracing our bodies as integrated parts of who we are. We also cover touch on societal pressures, shame, and the impact of beauty standards on individuals' sense of self-worth and belonging. The toxic nature of these standards, perpetuated by media saturation and social media, leads to comparison, competition, and disconnection from our own bodies.

Check out Melissa's new book or connect with Melissa at: https://www.impossible-beauty.com

Learn more about Melissa's new book: "Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless" https://amzn.to/47diXWT (Amazon affiliate link - a tiny portion of your purchase supports this ministry)

Learn more about Compared to Who? coaching opportunities and the brand new signature coaching program and online course here: www.improvebodyimage.com

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.