Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women

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

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

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't Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In today's About 7 Minutes of Scripture episode, Heather explores how the message of the Gospel can specifically encourage us around our specific body and food issues. We have so many messages coming at us, and every day we choose to believe certain things are true and certain things aren't true. We can choose to believe that carbs are bad or that intermittent fasting is the best way to live. We can choose to believe that more exercise is always better or that taking a rest day is akin to laziness. We can choose to believe all of these things based on the words of people on the Internet, influencers who tell us their ways are best and we follow them. But, what about the greatest influencer of all? What about Jesus and His word and His Truth? Why is it sometimes harder to believe that the Gospel is enough to pronounce us worthy and accepted? How can we believe the Gospel and its message as easily as we believe the messages of human influencers? Today, Heather explores the first part of 1 John 4. Look it up to follow along or read later. Check out the Burden of Better on Kindle for only .99 starting May 1st! (Amazon affiliate link) Do you need Christian body image coaching? You can connect with Heather or schedule a free ten-minute call here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather continues her conversation with Tracy Brown, RD about the strange or unusual physical symptoms that can connect to dieting, food restriction, eating disorders, and disordered eating. Though some doctors fail to make the connections, it's clear from Tracy's work that many women who have this kind of history also have similar symptoms that show up in the form of GI tract or stomach issues that range from bloating, to IBS, to esophagus issues and other problems. Heather and Tracy explore the impact your diet or wellness plan may have secretly had on your digestive system. Heather shares about her autoimmune esophagus issues and related problems she's had with her GI tract. They talk about AFRID and other ways we can unknowingly create more problems for ourselves as we try to restrict foods that we think are to blame for the issues we are having. Heather shares what happened after she went for MRT testing to see what foods she was allergic to and how the further restriction may have caused even more problems. Tracy also digs into the threat response we create in our bodies when we fear eating certain foods or when past trauma connects with certain foods and we respond to them. There's so much interesting information in this episode-for education purposes only. Please seek treatment or help from an eating disorder-trained medical professional if you are struggling with an eating disorder or some of these symptoms. Connect with Tracy Brown, RD and learn more about how to work with her. For helpful encouragement on Intuitive Eating and finding a healthy relationship with food, follow Tracy on Instagram here. Check out the Burden of Better on Kindle for only .99 starting May 1st! (Amazon affiliate link) Do you need Christian body image coaching? You can connect with Heather or schedule a free ten-minute call here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather interviews Tracy Brown, registered dietitian and trauma-informed eating disorder recovery coach about all the physical issues that can accompany or follow seasons of dieting, disordered eating, or an eating disorder. Are you always cold? Have you experienced seasons of hair loss? Have you had joint or bone density issues? GI and digestive tract issues, no matter what you eat? Today Heather shares her story of several strange physical symptoms she's experienced over the years--from easily broken bones to esophagus issues--and how the decades of an unhealthy relationship with food have hit her with new symptoms and strange side effects, years later, even after she's recovered from disordered eating. In today's show, Heather and Tracy discuss issues like bone loss, muscle loss, joint issues, sexual health issues, fertility, and cardiac arrest and other heart issues. They also talk about how being malnourished (the technical way to look at dieting and calorie restriction of any kind) can cause hair loss, nail growth to stop, and your skin's appearance to change. Tracy explains how the human stress response acts as a protective mechanism to keep us alive by deciding which systems are most important to keep working. If your body only has a limited amount of resources and you are limiting food, the body has to choose whether or not to keep running your heart, lungs, and brain or to grow your hair. The body is smart enough to know that the heart, lungs, and brain are most important. Dieting Can Hurt Your Health: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Heather and Tracy discuss how serious it is to put our bodies in a situation where it has to make this kind of choice. They also discuss how even without physical symptoms, there may be emotional and spiritual symptoms connected to months, years, or decades of disordered eating. Connect with Tracy & Other Resources Book Heather mentioned: Sick Enough by Jennifer Gaudiani* Amazon affiliate link Connect with Tracy Brown, RD and learn more about how to work with her. For helpful encouragement on Intuitive Eating and finding a healthy relationship with food, follow Tracy on Instagram here. Do you need Christian body image coaching? You can connect with Heather or schedule a free ten-minute call here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you hate to buy bigger clothes? Is it a mental battle when you try on the size you thought you wore only to find that you need another size or two (or more) larger? Have you been frustrated with your body because it has changed sizes and now you don't even know what size you wear? Today, Heather unpacks our complicated relationship with clothing and clothing sizes. She gets real as she discusses why so many of us have difficulty getting rid of clothes that don't fit and why we refuse to buy ourselves new clothes when our bodies change sizes. She also explores the history of standardized sizing and what that means to us as women of all shapes and sizes. If you're staring at clothes in your drawer or your closet that are too small or too big . . . If you're frustrated that you're feeling healthier in your relationship with food but now don't fit in your clothing . . . or if you feel shame around changing sizes or the letter or number inside your jeans, this episode is for you. Hey, it may be the perfect episode to also share with a friend. Share it on social media or just pass it on via text to a friend or family member whom you know would be blessed by it. Heather IS taking coaching clients this month. If you'd like to explore coaching with Heather, try a ten minute intro to coaching call and get your Christian body image coaching questions answered. Click here to schedule your free ten-minute coaching call with Heather Creekmore. Have you taken the survey yet? Tell Compared to Who? what you'd like to hear more of. Fill out the survey here: https://forms.gle/dhxZ3TvHM1NfXPTS6 This episode was sponsored by Classical Conversations -- a great way to do homeschooling in community. Learn more at: www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowho The Burden of Better will only be .99 May 1 through May 14th on Kindle. Go grab your copy while it's almost free.(Amazon affiliate link - a tiny portion of your purchase will go back to Compared to Who?) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Heather continues her conversations with Ashley Smith of the HA society about hormonal issues, infertility, and body image issues common among women she works with. Part two of this conversation goes far beyond the medical and fertility implications of disordered eating that often accompanies body image issues. Today, Heather and Ashley dig into what it really means to find body image freedom and how agreeing with God about how he made us is vital to that process. Together they discuss topics like: Trying to achieve your ideal image. Fear and surrender around body image, food, and even fertility What it really means to be the "temple" of the Holy Spirit Is it even possible to be happy in your body? Why self- hatred may be the biggest (secret) idol of all. At the end of today's episode, Ashley gives specific instructions about when it's time to get help with your HA (loss of cycle). Reach out to Ashley Smith at: www.thehasociety.com if you want coaching or help around your hormonal or fertility issues. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

omen who are struggling with hormone issues surrounding fertility, loss of cycle, early menopause diagnoses, and body image issues. Ashley shares her story and how her own experience has led her to a ministry and coaching business where she helps women get pregnant (without IVF), regain their cycle, and make peace with their bodies and food. Today Ashley and Heather talk about: Heather shares her story of having HA without knowing what she had or why she was missing her period. Ashley shares her story of trying to perfect her body, and "get healthy" and how that led her to losing her cycle and other physical issues. What Hypothalamic Amenorrhea is (loss of cycle do to a suppressed hormone production) and why it's not a permanent condition. How estrogen/progesterone are important to your entire body. Why women are being diagnosed as peri or pre-menopausal in their thirties How HA gets frequently mistaken for PCOS. The impact of disordered eating on the thyroid-and how you can feel wired and tired. Learn more about Ashley and the work of the HA society here: https://www.thehasociety.com/coaching Ready for coaching? Visit: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/Christian-body-image-coaching for more information Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you have a rival? Hannah in the Bible did. As did Rachel and Leah. Today we look at rivalries, competitions, and comparisons that happen between women. Whether you've always been compared to a rival sister or cousin, or whether or not you've just found yourself in competition with a woman at church or at work, this episode is for you! Today, Heather explores the stories of Hannah from 1 Samuel and of Rachel and Leah from Genesis 29-30. She talks about how detrimental it is for us to get caught up in rivalries and offers three things to do if you find yourself in a competition or comparison trap with another woman. Listen to other episodes about Rachel and Leah and women of the Bible from the Compared to Who? show. This episode is sponsored by Classical Conversations. To learn more about how to start homeschooling with Classical Conversations visit www.classicalconversations.com/comparedtowho Leave a review! For instructions visit: www.comparedtowho.me/podcast then scroll to the bottom for details! Interested in coaching? Visit: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/Christian-body-image-coaching Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The concept of stewardship is often used with our bodies and money, but are there more connections between money and body image than we may know? Today's episode explores these connections, how eating disorders show up in the way we deal with money, how eating disorders can connect with hoarding and more. Have you heard of financial anorexia? How about having "shopping bulimia?" How about an "orthorexic" view of what we spend money on? Or, how about a possible connection between anorexia and a tendency to hoard food? That's what Heather talks about in today's show. Looking through scripture, God has a lot to say about how to steward our money. In truth, there's more verses money than there are about how to care for our bodies. Today, Heather explores several money-related verses and connects how the wisdom around treating this "treasure" could also be applied to how we treat the "treasure" of our physical bodies. Whether you're "wealthy" in the body image department or feeling impoverished in the arena of physical beauty or health, there are lessons to be learned from scripture on the topic of how we think about and steward our bodies. We also talk about how no amount of money or beauty can keep us safe. It's only Jesus that offers that protection, freedom, and safety. Verses explored today: Where your treasure is your heart will be also – Matthew 6:21 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:25 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 19:25 Take the survey! Compared to Who? wants to hear from you. Fill out the survey and you could win a FREE hour of body image coaching with Heather! Who do you need to share this podcast with? Copy and paste this link and text it to a friend who need some encouragement today. Ready for Body Image Coaching? Visit: www.improvebodyimage.com to learn more. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever just feel sad about your body size or shape? Part of finding body image freedom is recognizing the truth that sometimes you will just feel sad or discouraged about your body. Grieving the lost dream of a "better" body that would "cure" everything or the loss of youth or the loss of the body size or shape you once had is a normal and healthy process. On today's show, Heather looks at what body grief is and offers three suggestions for how to process grief and how to not stay in the pit of body image woe or body depression. Today, Heather talks about: 1) The five stages of grief, what they are, and how we move through them, including an explanation of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's five stages of grief. 2) What these stages of grief look like as they relate to our body image issues or adjustment to aging or changing sizes. 3) How being "sober-minded" as scripture instructs, can help us find body image freedom. 4) How Romans 12: 1-3 can help us see our bodies in a different light and help us when we grieve. 5) How Psalm 73 offers us the best cure for any time we feel grieved or sorrow-filled about our bodies (or anything!) Ready for body image coaching? Reach out to Heather at: heather @ Compared to who (dot) me for more information on how you can get started this month! Have you read the Burden of Better yet? Start reading here. Join our Facebook Community called "Body Image Help for Christian Women" here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather talks with one of her Intuitive Eating Coaches, Erin Todd, about step one of Intuitive Eating, which is giving up the Diet Mentality. Erin and Heather hash through how conditioned we are to believe that diets and plans are the only ways to be "healthy" or be on the "path" to a better body or better health. They also talk about the following: How we feel "safe" when we are conforming to the way everyone else is eating or dieting. Why we cling to diets or eating plans even if we know they don't work in the long run. How we conflate appearance with identity. Heather shares how it feels like failure not to be pursuing a thinner body. How the measure of a body's worth has changed from "Yay, you'll survive the winter" to "the person who can restrict the most, wins." How Intuitive Eating is a weight-neutral, non-diet approach to listening to and caring for your body. There are boundaries and principles to be guided by. How Intuitive Eating is bigger than just how you eat and how the framework respects how our bodies were created. How Intuitive Eating isn't the same as just "not being on a diet" How do we trust ourselves around food. Why we are afraid that when we stop dieting we'll gain hundreds of pounds. Or that, "Once we stop eating we'll never stop." (And the black and white thinking behind that). Why are we afraid of the opinions of people we don't know about our bodies. How fear around food and diets is spiritual warfare. How dieting/following plans may keep us from our ultimate purpose here on earth-loving God and loving others well. How dieting as a prescription doesn't fit the "standard of care" test. The Weight Watchers (WW) illustration- how this huge diet company's recent purchase of a weight loss drug company may reveal what's really going on. What do diets really cost us? Are you ready to start walking in freedom? Consider coaching with Heather. Learn more about Christian body image coaching on Heather's website: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/Christian-body-image-coaching Are we email friends yet? Get the FREE 5-Day Improve Your Body Image Email Challenge here. Connect with Erin Todd and learn more about Intuitive Eating for Christian Women on their podcast and blog. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Let's face it. We all want to be special. We all want to know that our lives are significant. We each desire to know that we matter. But, sometimes our lives can feel anything but significant. We may know that God says we are, but then we look at our schedules or our days and think: Does any of this really matter? Today, Heather's guest is Rachael Adams, author and host of the Love Offering Podcast. Rachael talks about how she's journeyed to find significance and shares truths from her new book, "A Little Goes a Long Way." Heather and Rachael talk about the tiny things in our lives that can make others (and ourselves) grasp a better understanding of our significance. We talk about about how significance sometimes comes from (or looks more like) sacrifice. We also talk about how something as simple as looking someone in the eyes can help them feel like they matter--and how we can practice this with strangers or even family members! You'll love where our conversation goes today--stick around to the end--that's when it really heats up! Learn more about Rachael on her website and learn more about the Love Offering Podcast. Check out Rachael's new book: A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life. (Amazon affiliate link) Learn more about the ministry of Compared to Who? at www.comparedtowho.me Ready for Christian body image coaching? Do you need someone who can help you dig into why you're still stuck stressing over your size or shape? Contact Heather and book a free 10-minute call to see if coaching is right for you! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In today's interview with Amy Carlson, MS, RD, LD, Amy and Heather talk about the ways that "Purity Culture" a movement in the church through the 1990s, has paved the way for Diet Culture in the church. The duo explores the language we use around our food choices like "being good" or "being bad," how we admire those who can "abstain" from eating, and how we've put a lot of weight and value on our food choices to give us standing, worth, or value. Amy and Heather explore the good, bad, and ugly from purity culture and relate it to the ways we think about thinness, food, and the ways we eat today. This deep dive into what's underneath both of these movements and what's missing from both--(hint: it's Jesus!) will inspire and encourage you in your relationship with food and your body. Connect with Amy Carlson through https://www.hellowpeacewithfood.com or check out the Peace With Food App Connect with Compared to Who?, take the body image 5-Day Email Challenge, and get on our friends' list here: https://www.comparedtowho.me Start reading Heather's latest book, The Burden of Better, by downloading the first two chapters free here: Burden of Better Book for Christian Women on Comparison or at https://comparedtowho.me/burden-of-better-book-for-christian-women-on-comparison/ Interested in coaching: visit the coaching tab at www.comparedtowho.me to find out more or to schedule a free, 10-minute call to see if coaching is right for you! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

"But I feel better on a plan!" This is a sentiment Heather's heard many times and even said herself. But, today, she talks with a dietitian and eating disorder expert, Amy Carlson about what's underneath that feeling of needing a food plan to feel like we're doing "okay" in our bodies. Amy and Heather unpack why we feel guilty or like we're doing something "wrong" when we aren't following a plan. They talk about who and how we decide to follow certain diets or adopt certain food rules. They also talk about how many women hold tightly to the belief that they will feel better, more loved, less rejected, and more once they are in a smaller body. Yet, how many women who have found food freedom can say with certainty that being thinner never gave them those feelings of security they thought it would. There's so much good stuff in today's episode. If you're the type of person who has always felt better when following a plan or if you're just longing to feel better in your body and aren't even sure if it's possible, today's episode will inspire and encourage you! Connect with Amy Carlsonthrough https://www.hellowpeacewithfood.com or check out the Peace With Food App Connect with Compared to Who?, take the body image 5-Day Email Challenge, and get on our friends' list here: https://www.comparedtowho.me Start reading Heather's latest book, The Burden of Better, by downloading the first two chapters free here: Burden of Better Book for Christian Women on Comparison or at https://comparedtowho.me/burden-of-better-book-for-christian-women-on-comparison/ Interested in coaching: visit the coaching tab at www.comparedtowho.me to find out more or to schedule a free, 10-minute call to see if coaching is right for you! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's episode is a compassionate letter to Gwyneth Paltrow who, on Instagram this week, talked about her "wellness plan" which included her sharing what she eats in a day. If you didn't get to see the interview, you can learn more in this New York Post article which quipped that Gwyneth's daily food routine sounded like, "colonoscopy prep." But the goal of today's podcast is not to criticize or condemn Gwyneth. Instead, in this open letter, author and Christian body image coach, Heather Creekmore gently encourages Gwyneth with some data and science to help her see that her "wellness" plan may actually be related to sickness. Heather shares the truth in love with this celebrity who has pressures around her body and appearance that are greater than what most women can understand. Heather shares with Gwyneth some of the data around how dangerous it is to a body to eat this little each day, and how many of the health issues--both mental and physical--that we face as epidemics today--may be connected to starvation diets and calorie restriction. Gwyneth isn't a woman who needs more criticism. She's a woman who needs more love and compassion to help her fight the lies of body image idolatry and disordered eating. Let's pray that she will see the freedom offered through Christ alone. Find out more about Heather Creekmore, Christian body image coach, and Compared to Who?. Find out more about what 1500 calories a day does to your body and brain by listening to this interview with Erin Kerry, Integrative Nutrition Coach. Learn more about the dangers of eating disorders in this interview with a dietitian. Find the entire text of the letter Heather reads on today's show on the Compared to Who? body image for Christian women website. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather continues her conversation with Dr. Kari Anderson about binge eating. They discuss what's going on in the brain when we binge, how the brain sends signals that lead to a binge, how binges can connect with attachment and relational issues, how fear connects to inflammation issues, and more. Dr. Kari Anderson is a licensed professional counselor and is a national authority in the treatment of binge eating disorder. The pair also discuss: how to befriend your body, how to talk to your body, and what a difference this makes in our healing and recovery process after food, body, and eating issues. If you've ever struggled with bingeing, binge eating disorder, stress eating, emotional eating, or any type of food issues where you feel like once you start eating, you can't stop--today's episode is for you. Learn more about Dr. Kari Anderson at: www.myeatingdoctor.com, and you can check out her 8-week course online. Use the code: RW50 to save 50% Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather interviews Dr. Kari Anderson, a licensed professional counselor, eating disorder coach, author, and a recognized authority in treating binge eating and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Today, Dr. Anderson shares her story of struggling with food as a child and young adult. Heather and Kari talk about everything from Kari's secret affinity for downing sugar packets for comfort to going to Weight Watchers meetings and how Kari's faith and training helped her come to a place where she has peace with food and her body. Kari and Heather talk about stress eating, what binge eating actually is, food scarcity, what the brain does when it's food insecure (be it from dieting or actual food scarcity), the connection between binge eating and impulse disorders, what role your epigenetics play in the way you eat and how you feel about food . . .and more. Learn more about Dr. Kari Anderson at: www.myeatingdoctor.com, and you can check out her 8-week course online. Use the code: RW50 to save 50% Interested in Christian Body Image Coaching? Visit: www.comparedtowho.me to learn more about how you can work with Heather. Are you on the Compared to Who? friends' list yet? Visit www.comparedtowho.me to get the free 5-Day Body Image Email Challenge. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What do you do when you feel fat? Of course, most know by now that "fat" isn't really a feeling. Yet, how many of us say it? It's what we say when we don't know any other words to express displeasure with how our bodies look or feel. Today, Heather explores six things you can do when you feel fat. Heather talks about what's under the surface of our "bleh" body feelings and how we can ask ourselves questions to try to separate what we are feeling, emotionally from how our bodies look. Heather also talks about what we need to do to protect our body image and how, as Christians, there are certain habits and tactics we need to employ regularly in order to make sure that we are not drowning in culture's definitions of where our worth and value come from. If you've ever complained about "feeling fat" or if you've ever just felt weighed down by body image woe this episode is for you! Shows referenced in this podcast: podcast-defeating-comparison-in-unexpected-ways Are you interested in Christian body image coaching? Learn more or grab a free 10 minute call with Heather to see if coaching would be right for you! Are you on the Compared to Who? friends list yet? Friends find out all about specials, new releases, and get personalized encouragement every month. Sign up and get the free, 5-Day email body image challenge. Learn more here: www.comparedtowho.me Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we’re going to talk about what to do if there’s a part of your body that you hate–that you want to change or maybe even are obsessing over changing. In particular, we're going to talk about hating our stomachs. But you can take today's content and apply it to any body part that bothers you. Heather shares how she tried to research and figure out what culture's advice is for those who hate their stomachs. In short: the answer is always to change it. It's as if your stomach is a broken pipe in your kitchen that you can fix by following these "3 easy steps." It's as if your stomach is completely "fixable," and if your stomach doesn't look flat, then you need to do something to change that. Heather offers three things to remember in today's show: Remember your God is not your stomach. Remember your season. Remember reality. The verse of the day is Philippians 3:19, you can read the full verse in context here. Heather also digs into some realities about body changes that happen at midlife. Here is a link to a podcast episode that talks about how bodies change around menopause and perimenopause and how estrogen around the middle may serve a purpose during menopause. (Note - the Food Psych podcast has helpful information but does not take a Christian perspective on body image issues) Listen to this episode here: https://christyharrison.com/foodpsych/7/aging-diet-culture-and-body-changes-around-menopause-with-erica-leon If you're not in midlife, Heather offers other strategies to help you fight the obsession and frustration over specific parts. This is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Heather also explores what BDD - Body Dysmorphic Disorder is and how to know if you may have it. Check out Heather's eating disorder story here: https://comparedtowho.me/what-you-need-to-know-about-eating-disorders Are you ready for body image coaching? If you need one-on-one help to pull you out from where you’re stuck, Heather offers sessions by the hour. On average – coaching clients make great progress in 6-8 weeks. Start by booking just one or two sessions to help you get on the right track. Learn more or book your first session here: https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In Numbers 13 and 14 we read the story of Joshua, Caleb and the twelve spies that were sent out from the Israelites to scout out the land of Canaan. Canaan was the promised land - the land that God was leading them to and had promised to them after freeing them from slavery in Egypt. Yet, ten of the twelve men sent as scouts decided that they were too small to fight the inhabitants and take over the land. In today's episode, Heather explains how this story can help inform and encourage our body image issues. Was it body image issues that kept these men from taking the land God had promised them? Why did the size of their bodies suddenly become an obstacle to obeying God? Hadn't God led them to victories in the past? Why did fear creep in here? If you've ever felt fear about your body not being good enough for what God asks of you, or if you've worried that your body needs to change for you to walk obediently in his will, this story should encourage and inspire you to think about things differently. You can read the whole story in Numbers 13 & 14 on Bible Gateway. Are you ready for body image coaching? If you need one-on-one help to pull you out from where you’re stuck,Heather offers sessions by the hour. On average – coaching clients make great progress in 6-8 weeks. Start by booking just one or two sessions to help you get on the right track. Learn more or book your first session here: https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Want more helpful resources to improve your body image? Check out: www.comparedtowho.me and sign up for the FREE 5 Day Email Challenge. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On today's show, Heather re-introduces herself, shares her story, and explains in more depth the ministry of Compared to Who? Heather tells of how God helped her overcome a lifetime battle with food, a likely eating disorder, and other body image issues. She shares how God revealed to her she had made her body image an idol and how the revelation of the body image idolatry was life-changing. Heather also shares what Compared to Who? is all about, including the resources Compared to Who? offers beyond the podcast. Heather talks about her books, her coaching opportunities, and what's ahead for the ministry of Compared to Who? Whether you've been listening to the show for years or if this is your first episode, everyone who wants to improve their body image or understand body image idols will find something interesting and encouraging in today's show. Mentioned in today's show: Join our Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764271297116024 Compared to Who? the book for Christian women who struggle with body image issues. Includes study guides for individual or group study. The Burden of Better: How a Comparison-Free Life Leads to Joy, Peace and Rest book for Christian women who wrestle comparison, includes study guides for individual or group study. You Version Bible Plans - Discover Heather's free Bible reading plans for Christian women who want to improve their body image or fight body image idolatry available on You Version (the Bible App) here: https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-bible-reading-youversion-the-bible-app/ Coaching: Interested in getting individualized help for your body image issues? Heather works with a limited number of clients on a one-on-one basis. Find out about Christian body image coaching to build your confidence in Christ and fight insecurity here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Personality, identity, and image are topics that get fuzzy and blurred for many women who struggle with body image issues. We are told that we need to find our identity in Christ and root it in him, yet, it's difficult to understand how to do this. Today, Heather explores how to find our identity and build an image and identity in Christ. Today we explore the following topics: How we can create identities around the foods we eat, diets we follow, exercise programs we do, or other things that we want people to think or believe about us. How we can cling to personality labels and miss how God wants us all to pursue Christlikeness, not to create an image based on a personality type or personality traits. How building identities in our image, our body, or other false identities will always be temporary and unsatisfying. How we're not to strive to perfect our personalities or our images, but how as Christians, we are to strive for holiness and Christlikeness. We look at Paul's example from Philippians 3 and how Paul calls his resume (his old identities) garbage. Your challenge for today: Think about your identities, image, and personality -- what are you putting your hope in? Inventory and ask: What are you hoping your image will be? What are you trying to put your identity in today? How can you make your goal to strive for holiness and to desire Christlikeness above all else? Start the process by praying, "God, I'm sorry I've been trying to build an identity in these things..." Are you ready for body image coaching? If you need one-on-one help to pull you out from where you’re stuck,Heather offers sessions by the hour. On average – coaching clients make great progress in 6-8 weeks. Start by booking just one or two sessions to help you get on the right track. Learn more or book your first session here: https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Heather continues her conversation with Travis Stewart, LPC - a leader in the world of Christian eating disorder treatment. In today's episode, Heather and Travis discuss a model Travis developed to help people work through tricky emotions, thoughts, and feelings in order to process in a way that is both healthy and God-honoring. This "three chairs" model Travis developed offers a tremendous framework for us to think through the decisions and responses we have and figure out what is motivating us to respond or believe the way we do. The three chairs model includes a place for the "child self," the "survivor/coping self," and the "wise & trusting self." Travis explains each of these different places we all visit and how his Three Chairs model works to help us move from living lives out fear, demand, or me-first self-protection and into hopeful desire, bold trust in God, truth and love. Did you enjoy this episode about Engaging Emotions Honestly and the Three Chairs Model? Leave a review here. About Travis Stewart: Travis graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1991 with a degree in advertising and immediately began working with the international ministry of The Navigators, mentoring students. After 8 years, his desire to better understand how people change, and through his own experience of receiving help from a professional counselor, Travis decided to return to school. He earned a Master of Arts in Counseling (2001) and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (2003), both from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Travis is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Missouri. Travis has experience with a wide variety of issues which might lead people to seek out professional help. This includes special interest in helping those with compulsive and addictive behaviors such as internet and video game addiction, eating disorders, shopping addiction, and spirituality. Connect with Travis: wtravisstewart.com or reflectiveprayer.com Connect with Compared to Who? and find out about Christian body image coaching here: https://www.comparedtowho.me Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather talks with Travis Stewart, a licensed professional counselor and leader in the eating disorder recovery world. Travis and Heather discuss how understanding our core needs and motivations, which some may classify as part of "personality" can help us understand our proclivity toward certain behaviors around food and body. In today's show you'll hear Heather and Travis discuss 9 self-protective strategies along with the 7 core needs of the heart (cased on work done by Mark and Debbie Laaser). See which of these needs resonate most with you and listen as Travis and Heather talk through how these may look in the life of someone struggling with body image and eating issues. 7 Core Needs of the Heart To be Heard and Understood To be Affirmed To be Blessed To be Safe To be Touched To be Chosen To be Included Share your thoughts about this episode: How Personality Connects to Food & Body Issues with Travis Stewart by leaving a review! About Travis Stewart: Travis graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1991 with a degree in advertising and immediately began working with the international ministry of The Navigators, mentoring students. After 8 years, his desire to better understand how people change, and through his own experience of receiving help from a professional counselor, Travis decided to return to school. He earned a Master of Arts in Counseling (2001) and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (2003), both from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Travis is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Missouri. Travis has experience with a wide variety of issues which might lead people to seek out professional help. This includes special interest in helping those with compulsive and addictive behaviors such as internet and video game addiction, eating disorders, shopping addiction, and spirituality. Connect with Travis: wtravisstewart.com or reflectiveprayer.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if managing your image was about more than just your body? Have you ever felt yourself trying to manage your personality? Have you ever tried to portray an "image" of yourself that was more like your ideal than perhaps like you were actually wired? Today, Heather explores the world of personality and image. She shares her personal story of feeling like she needed a personality makeover and how she "changed her image" by becoming more out-going, but what she has learned in the decades since. Heather also references a fantastic book on image called, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. You can learn more about this book here: https://amzn.to/3DBecsX (Amazon affiliate link). Here are some other topics covered in today's episode about personality, body image, and managing every aspect of our image: We talk about the end of character-valued culture and how a culture of personality started in the 1920s. We talk about myth of charismatic leadership – how more charismatic leaders didn’t necessarily have better results at the end of their careers. We discuss ways we may have felt pressure and responsibility to change parts of our personality image that we didn’t think matched our ideal. We briefly cover how many churches are set up for extroverts instead of introverts. We look at how God wired us all differently for His purpose and on purpose. Action: Here are some questions to consider after today's episode: In what ways have you idolized or idealized someone else’s personality? In what ways have you disparaged the way you were wired personality-wise? What if your unique personality is a gift from God equipping you for his purpose in your life? Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today Heather talks to her Intuitive Eating Coaches — Erin Todd and Char-Lee Haze from the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast — about whether or not you can be “sugar-free” while practicing intuitive eating. Char-Lee lays out a framework for making authentic decisions for our health that are: purposeful, personal, and peaceful. The coaches walk Heather through a journey where she explores with them the science, scripture, and her lived experience come together so that she can make wise, God-honoring decisions for her health and her body. Here are a few other topics covered in today’s show: Should I Go Sugar-Free? Can you tell whether or not a person is healthy from looking at them? But what if you have a strong family history of diabetes? What does being responsible look like? Is the all-or-nothing approach what’s best for our bodies or our mental health? Is there such a thing as sugar addiction? What does gentle nutrition look like around sweets and sugar? Also mentioned in today’s show: Erin, Char-Lee, and Heather are participating in a lent collaboration project with other non-diet dietitians and encouragers in the food and body area. It’s called, “Losing the Lies for Lent.” Learn more and sign up to participate in this 7-week Losing the Lies for Lent journey here: https://www.forkthefoodrules.com/losing-the-lies-for-lent Use promo code: HEATHER to save! Are you ready for body image coaching? If you need one-on-one help to pull you out from where you’re stuck,Heather offers sessions by the hour. On average – coaching clients make great progress in 6-8 weeks. Start by booking just one or two sessions to help you get on the right track. Learn more or book your first session here: https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

I pray that this month-long series to help you pray for your body image and "Tune in" to God while you tune out the voices of marketers and Diet Culture has made a powerful impact in your life. Today we finish the series with a look at what's next. What should you do if you started feeling freedom? How do you stay on the road to body image freedom without falling back into hold habits and patters of behaving or thinking. Heather gives suggestions today to help you stay on track and stay connected to the only One who can truly heal our body image issues. Some suggestions from today's show to help you keep praying for your body image: Be in the God's Word every single day. This is the only way to renew our mind and change our definitions and cultural programming on topics like beauty and food. Your body image battles are not about your physical body; even models struggle. Instead, they are about what you believe and tell yourself. Only God's word can stop the lies from penetrating our hearts. If you don't know where to start with Bible reading, go to You Version and start with one of Heather's plans. Keep praying for your body image issues everyday. Consider going through last September's 30 days to pray series: Find the episodes here. https://comparedtowho.me/category/30-days-to-pray-for-body-image/ Listen to this series daily again, whenever you need it. Find every episode organized here: https://comparedtowho.me/daily-prayers-for-body-image-issues/ Go through the series again with a friend. Listen and text about what you learned or what God spoke to you each day. Read Heather's books (or read together with a friend and work through discussion questions at the end of each chapter together). Compared to Who? (Body Image Book and Workbook) and The Burden of Better (How to Live a Comparison-Free Life) Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. Episodes release on Tuesdays and Fridays again starting next week. Consider coaching. If you need one-on-one help to pull you out from where you're stuck, Heather offers sessions by the hour. On average - coaching clients make great progress in 6-8 weeks. But, you can start by booking just one or two sessions to help you get on the right track. Learn more or book your first session here: https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Consider getting help if you think you have an eating disorder. Reach out if you need a suggestion for a non-diet dietitian to help you with food issues. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we pray that God would make us more holy. It sounds like a strange thing to pray for. But, throughout the New Testament we are encouraged to be striving for holiness. There are many things we strive for on this earth--beauty, power, money, success, love of others, acceptance, approval--but striving for these types of worldly treasures leads us to stress and burnout. It's never enough when we're chasing these worldly things. We'll never be satisfied. But, chasing holiness? That's when we have the opportunity to really let God's love, beauty, and light radiate through us. Doesn't God ask us to be more like Jesus and not more like the women we compare ourselves, too? Today, we pray for holiness – that we would crave Godly perfection, not worldly perfection. We also pray that God would give us the desire to want to be more holy and that he would help us grow in holiness so that we can beam with His light and beauty! Action Step and Verse of the Day for Praying for Holiness: Verse: Hebrews 12:14, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Action step: Listen to the "Hot or Holy" episode from last summer here: https://comparedtowho.me/holy-or-hot-how-to-make-holiness-what-we-really-desire/ Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather or check out her Christian body image book here. Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we pray to be more loving. There are many ways being more loving can help us overcome body image issues and insecurity, but today we talk about how believing and receiving God's love can help us feel more of that love so that it overflows into the way we love others and the way we treat our bodies. Loving our bodies is something talked about a lot in culture today, but I don't believe the way culture talks about it is helpful. Culture says to flaunt what you have and show your middle finger to anyone who doesn't see it. But, real love thinks about others more than self. Real love is humble. There is a way that we can love our bodies well, biblically. That is being kind to ourselves. Treating our bodies in a gentle and respectful way and speaking kindly to ourselves. Today we pray that we can have that kind of love. Verse of the Day and Action Step to Learn to Be More Loving Towards Body and Others: Verse: 1 John 1:8: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Action Step: Watch this video from Andrew Peterson with a song called, "Be Kind to Yourself" Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather or check out her Christian body image book here. Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God gives us so much grace. When we're struggling with issues like body image or insecurity or comparison, his grace is our only cure. As Heather writes in the Burden of Better - she thought that she had a comparison problem, but what she really had was a shallow understanding of grace. If we truly understood all the different ways God's grace was at work in every aspect of our lives, we'd be free from comparison and even body image worry! It's also essential to have a good grip on grace so we can extend grace to others. What Heather often finds in her coaching is that those who have a hard time understanding and accepting God's grace for themselves have an even more difficult time authentically extending grace to others. Praying for Grace with Ourselves and with Others: Verse of the Day and Action Step Verse of the Day: Ephesians 1:3-8 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a]predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding (NIV) Action Step: Dig into God's word by using a concordance or Googling verses on grace. Read the Burden of Better for a look at the 4 types of grace and how they can apply to every area of your life in which you may struggle with comparison or comparing yourself or your life to others. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we're talking about praying for peace with the boundaries of our bodies. One of the hardest aspects of our body image struggles may be accepting the way God made and "sized" our bodies. For some, there's frustration over height or size. For others its frustration over specific body parts. But, either way, recognizing that God made us on purpose, for a purpose, means our bodies were made with intention. Today we pray for the grace to be able to accept our bodies and even thank God for the "boundaries" he placed around the way he made us, physically. We're never commanded to "love" our bodies in the sense of giving our bodies praise and worship that is due to God. But, we are instructed to take care of our bodies and we can be thankful that our bodies are a good gift from God. Think about it, without your body - you aren't you! And, without your body, there's not a lot (that is to say, nothing) you can do here on earth. Today's episode will help shift your perspective on your body to help improve your body image! Praying for Peace with Boundaries of Your Body Verse and Action Step Verse: Psalm 16:6 ESV: The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. Action step: Start thinking of one thing each day you can thank God for about your body. Thank him for eyes or legs that work or fingers that type fast. Pray and thank him daily for something new each day for the rest of this month. Looking for a great Christian body image workbook? Check out: Compared to Who? Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Who doesn't want to be radiant? We all long to shine with a beauty that draws others to us and that those around us would describe as "radiant." While marketers promise that radiance comes from using the right skin care products, cosmetics, and beauty rituals, the Bible tells us that radiance comes from turning our faces to him. So, today in our series where we are praying every day for our body image issues, we're going to pray for this type of radiance. Today we ask God to make us radiant and make us shine with His beauty! Verse: Psalm 34:5: "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Action: Here's a video where you can watch me demonstrate and explain what to do with our mirrors: Mirror Tilt Video: Watch it here: https://youtu.be/KlYCi3QMj0o Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body ImageCoaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we take time during our month-long series where we're praying for your body image issues to pray for a new view of beauty. Why do we feel compelled to try to look a certain way or be a certain "type" of beautiful? It's often because we have defined beauty the way someone else does. We may be defining beauty the way a parent or old boyfriend did. Or, we may be defining beauty the way magazines or Instagram does. But, are we defining beauty the way God does? Does God's definition of beauty even matter to us? Or, are we so sold on our own definitions of beauty--so convinced that we what we believe or "count" as beautiful is actually "beautiful" -that we right off definitions that vary from our own. Today, we explore all of that and more as we pray for a new view of beauty! Today we ask God to help us to want to be beautiful as he has asked us to be beautiful! Praying for a New View of Beauty - Verse and action steps for today: Verse: 1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” Action: Remind yourself outloud that one of your beauty regiments isn’t what makes you beautiful. Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body ImageCoaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we're praying for God to give us a new view of food. Some of us have feared food. Some have treated it like a savior. But the best way to interact with food is to see it as a good gift from God. God designed us to eat. He designed our bodies to run on food. And, he gave us a wide variety of food textures and flavors and a tongue and mouth that could sense them all. If we were supposed to live on manna (the kind of bread God gave the Israelites every day when they were wandering through the desert), he would not have designed our bodies this way. Neither would he have promised those Israelites that someday they'd go to a land of "milk and honey" -- implying that someday, they'd be satisfied by sweeter and richer foods! Today we pray for help in recategorizing food. We pray for help in listening to our bodies so that we can learn to eat more intuitively. We also pray for release from rules, restrictions, and mental strongholds around food. Today's Action Step and Verse for the Day Around Praying for a New View of Food Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31, NASB: Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. Action step: Write a note to God thanking him for the gift of food. Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over your body image and food? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching which begins January 23rd here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Like we talked about yesterday, an important part of this process is seeing and believing something new about your body and your value and even food and what it’s intended for. Today we are praying for truth and clarity around food rules. What we need to remember is that there is a lot of lower case "t" truth in this world. There are lots of "truths" about what we need to eat to be healthy, what we need to do to be healthy. But if you’ve been on this planet for a few decades, you may have noticed that all of these little "t" truths tend to change. Eggs are good, eggs are bad, eggs are good… If you’re close to my age, you may remember eating low fat in the 1990s or eating Special K cereal to get “skinny” in the 1980s . . .but now, we’d be aghast to the thought of eating carbohydrates to be healthier (at the time of recording) everyone is eating Keto or low carb. These little "t" truths are always changing, always shifting. If we put our hope in them to save us and to keep us healthy, or give us a body that will keep us safe or protect us from the opinion of ourselves or of others – but chasing this small t truth will always put us in a maze with no exit. When the Bible talks about knowing the truth and the truth setting us free – like in John 8 – it’s not talking about knowing the truth of the world or the truth of the day, it’s talking about knowing Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. If you want true freedom, you have to know him. Lean not on your own understanding -but lean on him. It is Jesus’ truth that sets us free and not the truth of the day from a YouTube influencer or some marketer selling you something. If freedom is what we seek- Jesus is the only place we can find it. Action Step and Bible Verses for Praying for Clarity and Truth Around Food Rules Bible Verse: John 8:32 – You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. and John 1:14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Action: Write a list of “truths” you’ve believed about the way you eat, health, your body – Now line these up with scripture. How many of these truths are unchangeable? Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over food and your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you praying for a healthier relationship with food? Are you always restricting or binging? Do you obsess over food or feel like thoughts of food run your life? Do you fear food or what food might do to you? Are you caught up in labels like "good" foods and "bad" foods? If so, today's episode is for you. For the next few days we’re going to pray for our relationship with food. Even if you don’t think food has ever been an area of struggle – you may be surprised as we go through these daily prayers. I’ve found even with clients that I’m working with for skin or other size issues beyond weight – food is often a part of the equation, even if it’s not the biggest issue they’re dealing with at that moment. Sometimes we don’t feel like food is an issue because we’re in a season of controlling it and maybe controlling it in a way that feels “successful” to us. But trust me, even if you’ve got it managed now, food issues are usually lurking there with body image issues. Today – I want us to begin to pray for peace with food. Food was never something we were supposed to have our lives revolve around. Food is not to be the greatest love of our lives, nor is it to be the greatest thorn in our flesh – Food is just food. It’s just the nourishment system God created for us to live. Decisions around food aren’t moral or spiritual most of the time. Instead, they should just be decisions about feeding our body so that it feels good and can do what we need to do to serve the Lord each day. But, many of us don’t feel peace with food. We stress about food. We refuse dinner invitations because we don’t know what will be served. We dread the holidays or birthday parties or other celebrations because of the food we’ll be “tempted” to eat. Listen to that language that we use like, "temptation," as if it’s an evil thing from the devil tempting us to sin against God. Instead, it's just some delicious piece of cake encouraging us to enjoy it’s flavors. There’s nothing about eating cake that breaks God’s laws. The only laws we are tempted to break are the laws of diet culture. We’ll talk about that more in the next few days -but today we’re going to pray for peace. Praying for a Healthier Relationship with Food Action Step and Verse Verse of the Day: Matthew 15:11, ESV, "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Action: Take 10 minutes and evaluate your relationship with food. Is food the enemy? Is food dangerous? Does food consume too much of your thought life or time? Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over your relationship with food? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Yesterday we talked about praying for freedom from what others think of us, but today we're talking about praying for freedom from what we think of ourselves!! What happens when we have ideals or expectations for ourselves that we can't meet? What happens when our opinions of ourselves are crippling us or making us obsess over how we "should" be better or different? Today, Heather talks about how when we’re overly worried about our opinion of ourselves, we've placed our own opinions of ourselves in a position where they are more important than God’s opinion. Heather uses her "Book of Heather" illustration today that will help drive home how God spoke to her about finding freedom from her opinions of herself. If your biggest fear is what you think of you--or feeling disappointed in yourself--this episode is going to hit home! Praying for Freedom from My Opinions of Myself: Verse and Action Step Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:3, "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself." Action Step: Get honest with yourself. Do you have a book of you: a book of rules you try to live by and often elevate to a standard higher than God's? Ask God to help him elevate HIS opinion of you above your opinion of yourself! Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over your opinions of yourself? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching which begins January 23rd here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today in our month-long series where we are praying for your body image, we pray for protection from the opinions of others (or approval) related to our body image. Worrying about what others will think of your body is a type of fear. For some, we fear the opinion of parents – mom or dad's opinion of your body has always heavily influenced your own opinion of your body. If mom doesn’t think you look good, you can’t think you look good. For others, we fear the opinion of friends, exes, or "everyone." What would it be like to be free from the opinion of others? What would it mean to genuinely believe that your Father is the creator of the universe--the most important opinion in the whole world–and that he loves and accepts you so no one else’s opinion matters as much as his. In my book, Compared to Who?, I talk about how it must feel to be one of the royal children in England or how it would be to be a President’s daughter. At some level, I think you’d feel confident and somewhat important just by nature of birth. As scripture reminds us, we are adopted children of God. Because of who your father is, you are important and valuable, no matter what anyone else says or thinks. Again, this doesn’t free us to act unkindly. We still must love others even those who aren’t kind to us. But we can act confidently even when we disappoint others because we are not bound to live by their opinions of us. Today's Verse and Action Step for Praying for Protection from the Opinions of Others and our Body Image Today's Verse: Proverbs 29:25: Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Today's Action Step: Be aware! Who are you trying to please? Whose thoughts about your body are still influencing your thoughts about your body? Pray about it and see what God reveals to you. Then, ask him to help free you from their opinions. Ready to get free this year and stop stressing over the opinions of othersabout your body? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching which begins January 23rd here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Like shame – condemnation can weigh heavy on us. Condemnation can shout loudly at us when we eat something culture says is bad or if we don’t do something we thought we should or were supposed to do or if we miss a workout, or if we didn’t lose the X number of pounds we resolved to lose last year! There are many opportunities for condemnation to join shame and scream at us that we’re doing something terrible. But, as I’ve worked with clients over the years, I’ve noticed it’s hard for us not to side with condemnation – we think of condemnation as that mean personal trainer for the gym who is making us work hard, but it’s actually for our own good. But, there is no condemnation that is for our good. Condemnation’s purpose is to kill us, to steal the life from us, to destroy our joy. Condemnation is not from the Lord. It’s from the devil. I did an episode last year about condemnation versus conviction. When the Holy Spirit wants us to change a behavior or to correct our ways after doing something that violates God’s law – he will tell us- But the Holy spirit’s conviction is very specific and loving – he is trying to guide us in a way that leads back to him – not scream us into a pit of depression and self-loathing. Verse: Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Action: Listen to condemnation versus conviction episode so you can learn to tell the difference. https://comparedtowho.me/condemnation-vs-conviction-win-the-mental-body-image-battle/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Shame is what keeps us afraid and hiding around our body image issues. When we’re embarrassed, we will do anything to cover our shame. Sometimes it seems like the easiest route to covering our shame would be to "get" the body/outside appearance that we want so we will be safe from condemnation or the opinions of others. But, shame is deeper than our skin. What often happens is that we may have a successful physical transformation, but the shame remains. Then it feels even more hopeless because what was supposed to take our shame away didn’t work. The only one who can take away our shame is Jesus. No matter how much you’ve been bullied by yourself or others for your body – no matter how much shame you feel about your body or your eating disorder or anything in your past – Jesus is the only one who can take away the shame. Verse and Action Step related to Praying for Protection from Shame About Body Image Verse of the Day: Romans 10:11 – Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. Action: Share with a friend (a trusted friend, your husband, a mentor--must be someone you can trust) what you've been struggling with and how you've felt shame. You don't have to share details. Only share what you want. If you don't have anyone to share with - drop me an email at Heather @ compared to who (dot) me. Want more of Heather’s story? Read Heather’s book, Compared to Who? Start reading the first two chapters free here: Compared to Who Book for Christian Women on Body Image or https://comparedtowho.me/compared-to-who-book-for-christian-women-on-body-image/ Ready to start reading the Bible more? Try Heather’s 10-Day Bible Reading plan on You Version here: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/29320-compared-to-who-a-10-day-plan-to-improvebody-image Ready to get free this year and tired of the lies? Try Christian Body ImageCoaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching which begins January 23rd here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Christian Body Image Coach, Heather Creekmore, has never worked with a client who didn’t have a soundtrack of lies that she listened to regularly. Lies rage and tell these women they are lazy, ugly, not good enough, or should feel ashamed. Today we talk about the lies -- how easy they are to listen to and how important it is to block them out after you identify them. Most of us will say things to ourselves that we would never say out loud to someone else. One challenge for many of us is we gaslight ourselves into believing the lies. We’ve heard these lies for so long that we don’t challenge them anymore, they’ve become part of our identity. They become truths that we’ve just come to accept about ourselves. But they are not the truth. They are lies! Today in our Tune Into Him Body Image Prayer series, we talk about the first step in identifying the lies and we pray for protection from the bombardment of lies that the enemy sends. Verse and Action Step related to Praying for Protection from Fear Around Body Image Verse of the Day: John 8:44 reveals Satan’s character as a liar- the father of lies. We don’t have to listen to Satan or his lies. "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Action: Start a lies list – what are the lies you hear about your body, your worth, your eating? Write them down -this helps you see clearly that they are lies. Want more of Heather’s story? Read Heather’s book, Compared to Who? Start reading the first two chapters free here: Compared to Who Book for Christian Women on Body Image or https://comparedtowho.me/compared-to-who-book-for-christian-women-on-body-image/ Ready to start reading the Bible more? Try Heather’s 10-Day Bible Reading plan on You Version here: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/29320-compared-to-who-a-10-day-plan-to-improvebody-image Ready to get free this year? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Learn more about group coaching which begins January 23rd here: Christian Group Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/ Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Most who struggle with body image and eating issues struggle with fear at some level. We may not call it that. We may call it "diligence" or "perfectionism" or "anxiety" or "body worry," but under it all is fear. We’re afraid of the opinions of others, we’re afraid of being unaccepted or misunderstood, and we’re afraid that if we don’t try our hardest to do everything just right then things will go wrong and it will be all our fault. We are overly responsible for ourselves and perhaps for others around us too. And, this feeds our fear. We maintain this posture of hyper vigilance, hoping that being super aware and super responsible will somehow keep us safe. But, as we know from scripture – worry doesn’t keep us safe. Jesus asks in Matthew -who of us can gain a single hour of our life by worrying about it. Worrying about our bodies, our size, every morsel of food that goes into our mouths doesn’t make us any safer. In fact, studies show that the more we worry – the harder it is on our bodies. Stress is a bigger contributor to all diseases than sugar. Today, we pray for protection from that fear. We do our best and then we trust God with the rest. But our best in the area of food and body–stewarding our bodies well–does not mean we have to follow the advice of every latest influencer. We’ll drive ourselves bonkers trying to incorporate every guru's tips to a healthier life. Instead, to become good stewards, I think we need to become better students –not taking care of our bodies the way that everyone else says we should--but listening to and paying attention to what makes our bodies feel good and what helps us feel fit to serve Jesus without fear of the number on the scale or fear that we aren’t doing it right. Verse and Action Step related to Praying for Protection from Fear Around Body Image Verse of the Day: 1 John 4:18 says,"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." Action: Write down 5 things you are afraid of. Ask God to help you with thos fears today and begin to pray specifically that God would help you to not be afraid of those things every day this week. Want more of Heather’s story? Read Heather’s book, Compared to Who? Start reading the first two chapters free here: Compared to Who Book for Christian Women on Body Image or https://comparedtowho.me/compared-to-who-book-for-christian-women-on-body-image/ Ready to start reading the Bible more? Try Heather’s 10-Day Bible Reading plan on You Version here: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/29320-compared-to-who-a-10-day-plan-to-improvebody-image Ready to get free this year? Try Christian Body Image Coaching with Heather. Grab an individual, one-on-one coaching appointment or preview appointment here: Christian Body Image Coaching or https://comparedtowho.me/christian-body-image-coaching-insecurity-confidence-gospel/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.