Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women

Intuitive eating on vacation is trickier than you think, especially if you're used to dieting before vacation and then going "hog wild" while you're off your plan and on holiday. This episode is a live coaching call between Heather and her intuitive eating coaches--Char Lee Cassel and Erin Todd of the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast. Char Lee and Erin talk to Heather about how vacation triggers certain habits. They tal...

Is all that time on Instagram, TikTock or YouTube affecting your body image? Studies say, definitely. So, why do we still do it? Today, Heather interviews Allie Marie Smith, an author, podcast host, and director of an organization called Wonderfully Made. Allie has a brand new book out on the topic of social media and what she found may surprise or scare you. Today, Heather and Allie talk about the challenges that social media pose...

Today's summer replay will encourage you if you're a Christian women who has ever just woken up and felt less-than in her body. Maybe you call it feeling "fat" or maybe you feel "bleh" or "bloated" -- whatever your choice of words, there's a common feeling we all have some days where we just don't like how we feel in our bodies. Culture tells us if that's your feeling, then you should get on a new plan so you can change it. But, an...

Has the weigh-in woman at Weight Watchers shaped your concept of God? Today's episode was inspired when Heather heard a story of a woman whose body image issues and eating disorders could be traced back to the ever-present mental image of the weigh- in person at Weight Watchers. That woman either smiled or frowned, depending on what kind of week the person stepping on the scale had. But, have we twisted this kind of definition of s...

Vacation is awesome...but sometimes, for those of us with body image or control issues, vacation can also be stressful. Today, Heather offers four practical tips to help you enjoy your vacation if you tend to be someone who does a lot of stressing around vacation time.

This is a replay from 2022. 

Learn more about Compared to Who? at https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Learn about Heather's books here: https://www.improvebodyimag...

In this summer replay, Heather digs into this common sentiment, "I just want to feel good" or "I just want to feel okay" about my body. What's wrong with wanting a body you can be "proud of?"

She explores how this is a struggle for many women who wrestle to feel confident about their bodies. They don't want to look like supermodels. Instead, they want to feel okay to be in the skin they're in.

But what is this desire to have a body...

Heather interviews author and speaker, Abby McDonald about her new book, "Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today By Letting Go of Tomorrow."  Abby and Heather talk about how we can hear and receive direction from God even if we're not sure how things will work out. They talk about the challenge of wanting to know the future and Abby reminds listeners that we were never intended to carry that kind of knowledge. They also dis...

Today's live coaching call with Presli will make you think and encourage your heart. Heather coaches Presli through what to do when she panics, freezes, and feels insecure around women who are thinner, prettier, or more put together than she is. Heather and Presli talk about practical strategies for handling these scenarios. Later in the episode they talk about wearing swimsuits, how to remember the truth of where your value and wo...

Have you ever felt like you were the fattest or ugliest person in the room? Maybe you showed up at an event and feel self-conscious because everyone is smaller or better looking than you. It's happened to all of us, but there is a way, from scripture to handle the emotions and thought spirals that come when we have this feeling. Today, Christian body image coach and author, Heather Creekmore walks us through a biblical approach to ...

Stressing over your BMI? Perhaps a recent doctor's visit has you spiraling over what you need to do to change your Body Mass Index. Today, Heather sits down with two authors who have researched the history, background, and scientific usefulness of the Body Mass Index. You'll be surprised by where this chart originated, how it's used now that was not at all how it was intended to be used, and more. If you've ever stressed over your ...

Have you ever wondered if participating in dance could lead to body image issues? Heather talks to clients with a dance background and have body image issues from what a dance instructor said or from participating in an environment that is body-focused and competitive. Today, Heather interviews Mary Bawden, founder of DA:NCE an organization devoted to helping expose the dangers of hyper-sexualized dance, while encouraging children ...

In today's "Me vs. ChatGPT" episode, Heather tackles the topic of Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist medications that are now being prescribed to people for weight loss. She uses ChatGPT to help answer the question, "Will Ozempic fix my body image issues?" and is surprised to find ChatGPT to be very informed and aware of the limitations that weight loss has on healing body image issues. 

This episode will encourage women who are ...

Today Heather tackles a topic relevant to many women in May: How to try on a swimsuit if you don't like how your body looks. If you're struggling with how your body looks but needing some swimwear for the season ahead, Heather graciously and gently walks you through some strategies to find a swimsuit that fits without sending you spiraling into a place of body shame.

This episode is part of the questions series: Me versus ChatGPT, ...

Have you been putting off the formal family photos until you lose weight or change your appearance? Today, Heather gives all her best strategies for tackling, surviving, and maybe even enjoying (just a little) the family photo process. If you struggle with not liking how you look in pictures, today's episode will encourage you to stop avoiding photos and be in the picture!

Heather offers strategies for before the photos--including ...

Today Heather and ChatGPT tackle the same question, "What do I do if I feel jealous of someone skinnier than me?"

This is the question most of us have experienced, but few want to say out loud. While ChatGPT does a good job of acknowledging that comparison issues are about idealization and more, Heather fills in the holes with what the Bible has to say to our comparison issues. She talks about the importance of gratitude and how we...

If you're a Christian woman with body image issues, today Heather will fire you up with encouragement around how your Christian faith and beliefs can speak directly to your body image issues. You have a BIG faith that helps you believe in God, Jesus, heaven, and eternity. But, what you need is a LITTLE faith that can apply to how you feel and how you act when you can't get your pants buttoned, when you look in the mirror, or when y...

Today Heather faces off with ChatGPT to see who can better answer the question, "How Do I Feel Okay Wearing Shorts?" Heather reads through ChatGPT's comprehensive answer (and body image coaching attempts) and then adds her own suggestions that will encourage you if you're dreading shorts season or if you've put away the thought of wearing shorts for good. Of course, you don't have to wear shorts, but if you wish you could wear them...

Today, Heather vulnerably shares the grief she's experiencing over facing her son's graduation this month and how similar this kind of grief is to the grieving that we experience on our body image freedom journeys. Heather talks about how many women face the "Can I get a do over?" feelings at the end of eighteen years of parenting or when they reach mid-life or later. Looking at the five stages of grief, Heather explains how import...

Today Heather announces a brand new Bible reading plan and 15-Day downloadable devotional called, "The Mirror Fast." The concept behind the mirror fast is to take a break from looking in the mirror and to re-orient your gaze off of your body and on to Jesus. You can follow the Mirror Fast on YouVersion, the Bible app or you can download a printable copy on the website here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/mirror-fast-christian-wom...