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Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women — Christianity
Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women

The go-to podcast for Christian women who want to grow stronger in their faith and stop living stuck in comparison!

Are you a Christian woman who’s tired of measuring yourself by the world’s standards? Have you tried to “fix yourself” with willpower, self-help, or even Christian clichés—but still feel like you’re falling short?Do you know the truth of God’s Word, yet struggle to believe it in your daily life?

Bonus: Have you ever wished you could just pray your struggles away in an instant? (Your secret’s safe here.)

If you answered yes, then Compared to Who? is the show for you!

Each week, we tackle the real issues Christian women face—comparison, body image issues, performance pressure, insecurity, identity, spiritual maturity, and more—through a practical, grace-filled, gospel-centered lens. You’ll find encouragement to trust God’s Spirit, rest in His promises, and grow deeper in your walk with Christ.

I’m Heather Creekmore—best-selling author, speaker, and follower of Jesus. After decades of chasing approval and perfection, I discovered that true freedom only comes through surrendering to Him. Now I help women like you exchange striving for peace, insecurity for identity, and comparison for confidence in Christ.

Every episode is packed with relatable stories, biblical truth, and honest encouragement to help you stop living stuck—and start living free in Jesus.

Find out more about me and the ministry of Compared to Who? at: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Want to join our podcast community on Facebook? Visit us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764271297116024

Latest Episodes:

Is Your Body Storing Trauma? The Biology of Trauma with Dr. Aimie Apiagan Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Heather talks with Dr. Aimie Apiagan, MD, MS, MPH, a medical doctor who has committed her life's work to studying how trauma impacts our physical bodies. In today's show, Dr. Aimie shares her own experiences with trauma, revealing patterns of disordered eating and the connection between trauma and how our bodies respond. Dr. Aimie offers a helpful and understandable definition for trauma as experiences that overwhelm us. She discusses how often we store these experiences away for future review yet never get back to processing it and the toll this "storing" of the traumas has on our bodies. Throughout the conversation, the hosts stress the importance of understanding and healing trauma, particularly for individuals struggling with body image issues.

Also covered in this episode:
*Why women may turn to over-exercising or specifically to running when there is unprocessed trauma.

*How Dr. Aimie sees how she used food in childhood to cover for her traumatic experiences she couldn't recognize or understand.

*Why talk therapy alone is not enough to fully heal trauma.

*How health symptoms can sometimes be related to unprocessed or stored trauma.

*Why many people believe they're just battling stress but they could be battling stored trauma.

Learn more about Dr. Aimie and her work here: https://www.traumahealingaccelerated.com

Connect with Compared to Who? or learn more about coaching and online course options here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Save $50 off the Body Image Freedom Framework course by using the code: PODCAST

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

Could Your Body Image Issues Connect to ADHD? Featuring Dr. Tamara Rosier Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

Today Heather has a fascinating discussion with Tamara Rosier, PhD about the connections between ADHD and body image issues and eating disorders. Heather explores this topic as an extension of personal research she's been doing about her own undetected ADHD type symptoms and traits. Dr. Rosier walks Heather through several ways that ADHD connects and may contribute to body image issues and eating disorders including:

*How the ADHD (neurodivergent) brain operates from the limbic system instead of the prefrontal cortex, making our bodies stay in a "fight or flight" response, which makes us constantly feel threatened or unsafe.

*How ADHD often is found in high functioning women.

*How ADHD can make us perfect victims for narcissists.

*How Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria connects to body image issues and potential eating disorders or disordered eating.

*Why the hyper vigilance of the ADHD brain may cause us to overdo it in exercise.

*Why the neurodivergent may experience the feelings of being "all or nothing" - Either working too hard/overworking or doing nothing at all.

*How ADHD responses are similar to trauma responses, though some have both operating at same time.

*Why being curious about what's going on in your brain is helpful.

Learn more about Dr. Tamara Rosier and her book, "Your Brain's Not Broken" here: https://www.tamararosier.com/ (Amazon affiliate link)

Ready to get free from your body image issues? Learn more about the Body Image Freedom Framework group coaching and online course. Choose just to do the 12-module course online or add some coaching along the way. Find out more here: www.improvebodyimage.com

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

The Role of Spiritual Maturity in Healing Our Body Image Issues Featuring Laura Acuna Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Today Heather is back with speaker, author, and coach, Laura Acuna to talk about the role spiritual maturity plays in healing body image issues. Laura and Heather talk about how hard and necessary it is to separate the lies we hear from the truth of scripture. They talk about how scary it can feel to trust God with our bodies and how it's okay to tell the Lord when we feel afraid to let go.

Laura also talks about "little girl thinking" on how recognizing how much little girl thinking she had has helped her mature and find real freedom in Christ. She also talks about how important it is for us to know we are "okay" and how we can only, really, find that kind of "shalom" (peace in the midst of chaos) when we are seeking Christ alone for our "okayness."

You'll be encouraged and challenged from this engaging conversation.

Learn more about Laura Acuna here: https://laura-acuna.com/

Start reading Laura's book, Still Becoming, here: https://amzn.to/3RKgzBM (Amazon affiliate link)

Connect with Compared to Who? and check out the Body Image Freedom Framework Online Course and Coaching program here: www.improvebodyimage.com (Save $50 using code: PODCAST)

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

Freedom Has Nothing to Do With The Number on the Scale Featuring Laura Acuna Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

ather interviews Laura Acuna an author, speaker, and coach who helps women find freedom from body and food shame. Laura shares her story, how she gained one hundred pounds as a middle schooler, and how she battled weight and food shame for decades before God took her on a path to freedom.

Some of the highlights from today's show include:

Laura's description of the "profile" of a woman who battles with food.
Laura's candid retelling of the hard parts of her body image and food journey.
How Laura knew she had finally found food freedom.
Why Laura believes it's hard for women to get help in this arena.
What Laura has observed from her own journey and the journeys of others about the connection between weight loss and body image freedom.

You'll be encouraged and challenged from this engaging conversation.

Learn more about Laura Acuna here: https://laura-acuna.com/

Start reading Laura's book, Still Becoming, here: https://amzn.to/3RKgzBM

Connect with Compared to Who? and be a part of the Body Image Freedom Framework course and coaching program. Learn more here: www.improvebodyimage.com

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

What is Health Podcast? The History of BMI, Ideal Weights, Bathroom Scales, and Food Trends Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

One of the biggest obstacles women who are battling body image face is the pressure from society to meet a standard of health that is evidenced by one's appearance. Today, Heather takes a deep dive into all things "health." This is part one of an hour-long talk available through the Body Image Freedom Framework Course or available to contributors to the Compared to Who? show. For more information on the course or to donate to Compared to Who? visit: www.improvebodyimage.com or donate directly here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/offers/29mL4jyz/checkout

Today Heather explores the history behind concepts that are commonplace to us. We sometimes forget that concepts like "health" (as we mean it today) and even "ideal weight" have only been around for a hundred years. People didn't have scales in their homes until the 1920s. People didn't know how much they were "supposed" to weigh until the 1940s and 1950s. The diet industry began to flourish shortly thereafter (in the 1970s and 80s), and since then we've been on a wild roller coaster chasing the "what's healthy" food trends. (Remember, in 1988 you were healthy by eating Special K cereal. In 1992, you were healthy by avoiding fats. Then in 2022, you were healthy by eating Keto fat "bombs").

Come on a journey through the history of health, BMI, weight standards and food rules as a reminder that the only real truth we have that never changes is God's truth.

**Listen to the second part of this hour long session that includes thoughts about exercise and the history of exercise, the social determinants of health, and how to apply scripture to our thinking around health. To hear the second part of this episode where we explore what scripture has to say about these topics, visit: www.improvebodyimage.com and support the show or sign up for the self-paced Body Image Freedom Framework course.

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

Fantasies, Ideals, and Learning About Our Core Needs Feat. Travis Stewart, LLC Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Today Heather chats with Travis Stewart. Travis revisits the "core desires of the heart" that we discussed in a previous episode before digging into today's topic: Fantasy.

Travis explains how we put baggage with fantasy, but how imagination is a God given gift and how we may be able to use it to help understand ourselves better. In 2009, an Australian University, they studied the "thin ideal" and how it affects the women who see these images. Travis explains what this study found when the women were asked to compare themselves to these images and asked to fantasize that they are the women in the images.

Comparison led to worse body image, but those who fantasized had a different and surprising outcome.

Travis explains how it's not that we just want a "better body" but that we want what getting that "better body" will give me... how will it make me feel.

Travis continued to explain how using an ideal image exercise can help us find what we're really longing for underneath our body image issues. Fantasy can teach us a lot about our unmet needs, our strategies, and our longings, and this can lead us to Jesus. We can ask what we are running from, and what we are running towards and get curious about both of these things.

They also talk about "taking thoughts captive" and what that really means to us as Christians. He challenges us to dig into our stories and ask ourselves questions. Heather asks how we can feel safe while being curious, and Travis gives a great response.

Travis shares the "Litany of Humility" and how it has helped him to pray it every day.

Travis gave a parting assignment to you. Here's the task: Travis gave a parting assignment to you. Here's the task: What does your ideal body look like? Why are you focused on some features but not others? What's the meaning behind the size or features of your perfect body? Who would notice you? What would the perfect day be like? What does that teach you about yourself and your wounds and longings? Don't have a judgmental stance - just be curious! Email Heather (Heather@comparedtowho.me) with what you learned if you need someone to share it with!

Learn more about Travis Stewart here: https://wtravisstewart.com or www.reflective prayer.com

Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26 - Listen to Travis Stewart's Episodes and his Three Chairs Model

Learn more about Heather's new body image course and coaching program at: www.improvebodyimage.com

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

Is It Okay to Track Food With Intuitive Eating? Intuitive Eating Coaching Call Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Today Heather chats with the hosts of the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast, Erin Todd and Char Lee Haze, about food tracking, trying to track food for weight loss, and how this concept aligns with Intuitive Eating.

Heather talks about feeling more stable in her body now than she did when she was thinner, but how she wrestles this desire to incorporate some of the principles she learned in her dieting days to help her organize her eating today.

Is there a place for planning and tracking in Intuitive Eating? What's the heart behind it? What's the goal? If you're able to separate food choices from morality, this may work for you. But, if your goal is different, this practice may not be super helpful.

Heather also shares what happened when she tried Noom and started to try food-tracking again and how quickly she was tempted to go back to chasing a "shiny object" of freedom through weight loss. Heather also shared how they kept giving her free months but how difficult it was to finally cancel.

Char suggests an excellent app for those used to tracking their food called: Peace with Food created by friend of the Compared to Who? podcast, Amy Carlson.

They also talk about how tracking can be different from needing to control or needing a method to cope from past trauma. If you need to follow the "thing" there are options for you.

Listen to the wisdom Char and Erin share with Heather today. Char answers Heather's question: How do you know if you're disconnected from your body? Erin encourage us to be kind and curious as we think about our bodies and food habits. Anxiety and depression around body issues leave when you find humility and stop trying to convince everyone you're perfect.

Learn more about Intuitive Eating for Christian Women at www.intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com

Ready for more help with your body and food issues? Check out the new Body Image Freedom Framework course.

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

Can Philippians 4:13 Be My Weight Loss or Fitness Inspiration Verse? Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Do you have Philippians 4:13 memorized or on a Christian t-shirt. Have you recited it before the big test or the big game? Have you used it to be your weight loss or fitness goal motivation verse?

If you have, no shame or blame here. But, today Heather tackles what Philippians 4:13 is really trying to teach us. It's a message in contentment. It's a passage that reveals our struggle with covetousness, and it's a verse that encourage us that we can be strong in finding satisfaction in Christ alone, whether or not we've achieved our personal goals.

Take a listen to Heather talk about this tricky passage and often mis-used scripture verse and then let us know what you think. Drop Heather a line at heather@ compared to who.me or leave a 5 star review of the show if you loved it!

Are you ready for more help on your body image journey? The Body Image Freedom Framework online course is now open! We started group calls this week, but it's not too late to add the group coaching (with unlimited personal support) option. Learn more at: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/course-only and you can save $50 this week with the code: PODCAST

Want to listen to the original Tim Keller sermon that inspired Heather's talk today: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/the-freedom-of-contentment-2-10th-6334/

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

Have we Christianized Disordered Eating? Featuring Amy Carlson, RD Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

Today, Heather continues her conversation with eating disorder expert and registered dietitian Amy Carlson. Amy and Heather delicately address some "Christianized" messages around binge eating and dieting.

Amy shares how she helps women who are struggling with certain foods to have a "with God" experience with their food in order to find freedom from shame.

One of Amy's main points for today is that food is not the real enemy. In fact, we have a real enemy and he always tempts us to choose ourselves over God. That can be elevating food to a "too important" position in your life, but it can also be elevating your desires for your body size and shape and placing dieting or fitness lifestyle above everything else.

Heather and Amy look at some of the "Christianized" messages they've seen to "help" women in their relationships with food and find some that are troubling. Can we rightly compare what happened with Eve's bite of the apple in the Garden of Eden to our indulgence in foods we believe we shouldn't eat or foods that aren't on our plan? Are we somehow trying to please God by doing "better" than Eve did? Amy and Heather dig in to what happens when we use the Bible out-of-context to support our own food theories.

Check out the exercise non-responders data in this episode.

Many of us feel shame around food, but the only thing that truly covers our shame is Jesus, not our great ability not to eat certain foods.

Listen and share this episode with a friend.

Listen to part one of this interview here: A With-God Approach to Eating.

Ready for some help and encouragement on your body image journey? Check out the body image freedom framework online course here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/course-only

There's still time to be part of the Group Coaching program too! Email Heather at Heather@ compared to who (dot) me for more details!

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

A "With God" Approach to Food and Eating Featuring Amy Carlson Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Today Heather is joined by one of her favorite guests, eating disorder expert, dietitian, and biblical truth seeker, Amy Carlson. Amy and Heather dig into some of the messaging around food that they've observed floating around from Christian content creators. Today, the duo gets real and analyzes some of these messages. With an MS in Nutrition and more than twenty-five years of experience working with women with eating disorders and disordered eating, Amy challenges us to think about God as being with us on our eating journey instead of against us. A lot of the messaging around food coming at Christians casts food as "temptation" or "evil," but today's conversation looks at how God really intended us to relate to food and why demonizing food is not the best way to find a healthier relationship with it. Instead, we can invite God into this space and into our relationship and struggles with food.

Heather and Amy also discuss the dangers in using Bible verses and stories to support disordered eating habits. Amy vulnerably shares how scripture played a role in her own journey into an eating disorder and how confusing and dangerous it can be to miss the context and goal of God's word and verses like, "commit your ways to the Lord and your plans will succeed" and twist it into a message of disordered eating.

You're going to need to listen to this one twice! Get ready for a thought-provoking episode that just may challenge you to think about your relationship with food in a different way. Whether you've had a restriction-based eating disorder, or wrestling binge eating, if you've dieted all your life, or never been sure of how to handle food in a God-honoring way, this episode will encourage you. If it does, please leave a review.

Learn more about Amy Carlson and the Peace With Food app at helloPeacewithfood.com

Listen to Heather's other episodes with Amy Carlson about our relationship with food here (some are mentioned in today's show):

How to Really Feel Better in Your Body Featuring Amy Carlson, RD

Letting Go of “Good” and “Bad” Food Labels Featuring Amy Carlson, RD

Is Self Control Really the Solution to Our Food Issues? Featuring Amy Carlson, RD

Do I Need More Self-Control to Stop Eating? Feat. Amy Carlson, RD

Amy Carlson, RD Shares What to Do if You Need to Lose Weight 2

What if I Really Need or Want to Lose Weight? Feat. Amy Carlson

Do Food Choices Make Us Righteous? Diet Culture & Purity Culture

Romans 14: Good Foods and Bad Foods? Featuring Amy Carlson Part 2

Should I Fast if I Had an Eating Disorder? A Look at Fasting

Daniel Fast, Sugar Fasts, and the Truth About Biblical Fasting

Are you ready for the next step to freedom in your body image journey? Check out Heather's new Christian online body image course: The Body Image Freedom Framework. Save $50 by using the code: PODCAST

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

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