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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:

Are You Afraid of Satisfaction? Intuitive Eating Coaching Call Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

Are you afraid of satisfaction? Does it feel "wrong" to buy something you would like or to eat something that tastes truly delicious? In my intuitive eating coaching call, Erin Todd--co-host of the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast--and I talk about why we struggle with satisfaction. We talk about the ways we've subtly learned that it's better or holier to not be satisfied--in everything from our clothing purchases to our food choices. We also talk about the following:

Why do we use words like "sinful" or "guilty" when it comes to enjoyable foods?
Where does it say in the Bible that we shouldn't enjoy food? If we are to "taste and see that the Lord is good," doesn't that imply it's okay to enjoy what we eat?
How we end up believing that self-denial in the arena of food is a path to justification and holiness.
What it means to give yourself unconditional permission to eat.
Why being afraid of satisfaction is not helpful to your relationship with food (and may connect to disordered eating).
How awkward it is to give ourselves permission to eat when we feel like others are watching or others disapprove of our food choices.
Why ultimate satisfaction can only come from Jesus, but how he never tells us we can't enjoy the good things he's created for our pleasure.

If you've ever felt afraid of satisfaction or feared pleasure, this episode will speak to you!

Learn more about Erin Todd and the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast here: https://www.erinltodd.com

Listen to our other Intuitive Eating Coaching Calls here: What Do I Do About Mindless Eating from January and Why Am I So Tired All the Time from February.

Ready to connect with Compared to Who? Sign up for the free, 5-Day email Challenge here: https://comparedtowho.me/5-day-email-challenge/

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

When You're Afraid of What Others Think featuring Jill Savage Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

Are you afraid of what others think of you? Maybe you're worried about what they think of your life, your body, your choices, your struggles. Today, author, speaker, and coach, Jill Savage and I tackle how we handle the fear of what others will think of us. Jill has experienced the gamut of life situations that could cause others to raise an eyebrow. From facing infidelity in her marriage (to a pastor), to walking through her son's mental health issues, to her other son's announcement about his sexuality, to walking through her own battles with issues most women face--Jill holds an extensive resume of life experiences that could have caused her to obsess over what other people think. Yet, God's done a work in her life to set her free from living the life of a perfectionist and stressing over what others think.

Here are a few of the topics Jill and I walk through today as we discuss being afraid of what others think:

How to give up perfectionism.
What it looks like to parent without placing the expectation of perfection on our children.
How Jill has learned to take the mask off and show others her struggle.
And so much more!

If you're part of the Compared to Who? Patreon community - head over to www.patreon.com/comparedtowho to listen to the BONUS 15 minutes of content from Jill where she shares the story of her husband's infidelity, how he left her several times, but how he spoke to Jill and restored their marriage--not to how it used to be, but to a new and stronger place. (Now the couple coaches other couples in crisis - learn more here: www.jillsavage.org.)

Ready to stop living your life stressed about what others think? Listen to today's episode and then learn more about Jill and grab some of the freebies she's offering here: www.jillsavage.org or at her No More Perfect Moms page here: https://nomoreperfect.jillsavage.org

Ready to break free from body image issues? Check out the BRAND NEW, 5 Day Email Challenge on Compared to Who? the website: www.comparedtowho.me press the: Take the Challenge button!

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

Why Are We So Afraid of Bread: Conquering the Fear of Bread Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

This conversation may shock and surprise you. Today, non-diet dietician, Tracy Brown and I have an informative conversation about bread avoidance. Over the last decade--bread has become a "scary" food to many who are dieting or trying to lose weight. But, is bread really something we should be afraid of? Is the frightening truth that we've been manipulated and guided towards certain foods and away from others because of popular trends or even politics? What? Have we been conditioned to be afraid of bread or are we making personal choices about bread based on what's best of our individual health and biochemistry? Here are a few of the things Tracy and I discuss today:

I share my story of bread avoidance and fear of bread that started sometime after the low-fat craze ended in the early 2000s.
Tracy gives a history of bread--how bread has risen and fallen in popularity since ancient times.
We discuss how being afraid of certain foods can make it harder on our bodies to assimilate and digest them.
Is avoiding bread really about belonging
We talk about books like, "Wheat Belly" that talk about curing other body ailments by avoiding wheat and how to understand and utilize this type of information about food groups.
Tracy encourages us with the truth that all bodies are different, and how restricting certain foods just because someone else is doing it (or because someone has a medical reason for doing it) does not mean this is the answer for our unique body and unique physiology.
Tracy drops a truth bomb on me when I share all my concerns about bread!
Stay until the end when Tracy blows my mind with a statement about the ways popular diets (Keto, Paleo, Vegan/Plant-based) recycle through history and why they do!

Do You Have Fear of Bread?

Maybe fear or afraid of bread isn't the words you would use, but perhaps you've been avoiding bread for a long time for fear that it would make you fat. This episode has so much truth about how we demonize certain foods as a culture without a lot of backing from science. If you follow the diet trends, you may notice that bread is back with the plant-based diet--after being on the "bad foods" list for so many years with the Paleo and Keto trends. I just read that celebrity Jennifer Anniston has decided she's no longer afraid of bread. A clear sign that the bread avoidance trend is coming to another temporary end. But Tracy and I discuss the truth of how those of us with disordered eating tendencies never really go back and add the "bad foods" back to our diets--even once they become popularly accepted again. Instead, we just keep restricting and taking things away. Today's conversation sheds some real light on how fear-based eating is really not what God designed.

About Tracy Brown:

Tracy Brown,RD,LD/N is a trauma informed nutrition therapist/eating disorder dietitian, stress recovery coach and nutrition counseling skills teacher. She walks besides people wanting to heal their relationship with food and weight as well as feel safer and less stressed in their bodies. Her testimony of recovery from eating disorders, trauma and the new age is meant to bring glory to God’s mercy and grace. Since 2006, she has guided people one on one and in groups in healing from disordered eating and chronic dieting, many of which also have other stress-related conditions at www.tracybrownrd.com/get-started and https://www.tracybrownrd.com/free-gifts (to stop bashing your body).

She provides trauma informed and body image training and supervision to health professionals as well at www.embodieddietitian.com

Learn more about Tracy Brown, RD here: https://www.tracybrownrd.com or follow her on Instagram here or here.

Listen to Tracy's story in her first interview on Compared to Who? here: https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-trauma-healing-ed-featuring-dietician-tracy-brown/

Connect with Compared to Who?

Join the friends only email list here for regular encouragement here or at: www.comparedtowho.me

Find out more about Group Coaching (next group starts April 4, 2022) here. Or: https://comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching/

Have you read Heather's books? Learn more or start reading Compared to Who? here or start reading The Burden of Better here or follow the books tab on comparedtowho.me

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

Conquering the Fear of Fat feat: Nicole Mesita, RD Mar 04, 2022

Show notes

Today is the start of a new month-long series about conquering our fears related to body image and food. Nicole Mesita, a non-diet RD, joins me to tackle our first issue: Conquering the Fear of Fat.

The data surrounding this issue is astounding. Some studies show 63% of American women and 44% of American men are afraid of becoming fat. Eighty-one percent of ten-year-olds also are facing the fear of fat. But is there anything to really be afraid of? Where did this fear of fat come from? What does the Bible say about being afraid of fat? We tackle these issues and more in this episode.

Do you struggle with the Fear of Fat? If so, this episode is for you. We also discuss:

How to get your focus off of your weight to find true health.
Why gluttony may not be the American definition of "overeating"
The connection between higher weights and living longer, disease endurance
What diet culture is and how it's impacted our thinking
What you do when you feel or look like you've gained weight.

Connect with Nicole Mesita, RD here: https://www.nicolemesita.com

Learn more about BodyBLoved and their courses here: https://www.bodybloved.com

Check out Nicole and the Body BLoved Team's 30 Day Devotional Book titled Diet Detox here: https://amzn.to/3IPVQ7W (Amazon affiliate link)

Ready to sign up for Group Coaching? Next session begins the week of April 4 and ends mid-May. Get in before summer. Learn more or apply here: https://www.comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching

Join the Compared to Who? Patreon Group here: https://www.patreon.com/comparedtowho

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

What to Do When Your Husband is Looking at Porn Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

Today Heather interviews Rosie Makinney of Fight for Love Ministries--a ministry dedicated to helping women affected by porn in their marriages. Rosie shares the resurrection story of her marriage and how she and her husband came to a new place of hope and healing after porn. We go to some hard places today in our conversation about the realities of porn and how it hurts our marriages. Here are some of the topics we tackle:

Why we don't talk about it when porn shows up in our marriages and what that does to the issue.
How porn use affects our brains, even if we're not the one looking.
How porn affects the user's brain, but how you can rewire it!
Why porn is so addictive and how it hijacks the brain, making it almost impossible to stop without help or intervention.
What porn does to satisfaction in marriage.
How to cope with the pain if you've just found out your husband is looking at porn.
What to do if you're dating a guy who's using porn.
How to be on the same team in fighting porn in your marriage--even while you're still grieving and hurting.

Looking for more resources on what to do if your husband is looking at porn?

Connect with Fight For Love Ministries: https://www.fightforloveministries.org

Listen to the Fight for Love Podcast: https://www.fightforloveministries.org/podcast

Listen to Heather's appearance on Fight For Love Podcast: https://www.fightforloveministries.org/podcast-1/episode/23915a1b/64-struggling-with-body-image

Learn more about Rosie:

Rosie Makinney is an author, speaker and podcaster who ten years ago, entered in the fight against her husband’s compulsive porn use. From the very beginning of her journey, Rosie has been bold and relentless about reaching other wives struggling with porn-invaded marriages and building a recovery community on the Central Coast of California. She is the founder of Fight For Love Ministries, which equips women with the faith and the facts to take back their relationships from porn. Rosie is a Lifeway author, an international speaker, and host of the Fight For Love Podcast. She is also the founder of Fight For Love Ministries which equips women with the faith and the facts to take back their relationships from porn.

Need porn accountability software for your home? Learn more about Covenant Eyes:

Compared to Who? is a Covenant Eyes affiliate. This is the Internet accountability software used in Heather's home on all of their devices--adults and kids. It offers weekly reporting of what sites have been visited along with alerts. It's worth every dollar to know what your family is seeing online. The added accountability can be a huge asset for any man or woman in porn addiction recovery too. Note: **If your husband is recovering from porn addiction, please do not be his accountability partner on Covenant Eyes. Have his reports sent to a trusted male friend, sponsor, or mentor who can help him on his road to recovery. Learn more at the this link: https://covenanteyes.sjv.io/YMZQr

Read more on what to do if your husband is battling lust in this blog post: His Lust Problem is Not About You

Connect with Compared to Who? https://www.comparedtowho.me

Sign up or get more information on Group Coaching: https://www.comparedtowho.me/body-image-coaching

Support this show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/comparedtowho

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

Ideals Become Idols and Other Reasons to Stop Comparing Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

This is the first in a series of three, monthly episodes where we'll talk about my latest book, The Burden of Better. Even if you've read it, these book club episodes go deeper and wider than what was captured in the book. Today we discuss the first part of the book--which goes into why we compare, the dangers of comparison, and what really happens when we chase our ideals and try to become more like the "ideal me." We also talk about the following:

What does it mean to chase better?
Why do we chase better in some areas than in others? (Heather shares how she doesn't obsess over being a better wife, but has obsessed over having a better body!)
Similarly, why are we tempted to compare ourselves in some areas and not other areas?
We talk about how this is not a burden that God puts on us, this is a burden that we choose to carry for ourselves.
Why trying to become more like our ideals--or trying to be more like what I "expect" of myself or my life--can keep us stuck carrying this burden.
Are ideals bad? Good? Do our ideals lead us closer to Jesus or further away from him?

Ready to Break Up With Your Ideals?

If you've not read the Burden of Better yet, you can grab your copy today here: https://amzn.to/3HaKGt6 (*Amazon affiliate link)

Or, download the first few chapters for free here: https://comparedtowho.me/burden-of-better-book-for-christian-women-on-comparison/

Ready to join the Patreon community: Learn more here-- https://www.patreon.com/comparedtowho.

Ready to learn more about coaching or join the group coaching session? Learn more here: https://www.comparedtowho.me/coaching

Do you have a question from the Burden of Better or from today's show you'd like to hear Heather tackle in the next Book Club Episode (March 29)? Go to the podcast page and leave a speak pipe message or click the link to email your question here: https://www.comparedtowho.me/podcast

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

What You Need to Know About Eating Disorders Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

In honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, today I'm tackling the data on Eating Disorders. **Trigger Warning**This is a weighty and emotional topic. If you're recovering from an ED or have been diagnosed already, you may want to just skip this episode in case you find it triggering.

My purpose today is to expose the many symptoms of eating disorders and alert you to the reality that some of what we consider "normal" in our health culture is actually disordered eating or eating disorder behavior. Almost 30 million Americans have or will have an eating disorder sometime during their lifetime. Many eating disorders go undetected and only 6% of people with eating disorders are underweight. Dieting and restriction are not the pathways to health. In fact, the data shows the opposite. Dieting and food or food group restriction is ineffective at best and could lead to the dangers of disordered eating. Improving your body image doesn't mean you disregard your physical health or ignore the signals when the foods you eat make you feel bad. But food avoidance, food fear, and calorie restriction have consequences that we should all be aware of.

Candidly, I would have told you a few years ago there was nothing "unhealthy" about dieting and restricting. I believed this was the only way to have a healthier body. But, now I've learned that this thinking is the same as that which accompanies disordered eating and the mental illness of eating disorder. Yes, it's a mental illness. I think it's time we stop encouraging people to develop a mental illness so their bodies can meet a cultural standard.

Here's where we go in today's episode:

We talk about how EDNOS--the category Heather used to associate with--is no longer a category and why.
The fine line between eliminating foods for other health reasons and triggering an eating disorder.
How dieting can lead to eating disorders.
Why food shouldn't be a threat to our identity--and yet, somehow, it feels like it is.
The most common emotional and physical symptoms of eating disorders
And, more...

If You're Battling Disordered Eating or Eating Disorders Check Out These Resources:

Today's research came straight from the National Eating Disorder Awareness homepage. You can access the data I read today and so much more information on eating disorders here: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders

If you think you have an eating disorder, please check out this list of suggested resources here: https://comparedtowho.me/eating-disorder-resources/

Interested in coaching or joining the next coaching group that begins April 4th? Learn more on the coaching tab here: https://www.comparedtowho.me/coaching

Connect with Compared to Who? here: https://www.comparedtowho.me

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

Body Image and Pregnancy Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Pregnancy can be a rough time on our body image. Rebekah Hargraves helps me dig into the challenges of body changes during and after pregnancy. Rebekah had her first baby in her early 20s, while I had my first in her early thirties. We compare stories and experiences and talk about the pressures we put on ourselves to come out of pregnancy like a celebrity. There's more to this episode than just pregnancy talk though, here are some other topics Rebekah and I dig into:

Why she felt relief of having the 6 week after baby required break from intimacy.
How she learned to believe and accept her husband's compliments about her body (even after baby).
The lies moms believe around their bodies, their worth, and their calling as a mom.
How we respond to what God says about our bodies.
How Romans 7 & 8 set Rebekah free from some of the lies she had held on to regarding the need to be a "perfect" mom.
How Rebekah found freedom from the "Mommy Wars"
And more...

Struggling with Pregnancy and Body Image? Here are some more resources:

Check out these blog posts about pregnancy and body image

Connect with Compared to Who?

Start reading the Burden of Better or order your copy here: Burden of Better

Join the Compared to Who? insiders email list and take the body image5-Day Email Challenge and download the free "Walk to Lose the Weight of Comparison" walking workout. https://www.comparedtowho.me

Join the Patreon community here: https://www.patreon.com/comparedtowho

Leave a review of the show or leave a speak pipe comment: https://www.comparedtowho.me/podcast

About Rebekah:

Rebekah Hargraves is a wife, mama, blogger, podcaster, and author whose passion is to edify, equip, and encourage women in their journey of Biblical womanhood, particularly with an emphasis on the gospel and its implications for everyday life. Rebekah's first book, "Lies Moms Believe (And How the Gospel Refutes Them)" released in 2017, and the "Lies Moms Believe" Companion Bible Study came out in 2018. You can find Rebekah on her website, Hargraves Home and Hearth, on Instagram, or on iTunes via her podcast.

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

Body After Baby, Surrogacy, and Birthing Your Purpose Feb 18, 2022

Show notes

My conversation with Tiffany Jo Baker was supposed to be about body after baby. But, where we landed became a beautiful orchestra of many topics ranging from infertility to judging others by their appearance to how to find your purpose. Tiffany Jo Baker is a mom of two and was a surrogate mom for three families dealing with infertility. Whether you're a new mom, or a mom of grown kids...whether you're dealing with body after baby or just wondering if your life has purpose. You'll enjoy today's episode. Here are some of the places we go in today's show:

How she decided to be a surrogate mom.
How Tiffany's husband felt about her being a surrogate (and delivering someone else's babies on Father's Day!)
Dealing with body changes after pregnancy.
Learning to accept the story of our lives that our bodies tell.
How to be kind to your body after baby.
How to stop judging others by how they look.
How Tiffany helps women birth their purpose and find out what they were made to do.
Remembering that you were born on purpose, for a purpose!

There's so much encouragement in today's episode, especially if you're struggling with your body after baby.

Connect with Compared to Who? by joining the Compared to Who? insiders email list here: https://www.comparedtowho.me
Support Compared to Who? and join the new Patreon Community here: https://www.patreon.com/comparedtowho
Leave a review for the show here: https://www.comparedtowho.me/podcast
If you're on Facebook, join the new Compared to Who? insiders group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/comparedtowho
Grab your copy of Burden of Better before the Book Club begins next week. Start reading and learn more here: https://comparedtowho.me/burden-of-better-book-for-christian-women-on-comparison/

About Tiffany Jo Baker: Tiffany Jo Baker is a caffeinated mom of two teen girls, surrogate mom who has delivered five babies for three families dealing with infertility, proud dog-mom, and wife to an extreme outdoorsman. She is the podcast host of All the Things TV, author of the devotional Soul-Care for Go-Getters, speaker, and strategizer who uplifts the soul and success of women walking out their why at home and online so they can birth their God-given dreams and projects. Connect with: Tiffany Jo Baker here. Check out her podcast here: Host of All the Things TV video podcast Check out her book here: Author of Soul-Care for Go-Getters (31 Day Devotional)

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

Why Am I Always Tired? Intuitive Eating Coaching Call Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Today's episode is the recording of my coaching call with my Intuitive Eating Coaches--Char-Lee Cassel, RD and Erin Todd--hosts of the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast. The most startling discovery: maybe my lifelong fatigue hasn't been related to eating the "right" foods or the "wrong" foods but could be related to not having enough calories. Both Diet Culture and Health Culture have deceived many of us about the calories we need to function well. I've believed it for years. I thought maybe I was always tired because I was eating foods that my body was sensitive to or eating too much food. But, today we discuss how being underfed (even if you're not underweight) can have an impact on energy levels. If you're always tired, it may not be that you're eating the wrong foods--it may be that you're not eating enough food. We also discuss the cultural phenomena of drinking smoothies--often green smoothies--and how they can sometimes be a healthy nutrition boost but other times be a crutch that keeps us dissatisfied and afraid of other foods.

I'm not an intuitive eating expert or a registered dietician. These coaching calls are episodes designed to show you how I'm working through my lifelong issues with foods, diets, and "trying to be healthy" in an attempt to become a more intuitive eater who has a healthy relationship with food. As you listen to our conversation, I hope you'll be encouraged that if food is a struggle for you, you are not alone.

This show was not designed to provide specific health related advice. Please seek guidance from a non-diet dietician or other health professional as you make your own choices about food and diet. If you are always tired, please talk to a health professional.

If you're interested in learning more about Intuitive Eating listen to the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast here.

Always Tired? Listen to These Episodes, Too

Have you always believed that 1500 calories was enough (or more than enough) food every day? Listen to this interview with Erin Kerry about what 1500 calories a day does to your brain and body.

Are you always tired, restricting or worrying about food, or overeating at night? This interview with Megan Hadley, "Why Do I Overeat at Night" may be of interest.

Connect with Compared to Who? take the free body image 5-Day Email Challenge and get your free "Walk to Lose the Weight of Comparison" Walking Workout Download here: https://www.comparedtowho.me

Support the show by joining our NEW Patreon Community here. We'll have exclusive monthly virtual get-togethers starting in March and so much more. Learn more here: https://www.patreon.com/comparedtowho

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

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