Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women LifeAudio

Body shame is real. We've all experienced it, but what do we do about it? Earlier in May, Oprah Winfrey hosted a three-hour-long forum with body love experts, actresses, and influencers to start a conversation about bodies, weight, and how we can start changing the narrative. Titled, "Making the Shift" and hosted by WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers), the conversation had several meaningful moments where women from all over the country shared the hurt, shame, and confusion they'd felt about their body image. In today's episode, Heather digs into what happened in the Oprah conversation. She explores how the one piece missing from these eloquent conversations is the key unlocking body shame. If you've been struggling with your body size or shape, and are looking for a fresh answer that's meatier than telling yourself positive affirmations in the mirror, this conversation will be a great encouragement to you. 

There are real answers out there for your body image struggles -- and the good news is they don't require Jedi mind tricks or "naked jump roping in front of the mirror" (yes, that was from the Oprah special!!!).

Learn more about Heather Creekmore, Compared to Who? and how to improve your body image and find freedom from body shame here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Want to join Heather and a group of amazing women in reading Heather's new 40-Day Body Image Workbook? The groups started this Tuesday but it's not too late to join! Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Listen to Tim Keller preach on identity here. 

Watch Oprah's "Making the Shift" special on YouTube. 
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Summer's coming. Even if you weren't looking at the calendar you may have sensed that from the number of diet and exercise ads you see. The change of season can inspire us to set new goals and do things to try to feel better in our bodies, but what if there's a better way to meet your health goals without falling into the "going on a diet" or "following a new plan" pit? Today, Heather recommends a new way of thinking about your goals, goal setting, and how you measure success. This method can help you stay consistent, feel like you are making progress, and encourage your heart. Become the "kind of woman who..." and grow in spiritual, physical and mental health. 

Learn more about Compared to Who? and Heather Creekmore's books and coaching: https://www.improvebodyimage.com

Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Reading Challenge (Starts Tuesday, May 21st but you can join until May 27th!) - 40-day-challenge

 
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Woah! Today's episode is so good whether you are a "Swiftie" or truly believe she is the "anti-hero," you're sure to get something out of it. Taylor Swift is a household name and someone most, universally, recognize for her beauty and success. But, Taylor has been open about her struggles with body image issues and an eating disorder. She's felt the same pressure and shame many of us have felt about how we look. Today, Heather looks at what we can learn about our own body image issues and the lies we believe by studying how someone as successful and beautiful as Taylor Swift, still struggles. Heather explores the concept of body image idolatry and how the "idols" our culture worships, like Taylor, make us promises about peace, rest, joy, and satisfaction that they just can't keep. Today's show ends with four important things we can all learn from Taylor Swift to help us improve our body image and help the next generation of girls not get sucked into the same body image issues that we've wrestled.

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

Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

 
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Today Heather continues her conversation with Erin Todd from Intuitive Eating for Christian Women about the expression, "Turn to Jesus, not food." While we know that Jesus should be our source for everything, is it helpful or even accurate to say that we can turn to Jesus instead of eating the food we crave? Is this how we treat other decisions surrounding our bodies and what they need (Do we say, "Turn to Jesus, not sleep?")? Today, Heather and Erin continue their conversations to hash out what is helpful to remember about turning to God, and how this expression may sound more like diet culture than the Bible. 

If you've ever felt guilt and shame over giving into a craving at night or eating that food you swore to yourself not to eat, and then told yourself you should have turned to "Jesus not food," this episode is for you.

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

Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Connect with Erin or listen to the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast Here: https://intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com/

 

 
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Heather Creekmore and special guest Erin Todd delve into an expression we've heard a lot in Christian circles: "Turn to Jesus Not Food."  We've all been there. It's late, you've had a hard day. And what you really want it brownies, or cookies, or the ice cream. Maybe you bake or maybe you drive to the store. You give in. You eat the thing that you had hoped you wouldn't. It's like the craving took over. And, now you feel guilt, shame, and worse: You wonder if you've sinned by turning to food not Jesus. You believe you should have just prayed the craving away or handled the emotional need in a way that did not include food.

Today Heather and Erin unpack this expression. They talk about whether or not our physical food cravings are sinful. They discuss how eating can and does help a stressed or tired body calm down, but how this doesn't have to be the only tool in the tool belt. Erin and Heather also talk about the importance of really listening to our bodies so that we can nourish them appropriately. We don't always have to "give in" to the cravings, but neither do we have to over-spiritualize them.

Heather and Erin reference these episodes today:

Gwen Shamblin and Starving for Salvation: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/starving-for-salvation-diet-culture-gwen-shamblin

Gluttony Part 1: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/what-is-gluttony-really-what-the-bible-really-says

Exploring Every Bible Verse on Gluttony: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/more-thoughts-on-gluttony-what-the-bible-says-part

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

Join the 40-Day Body Image Workbook Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Connect with Erin or listen to the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast Here: https://intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com/

 

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

Today Heather chats with Amy Connell about the ways we as moms who were fully entrenched in diet culture can start to change the conversations in our home around food and body. Amy and Heather were both fitness instructors and focused on “health education” trying to, out of love, do what was best for their kids around food and exercise. But, as they discuss today, some of what they did was likely unhelpful. As the research shows, some of the rules they enforced and the ways they modeled a restrictive relationship with food or over-emphasized exercise may have sent the wrong message to their kids. 

Amy and Heather talk about how our children and teens are on the journey with us out of diet culture, whether they know it or not. They talk about how tricky it can be to have our children watch our pendulum swing from restricting all the foods or maybe always being on a diet to giving up dieting and trying to eat more intuitively.

They also discuss how our kids—both boys and girls--are being influenced by social media and YouTube influencers around what they should eat and how they should look or exercise. They talk about how to manage this challenge when you are trying to teach your children and teens a different way.

Similarly, Amy and Heather talk about helping our children see the agenda that the culture has for them--and how diet culture plays into this agenda that wants them to be so focused on food, exercise, body, and appearance that they can miss out on what God has for them and find themselves in anxiety, depression, eating disorders or worse.

You'll be encouraged by today's podcast, share it with a friend or leave a review!

Ready to sign up for the 40-day body image workbook reading journey? We start May 21st! Learn more or sign up here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Purchase Amy's new book, Your CORE Strength on most online stores including Amazon and Bookshop if you prefer to support independent bookstores. All formats, including paperback, ebook and audiobook are available.

You may also grab the Parents Guide - a Cliffs notes version for you to learn the main concepts as well as receive other helpful resources like recommended Instagram accounts, books and podcasts, and ways to support your daughter.

Want some more Christ-centered, diet-culture-free encouragement for your daughter? Invite her to listen to Amy's podcast for Christian teen girls, Lessons to My Teenage Self (also on YouTube if they aren't regular podcast listeners.)Connect with Amy:@gracedhealth (for women over 40)@lessons.pod (for teens)GracedHealth.com
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