Episodes

Today Heather's delivering vacation tips for women who struggle with body image and control issues. These struggles don't go on vacation when we do. In fact, sometimes a vacation can bring out the worst of our struggles. Between our disappointments, guilt over being "off-plan" with food choices, or feeling like we "look fat" in pictures we can spoil all the fun of our time away. This is your all-inclusive guide to preparing for time away this summer so you can enjoy your vacation! Grab a pen and...

Ready to feel lighter this summer and not so weighed down by body image issues? In today's episode, Heather shares the final tips of this 2 part, the "20 Ways to Feel Lighter" episode. You won't find diet or supplement strategies here. Instead, these are simple changes you can make to help you feel better in your body, all summer (and all year) long. None are expensive or time-consuming, but they can help you feel better on vacation, at the pool, beach, or lake, or wherever summer life takes you...

Ready to feel lighter this summer and not so weighed down by body image issues? In today's episode, Heather shares the first several tips of this 2 part, the "20 Ways to Feel Lighter" episode. These tips aren't dieting or exercise tricks. Instead, they are things that you can do to help you feel better in your body, all summer (and all year) long. These aren't expensive or time-consuming, but they can help you feel better on vacation, at the pool, beach, or lake, or wherever summer life takes yo...

Summer is coming and culture tells us it's time to focus on how to look great in a swimsuit. So today, we explore God's word to see how scripture can guide us on this pursuit. Today, we're talking confidence, approval, and how most (if not all) women wrestle never feeling like they look good enough. What does the Gospel say to our insecurities? If you've ever felt like you just don't look good enough to put on swimwear (or wear it in public)--this episode will encourage your heart! Today Heathe...

Do we need more self-control to stop eating? That's what many of us have believed. In this part two of a conversation between Heather Creekmore and Amy Carlson, RD -- we break down the spiritual fallacies surrounding applying self-control to wanting to be a "better dieter." Amy and Heather talk about the heart problems surrounding our desire to control our bodies through restricting food and what's really under the surface when we talk about needing more "self-control" to not eat foods we deem m...

It's a popular message in Christian circles when the topic of food arises--we need more self control. The message is subtle but clear. If you had more self control, food issues would disappear. If you had more self control (which is a fruit of the spirit) then you would always choose Jesus over brownies. If you have more self control, you'd never have an issue with your weight. We've made the biblical concept of self control all about sticking to our diet. But, is that what self control is reall...

Today Heather welcomes author and podcaster, Mary DeMuth on the show to talk about Leah and other women from the Bible whose stories we may not have learned accurately in Sunday School! Her brand new book, "The Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible" dives deep into stories of women such as Naomi, Rahab, Phoebe, Leah, and even the famously perfect Proverbs 31 "woman." Mary and Heather talk about some of these women, their stories, and what to do if you feel misunderstood. Here are a few key poin...

Today Heather digs into the concept of addiction--but not in a way you might expect. Heather isn't talking about drugs or alcohol or other things that you expect people to be addicted to. Instead, she talks about being addicted to body change--of chasing idols of body image and beauty through controlling and manipulating her body size and shape. Heather breaks down some amazing teaching from Dr. Tim Keller on the topic of addictions and idolatry and she applies this teaching to our issues with f...

Today's Intuitive Eating Coaching Call is filled with so many good nuggets of truth, you're going to want to listen to it twice. If intuitive eating doesn't feel very intuitive to you, take a listen to this. Heather talks about how she's feeling "safer" in her body and healthier in many ways but struggling to feel comfortable at a new size. Erin Todd and Char-Lee Cassel of the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women Podcast talk with Heather about so many great truths about giving up diet culture, ...

One of the trickiest parts of healing our body image issues is recognizing the impact that parents and others may have had in the way they developed while, at the same time, not blaming them! Seeing the hurt and brokenness of our moms or our dads in this arena, and then forgiving them for the pain that they (most often) unintentionally passed on to us is a tricky thing. If you're ready to understand a moms role in body image issues and to forgive mom (or someone else) for their roles in your bod...

Everyone is talking about getting a summer "body" but as we enter a new season, my question is: How is your body image? Where are you on the path to body image freedom? I've had some friends walking this path with me for years now--you've probably heard me change, grow, and learn as God reveals new things to me in areas I previously didn't even know he wanted to change! Others of you may be brand new to the Compared to Who? show or this ministry. Maybe you never even knew that your problem with ...

Today we conclude the Spring book club series where we've walked through my latest book, The Burden of Better: How a Comparison-Free Life Leads to Joy, Peace, and Rest. In this episode, we talk about ways to have more joy, contentment, peace, and how to find rest. Heather walks through the final section of the book which is dedicated to these topics and we discuss how our idols (and our ideals) lie to us when they tell us they can give us the joy, peace, and rest that only Jesus can deliver. He...

In this month's Intuitive Eating Coaching call with Heather's Intuitive Eating Coaches--Erin Todd and Char Lee Haze-- we talk about how hard it is to actually make it past step one in Intuitive Eating. Step one of Intuitive Eating involves recognizing and turning from Diet Culture so you can reclaim your power to choose the foods and methods of eating that are best for your body. But today we talk about navigating the body changes that come when you stop dieting. We also talk about how ditching ...

Today Heather chats with Jennifer Strickland, a former model who's appeared in magazines you've probably read and shows you may have seen and worked for designers you've heard of. Jen had amazing success in the modeling world but her life was missing meaning and though she had learned how to use her body to fit an image, she had not yet learned how to use her voice. Jen shares her story of finding Christ while modeling and what her recovery from modeling (and the eating disorder that came with i...

Model Month continues with Heather's conversation with Kristen Clark from Girl Defined. Kristen spent some time as a showroom and conference model in her early twenties. Yes, she was that woman they paid to stand beside the new product to make it look good! But, Kristen shares how the more pressure to be "eye candy" took a toll on her soul. Kristen talks candidly about what happened in her heart as her career demanded she focus more on her body and what she looked like to others. We talk about s...

Our brand new series talking to former models continues today with the second part of my conversation with Amanda Cunningham, a former runway model. It's been highly informative to find out more about the secret life of a runway model. Today she shares more about how she came to know Jesus, what finally drove her out of the modeling business, and how God touched the hearts of both her and her new husband to begin to live life in a new way. Amanda and I also talk about what she tells her daughter...

Have you ever looked at a model and thought, "If I could just look like that than I wouldn't struggle with my body image?" I have. I interview Amanda Cunningham, a former runway model who shares some behind the scenes details of what the world of modeling is really like and how being a part of it affected her body image and relationship with food. Guess what: Models have body image issues, too! Today, Amanda shares how her search for something real, something more than just image, eventually led...

Today my guest, Allie Marie Smith, and I talk about the fearfully and wonderfully made verse from Psalm 139:14 and her new book titled, "Wonderfully Made." Allie shares her story of depression and suicide attempts, an eating disorder, and how God has worked through all of her mental health struggles to take her to a greater place of understanding who she is in Him. You will be encouraged by Allie's story and the wisdom she shares will strengthen your faith. "We miss so much when our biggest goal...

It's hard to be in God's waiting room. Whether you're waiting for a spouse, a new job, or some other goal--waiting can be tough. Today I talk to author Heather Thompson Day about her new book, "It's Not Your Turn: What to Do While You're Waiting for Your Breakthrough." Heather and I talk about all sorts of topics related to waiting and living life to the fullest. We talk about how to see every opportunity in life as "your turn" even when the prayer you've been waiting to have answered doesn't se...

Today we take a pause to remember what this show is really about. We've spent a lot of time over the past few months talking about food, intuitive eating, and related issues. But, today we revisit the purpose of this show--to help you break free from body image issues and to help you see clearly the way the body image idol works to deceive us. If you are listening to the show and still feeling awkward around food or feeling uncertain about how to navigate a changing body, don't worry. You are no...

In today's second installment of the Burden of Better Book Club, Heather talks about how understanding grace cures comparison. In her book, The Burden of Better, Heather explores four different manifestations of grace in the daily life of the follower of Jesus. She also answers some of your questions about comparison and idealism (from the first Burden of Better Book Club Episode here.) Here's what to expect from today's show: Heather tackles the following questions: Did you experience any spir...

Today Dr. Juli Slattery and I tackle a tough topic: What do you do when you think your husband hates your body. I've have many women reach out to me over the years with this concern. Today, Dr. Slattery and I take a look at this issue from a few different angles and offer hope and help to women who need encouragement in this arena and in their marriages. Sometimes our struggle is about false beliefs and assumptions surrounding our men and what they expect us to look like. But, other times there ...

Today we look at Matthew 6:25-34 -- a familiar passage in the Bible where Jesus tells us not to worry. But his instruction isn't generic. He tells us not to worry about a few specific things -- he says don't worry about food, drink, and clothing. What? Isn't this what this whole show is about? Body image fear? Here are a few key points about body image fear and fears around our food as we look at the instruction from this passage: We believe fear keeps us safe--safe from health issues or safe ...

One of the largest obstacles to overcome when you release your body image issues and improve your relationship with food is facing the fear of losing your health. Chances are, you've listened to and read all the data about what happens unless you tightly control your food, your environment, your exercise... everything really. Reality is: there are a thousand reasons to be afraid of what's out there. And, there's only one reason to not be afraid. That is: Jesus. He commands us to fear not. And th...