Heather Creekmore - Christian Body Image Author and Speaker
**The Go-to Podcast for Christian women who want to improve their body image and stop comparing themselves to others!**
Are you a Christian woman who is tire...
What does it take to age well? According to Instagram, it seems aging is all about what you eat and how you exercise. But, what if there's more to aging well than that? Today, author and Christian body image coach, Heather Creekmore, will encourage you with 4 strategies to age well that have a much greater impact on your health and on the way you feel about aging than any kale salad or cycling class. She'll look at how the science shows that gratitude can extend your life and improve your health. Similarly, she'll look at how finding community and activities you have fun doing can do the same. Heather talks about why it's not helpful to follow a restrictive diet and be rigid with exercise if you want to age well, because there's more to aging than just the way we eat and move. This is Aging April! Visit our website for more great resources on each month's topic. Monthly resource kits can be accessed the 10th of each month here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/body-image-resources-for-christian-women-monthly-resource-kits Are we email friends yet? Get the free 15-Day Mirror Fast Devotional download with regular weekly encouragement here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/mirror-fast-christian-women Check out Heather's 30-Day Devotional on Aging: Aging Gratefully, here. Other episodes on aging: What does the Bible speak to aging and body image issues? https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/what-does-the-bible-speak-to-aging-and-body-image 3 Secrets to Aging Well for Women with Food and Body Issues https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/3-secrets-to-aging-well-for-christians-with-body-i What is a Biblical View of Botox? https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/what-is-a-biblical-view-of-botox-is-it-okay-to-get Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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31:37
How Do I Know if My Child Has Eating Disorder or Body Image Issues?
Host Heather Creekmore sits down with pastor's wife, author, and counselor Kristen Hatton to discuss what to do if your child has (or you suspect they have) an eating disorder or body image issues. Kristen shares the story of her daughter who had a derogatory comment directed at her in 8th grade and then began to restrict food until it became the eating disorder, anorexia. After going through treatment, Kristen's daughter shifted from restriction to a restrict and purge cycle (bulimia) and Kristen, again, had to intervene to help her daughter restore a healthy relationship with food and her body. Heather and Kristen have a bit of friendly debate over whether or not encouraging a child to have healthy habits is effective for those with brains that are geared towards restriction or perfection. They also talk about how important it is to help our children be healthy in every area--not just physically, but spiritually and mentally too. Kristen shares what she learned, in hindsight, to look for if your child may be exhibiting signs of an eating disorder or body image issues. She also talks about how to know when you may need to bring in outside help. Learn more about Kristen Hatton and her books here: https://www.kristenhatton.com Learn more about Compared to Who? and how to start healing your body image and food issues: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Check out the Compared to Who? Etsy shop -with hats, tanks, and tees to remind you to stop comparing and start living. Check it out here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/shop Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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31:59
Do Body Image Issues Affect Our Parenting?
Heather chats with licensed counselor, pastor's wife, and author Kristen Hatton about the ways that our body image issues can affect how we parent our children. From passing on perfectionism, to trying to control, to expecting our children to look or act a certain way because we're still trying to keep up an image, body image issues certainly play a role in how we parent. Kristen and Heather discuss the ways our body image issues impact our parenting decisions, recognizing that, for most of us, it's so subtle that we can't even see we are doing it. They also spend time offering hope and encouragement to moms whose children have left home already. It's never too late to redeem a relationship, to apologize, or even to acknowledge how these issues affected the way your child was raised and restore a healthier relationship with your adult children. Learn more about Kristen Hatton and her books here: https://www.kristenhatton.com Learn more about Compared to Who?, the 40 Day Journey, and how you can start healing your body image here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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27:25
What's Your Mom Story: Naming to Tame the Way Mom Impacted Body Image Issues
Heather welcomes back Emily and Ryan Baker from Story Matters Initiative to finish their discussion of the Mother Wound and the ways that our moms may have impacted how we feel about ourselves and our bodies. Today the trio talks about the innate need we have for mom to see, know, and approve of us and how that is sensed and felt as a child. They talk about how not sensing that approval triggers a stress response in the brain and how that can impact our ability to learn. They start with a discussion of attachment theory, including the different types of attachment--both secure and insecure-- and how the attachment style can impact us even through adulthood. Through sharing stories from their personal journeys of understanding their mother wounds, Emily, Ryan, and Heather explore what it means to name your issues so that you can tame them (not naming for the purpose of blaming!). They also give you great hope that if you are seeing or understanding your own story with mom differently, there is hope for you to find healing and peace. Learn more about Emily and Ryan Baker here: https://storymatterscoaching.com Learn more about Compared to Who? here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Explore all of Heather's books including the 40-Day Body Image Workbook here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/books-for-christian-women-body-image Mentioned in today's episode: What was mom's impact on body image issues? https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/what-was-moms-impact-on-your-body-image-issues Forgiving Mom: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/forgiving-mom-or-others-for-their-roles-in-body-im Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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31:30
The Mother Wound: Naming the Ways Mom Played a Role in Body Image Issues
Today Heather welcomes Emily and Ryan Baker from the Story Matters Initiative to discuss the Mother Wound and the ways that our attachment to mom, attunement to mom, and our "mom stories" impact the ways we view ourselves and the world around us. Today, Heather, Emily, and Ryan begin this two-part discussion with a conversation about what story work is, how it is different than traditional talk therapy, and how story work can be the key to unlocking repressed or forgotten memories, which can tell a more accurate story about why we struggle in the ways we do. In today's episode they introduce the concepts of story work and what it means to be attuned to someone. They also talk about what happens when our moms never had the opportunity to work on their own stories and traumas and how this can leave them with chains to their own pasts that made it difficult for them to be in an emotionally healthy relationship with their children. Learn more about Emily and Ryan Baker here: https://storymatterscoaching.com Learn more about the work of Compared to Who? and the 40-Day Journey to improve your body image here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com Mentioned in this episode: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/what-was-moms-impact-on-your-body-image-issues Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
About Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women
**The Go-to Podcast for Christian women who want to improve their body image and stop comparing themselves to others!**
Are you a Christian woman who is tired of the same old answers to your body image and comparison struggles?
Have you "tried everything," yet still feel like your body isn't enough or should be better?
Do you know that "God looks at the heart" or "You're fearfully and wonderfully made" yet STILL feel like maybe God should have made your body better?
Bonus: Have you ever prayed for God to zap you skinny? ;) (Your secret is safe here.)
If you answered yes to any of the above, then Compared to Who? A Biblical Approach to Body Image Issues is the show for you!
Twice a week, we tackle tough topics like feeling out of control with food, body shame, disordered eating, weight loss, aging, dieting, body dysmorphia, body hatred, and more from a practical, grace-filled, biblical, and gospel-centered perspective.
I'm Heather Creekmore, author of several books (including a forthcoming body image workbook), speaker, and Christian body image coach. Our approach to body image issues is relatable, authentic, and truth-driven. We hope every episode is filled with grace and hope for your personal struggle. I spent decades battling the scale and the mirror. But, now I help women get free from body image issues so they can stop comparing and start living. Listen to laugh about all the common ways we struggle and find encouragement for our journey.
Find out more about Heather Creekmore and the ministry of Compared to Who? or to get Christian body image coaching, visit: https://www.comparedtowho.me
Want to join our podcast community on Facebook? Visit the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764271297116024
Listen to Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women, The Psychology of your 20s and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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