Vacation is awesome...but sometimes, for those of us with body image or control issues, vacation can also be stressful. Today, Heather offers four practical tips to help you enjoy your vacation if you tend to be someone who does a lot of stressing around vacation time. This is a replay from 2022. Learn more about Compared to Who? at https://www.improvebodyimage.com Learn about Heather's books here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/books-for-christian-women-body-image Discover more Christian podc...
Jun 24, 2025•31 min•Ep. 458
In this summer replay, Heather digs into this common sentiment, "I just want to feel good" or "I just want to feel okay" about my body. What's wrong with wanting a body you can be "proud of?" She explores how this is a struggle for many women who wrestle to feel confident about their bodies. They don't want to look like supermodels. Instead, they want to feel okay to be in the skin they're in. But what is this desire to have a body that you can feel good in or good about? Could the core of this ...
Jun 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 457
Heather interviews author and speaker, Abby McDonald about her new book, "Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today By Letting Go of Tomorrow." Abby and Heather talk about how we can hear and receive direction from God even if we're not sure how things will work out. They talk about the challenge of wanting to know the future and Abby reminds listeners that we were never intended to carry that kind of knowledge. They also discuss why it's so hard to hear the voice of the Lord when we have thousa...
Jun 10, 2025•34 min•Ep. 456
Today's live coaching call with Presli will make you think and encourage your heart. Heather coaches Presli through what to do when she panics, freezes, and feels insecure around women who are thinner, prettier, or more put together than she is. Heather and Presli talk about practical strategies for handling these scenarios. Later in the episode they talk about wearing swimsuits, how to remember the truth of where your value and worth comes from, and why it is so easy to forget the truth when bo...
Jun 03, 2025•50 min•Ep. 455
Have you ever felt like you were the fattest or ugliest person in the room? Maybe you showed up at an event and feel self-conscious because everyone is smaller or better looking than you. It's happened to all of us, but there is a way, from scripture to handle the emotions and thought spirals that come when we have this feeling. Today, Christian body image coach and author, Heather Creekmore walks us through a biblical approach to thinking about our bodies, our purpose, and what to do when those...
May 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 454
Stressing over your BMI? Perhaps a recent doctor's visit has you spiraling over what you need to do to change your Body Mass Index. Today, Heather sits down with two authors who have researched the history, background, and scientific usefulness of the Body Mass Index. You'll be surprised by where this chart originated, how it's used now that was not at all how it was intended to be used, and more. If you've ever stressed over your BMI...this is the episode for you. Learn more about Stephane Brow...
May 27, 2025•32 min•Ep. 453
Have you ever wondered if participating in dance could lead to body image issues? Heather talks to clients with a dance background and have body image issues from what a dance instructor said or from participating in an environment that is body-focused and competitive. Today, Heather interviews Mary Bawden, founder of DA:NCE an organization devoted to helping expose the dangers of hyper-sexualized dance, while encouraging children to pursue healthy dance alternatives. Mary talks about how to tel...
May 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 452
In today's "Me vs. ChatGPT" episode, Heather tackles the topic of Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist medications that are now being prescribed to people for weight loss. She uses ChatGPT to help answer the question, "Will Ozempic fix my body image issues?" and is surprised to find ChatGPT to be very informed and aware of the limitations that weight loss has on healing body image issues. This episode will encourage women who are using these medications along with women who are surrounded by others w...
May 20, 2025•22 min•Ep. 451
Today Heather tackles a topic relevant to many women in May: How to try on a swimsuit if you don't like how your body looks. If you're struggling with how your body looks but needing some swimwear for the season ahead, Heather graciously and gently walks you through some strategies to find a swimsuit that fits without sending you spiraling into a place of body shame. This episode is part of the questions series: Me versus ChatGPT, so Heather tackles the question and then turns to ChatGPT to see ...
May 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 450
Have you been putting off the formal family photos until you lose weight or change your appearance? Today, Heather gives all her best strategies for tackling, surviving, and maybe even enjoying (just a little) the family photo process. If you struggle with not liking how you look in pictures, today's episode will encourage you to stop avoiding photos and be in the picture! Heather offers strategies for before the photos--including how to choose what to wear, during the photos, and even what to d...
May 13, 2025•32 min•Ep. 449
Today Heather and ChatGPT tackle the same question, "What do I do if I feel jealous of someone skinnier than me?" This is the question most of us have experienced, but few want to say out loud. While ChatGPT does a good job of acknowledging that comparison issues are about idealization and more, Heather fills in the holes with what the Bible has to say to our comparison issues. She talks about the importance of gratitude and how we really do need to change the way we objectify and the narratives...
May 09, 2025•26 min•Ep. 448
If you're a Christian woman with body image issues, today Heather will fire you up with encouragement around how your Christian faith and beliefs can speak directly to your body image issues. You have a BIG faith that helps you believe in God, Jesus, heaven, and eternity. But, what you need is a LITTLE faith that can apply to how you feel and how you act when you can't get your pants buttoned, when you look in the mirror, or when you feel rejected by peers for the way you look. If you struggle w...
May 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 447
Today Heather faces off with ChatGPT to see who can better answer the question, "How Do I Feel Okay Wearing Shorts?" Heather reads through ChatGPT's comprehensive answer (and body image coaching attempts) and then adds her own suggestions that will encourage you if you're dreading shorts season or if you've put away the thought of wearing shorts for good. Of course, you don't have to wear shorts, but if you wish you could wear them, but have felt insecure about your legs or the way you look in s...
May 02, 2025•17 min•Ep. 446
Today, Heather vulnerably shares the grief she's experiencing over facing her son's graduation this month and how similar this kind of grief is to the grieving that we experience on our body image freedom journeys. Heather talks about how many women face the "Can I get a do over?" feelings at the end of eighteen years of parenting or when they reach mid-life or later. Looking at the five stages of grief, Heather explains how important it is to "feel to heal" and how grieving can help us process ...
Apr 29, 2025•35 min•Ep. 445
Today Heather announces a brand new Bible reading plan and 15-Day downloadable devotional called, "The Mirror Fast." The concept behind the mirror fast is to take a break from looking in the mirror and to re-orient your gaze off of your body and on to Jesus. You can follow the Mirror Fast on YouVersion , the Bible app or you can download a printable copy on the website here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/mirror-fast-christian-women You'll love the reality that this is a biblical strategy to i...
Apr 25, 2025•19 min•Ep. 444
In today's BONUS episode, Heather continues her chat with Wendy Jones of Next Steps 4 Seniors. Wendy is a podcast host and business management professional who helps seniors get ready for their "next steps" as they age. Heather and Wendy chat about the unique challenges of knowing when it's time to move your parents. Wendy offers helpful suggestions on how to help your parents stay active, social, and what to look for if it's time to bring in help or move them to a place where they'll be more su...
Apr 23, 2025•24 min•Ep. 443
Are you facing tough decisions about caring for aging parents or loved ones? In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges of recognizing when it’s time to step in, the emotional rollercoaster of moving someone to assisted living, and the power of socialization to revitalize cognitive health. Our guest, Wendy Jones of Next Steps 4 Seniors, shares practical tips for navigating guilt, downsizing, and embracing healthy aging as a family. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about next ste...
Apr 22, 2025•24 min•Ep. 442
Dr. Mikala Albertson joins Heather again today to continue an interesting discussion of how hormones play with our minds and can affect how we feel about our bodies. Today the conversation extends to perimenopause and beyond. Heather and Mikala talk about the pressure from social media influencers to do the "right things" to avoid symptoms of perimenopause and how some of these suggestions could lead us to really harmful places. They talk about supplements, feeling pressure during this season of...
Apr 18, 2025•39 min•Ep. 441
Is your body image really about how your body looks or are your hormones playing tricks on you? Today, Heather interviews Dr. Mikala Albertson about how our hormones affect the ways we feel and think about our bodies. In this first of this two part interview, Heather and Mikala talk about hormonal changes at puberty and then until midlife. How what we think and how we feel about our bodies can fluctuate depending on the week of our cycle, why being aware of our cycle can help us, and what we can...
Apr 15, 2025•23 min•Ep. 440
In this episode of the "Compared to Who?" podcast, Eryn Eddy Adkins, an entrepreneur and co-host of the "God Hears Her" podcast, joins the show to discuss aging, self-worth, and the challenges of understanding God's will for one's life. Eryn and Heather discuss the pressures women face in their thirties, both in terms of their appearance and societal expectations and the significance of finding contentment in one's identity and purpose. Eryn highlights the importance of honesty with God and ones...
Apr 11, 2025•38 min•Ep. 439
Today Heather chats with two of her 50 (or near 50) year old friends about what it's really like to experience aging at midlife. They talk about perimenopause, menopause, symptoms of both, the impacts of aging on our brains, bodies, and emotional lives. They also talk about what they've found helpful as they age, the parts of aging they enjoy, and the parts of aging they can do without. You'll enjoy this fantastic group chat with three fifty-year-olds about what it's really like to be fifty year...
Apr 08, 2025•57 min•Ep. 438
Heather is joined by Mary DeMuth, speaker, podcast host, and author of more than thirty books including her latest, "The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible." (Amazon affiliate link.) Heather and Mary talk about how feeling overlooked can connect to aging and why and how we may feel we're losing our "shine" as we get older. Mary offers encouragement around being honest about the grief and loss of aging and discusses the helpful tool of lament. Mary also shares stories of some of her favorite over...
Apr 04, 2025•26 min•Ep. 437
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...
Apr 01, 2025•32 min•Ep. 436
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 Krist...
Mar 28, 2025•32 min•Ep. 435
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, ...
Mar 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 434
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 discus...
Mar 21, 2025•32 min•Ep. 433
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 tel...
Mar 18, 2025•32 min•Ep. 432
Host Heather Creekmore is joined by Erin Todd from Intuitive Eating for Christian Women and Ashley Smith from the HA Society to explore the nuance between surrendering control and exercising stewardship. The discussion kicks off with Erin sharing her journey of conception at age 41, emphasizing the importance of faith and timing. Despite being told by doctors that she had a one percent chance of conceiving, Erin's story highlights the power of trusting in God's plan and timing, while she worked ...
Mar 14, 2025•29 min•Ep. 431
Today, Heather chats with Erin Todd from the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast and Ashley Smith of the HA Society about how Ashley helped Erin get pregnant after 40. Even if you aren't looking to get pregnant, the trio talks about the beauty of how our bodies were made to signal and heal. They talk about perimenopause and the phenomenon of women getting diagnosed with early perimenopause. They discuss period loss, infertility, and Erin's personal story of working with Ashley to change...
Mar 11, 2025•33 min•Ep. 430
Today Heather and her team continue their group chat discussion about all things pregnancy and body image. They share how they handled weight changes during pregnancy, the pressure they felt to "bounce back," and how they handled frustrations around things not going as planned with the birth, breastfeeding, or even the health of the baby. From gestational diabetes to post-partum depression to trying to "win" at being the "hot mom" - the team covers it all in today's fun and informative second ha...
Mar 07, 2025•44 min•Ep. 429
