Ready to tackle one of the most confusing topics on your body image journey? In this powerful episode of the Waiting for Weight Loss series, host Heather Creekmore breaks down the critical difference between body issues and body image issues—and why this distinction can completely shift how you approach your weight loss and self-acceptance goals.

Drawing from 15 years of experience teaching fitness classes coast-to-coast, Heather Creekmore shares real-life observations about the rarity of dramatic, sustainable "before and after" transformations—and why even those success stories might not provide true happiness. She encourages listeners to look beyond the “fix my body” mindset, and instead, turn inward to address the root of dissatisfaction: what we believe and feel about our bodies.

In This Episode:

• The definition of body image issues (and why it's not just about size or shape)

• Personal stories and real examples from Heather Creekmore’s years as a fitness instructor

• The celebrity body image illusion—why even supermodels and stars struggle with feeling “enough”

• How addressing your body image can relieve pressure and lead to real freedom (before the number on the scale changes)

• Important questions to help you assess where you might be stuck in body image thinking

Heather Creekmore invites everyone to join the ongoing discussion at waitingforweightloss.com, a supportive community where listeners can dig deeper, share their experiences, and get their questions answered directly on the show.

Join the Conversation:
Ever found that reaching your goal weight didn’t fix “that feeling” about your body? Do you still hope smaller equals happier? Let’s talk about it in the community! Bring your questions for Heather Creekmore to answer in future episodes.

Listen now to understand why shifting from fixing your body to healing your body image could make all the difference.

Subscribe, share, and connect with the Compared to Who? community for more heart-level encouragement on your journey to body confidence and freedom.

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In this powerful episode of Compared to Who?, Heather Creekmore takes a deep dive into one of the most important (and personal) topics discussed in our community—negative self-talk. Are you your own harshest critic? Do you find it easy to be kind to others but unbearable when it comes to your own reflection? This episode is for you!

Heather openly explores the critical inner dialogue that many of us experience, especially on our journeys toward body image freedom. She addresses where negative self-talk comes from, why it's so hard to stop, and shares practical steps to start recognizing, writing down, and confronting those mean inner phrases that hold us back.

What You'll Learn:

• How negative self-talk becomes a habit

• The spiritual and emotional roots of self-criticism

• Why simply "thinking positive" isn't enough

• Practical tips for noticing, documenting, and challenging negative thoughts

• How to find community and encouragement on the road to body kindness

• How our deep-seated beliefs shape the way we treat ourselves

Key Takeaways:

• You can't stop negative self-talk until you notice it—awareness is the first step.

• Much of our negative inner dialogue stems from lies we’ve adopted as truth, often rooted in our childhood or from past hurtful comments.

• Community and vulnerability are vital; you’re not alone, and healing often grows in connection with others.

Action Steps:

1. Start tuning into your self-talk. Notice and write down the harsh words you’re telling yourself.

2. Reflect: What’s stuck with you—and who put it there?

3. Visit the Compared to Who? community at www.waitingforweightloss.com to share your story and receive support from others on the same journey.

4. Challenge those hurtful statements with what God says about you.

Links & Resources:

• Join the community: waitingforweightloss.com

• Learn more about the 40-Day Body Image Workbook and interactive journey

• Stay tuned for Heather Creekmore’s new book, coming in 2027!

Rate & Review:
If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review this podcast and share it with a friend who needs encouragement!

Ready to ditch the inner critic and start your journey to body image freedom? Tune in now!

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Welcome back to the "Compared to Who?" podcast! In today’s episode, host Heather Creekmore continues the Waiting for Weight Loss series, taking us through the third "exhale": Establishing Your Purpose.

Episode Highlights:

• Heather Creekmore gets real about her longtime struggle with believing that she needed to “fix” her body before stepping into her God-given purpose.

• She addresses the misconception that physical appearance is necessary for spiritual effectiveness, referencing Biblical truths and reflecting on Jesus’ own earthly life.

• Do you ever feel like your body is an accident or a barrier to God’s plans? Heather dives deep into the theological roots of these beliefs and encourages listeners to release them.

• Discover why God intentionally created your body for HIS purposes—not your goal weight, not your own timeline—and how the idea of stewardship is often misunderstood.

• Real talk about shifting your focus: from waiting for weight loss to living out your calling, right now.

• Listen for practical encouragement: Heather leads a breathing exercise to help you exhale the pressure and inhale purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• God’s purpose for your life is not on hold until you hit a certain weight or achieve a certain look.

• Your body was intentionally crafted, and you can embrace your calling today.

• Stewardship of your body matters, but it shouldn’t overshadow all other gifts and stewardship principles—in fact, there’s no direct Biblical command to be a “good steward” of your body above all else.

• The more you step into your purpose and gifting, the more you’ll find peace with your body image.

Join the Community!

What stood out to you in today’s episode? Has waiting for weight loss ever made you put off something God is asking you to do? Share your story and join the conversation with others who are also letting go of the wait. Visit waitingforweightloss.com and become part of our supportive community today!

Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe, and leave your feedback on the episode—we’d love to hear from you.

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Welcome back to the Compared to Who? podcast and our ongoing series, Waiting for Weight Loss. In today’s episode, Heather Creekmore shares a powerful story about a time when her identity—literally—was stolen, setting the stage for an honest discussion about our true identity in Christ.

Episode Highlights:

• Heather Creekmore opens up with a personal experience of being mugged and losing her physical identification, making the connection to how many of us “lose” our spiritual identity while chasing the approval of others or pursuing body goals.

• She asks: Has your identity been stolen—figuratively—by misplaced priorities, societal pressures, or the pursuit of weight loss?

• We explore the idea that any identity outside of Christ is a “fake ID,” and discuss what it means to rest in our adoption as daughters (and sons) of God.

• Heather Creekmore unpacks how our attempts to earn love and acceptance through appearance or achievements are distractions from the Gospel.

• The healthiest approach to weight loss and goals? Pursuing them from a place of already being fully loved and accepted, not from a place of insecurity or striving to earn worth.

Reflection Questions:

• What “fake IDs” have you been carrying?

• How would your approach to your body and your goals change if you truly believed your identity was already secure in Christ?

Check out Episode on Boasting Here

Join the Community!
Join the conversation! Heather Creekmore invites you to become part of our supportive community at waitingforweightloss.com. Share your story, connect with others, and discover what it means to pursue your goals from a place of true security and love.

Don’t walk this journey alone—head over to waitingforweightloss.com, join the community, and let’s cut up those “fake IDs” together!

Thank you for listening—see you in the community!

*learn more about Compared to Who? at https://www.improvebodyimage.com 

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

In this episode of Compared to Who?, Heather Creekmore invites listeners to take a deeply-needed exhale from the relentless messages around body image and self-worth that the world sends our way. Building on the "Waiting for Weight Loss" series, Heather opens up about her own struggles with feeling valuable through fitness and body changes, and the letdown that follows when external goals don’t bring the internal peace we’re promised.

Heather dives into the concept of "monetized insecurity"—the way industries profit from our feelings of inadequacy—and breaks down why finding your worth in God, not in weight loss or body perfection, is the only path that leads to real security and rest.

You’ll walk away with:

• Practical breathwork exercises for grounding and relaxation

• A guided prayer for internalizing your true value

• An honest look at cultural lies vs. God’s unchanging truth about your worth

• Reflective questions to revisit whenever you need a reminder that you are already loved, worthy, and enough

Key Question:

Whose message is easier for you to believe: monetized insecurity or God's message of worth beyond what you measure?

Call to Action

Ready to break free from the pressure and join a supportive, faith-based community on your journey?

Join the Waiting for Weight Loss Community—it’s totally free! Connect with others for real conversations, encouragement, and support as you dig into what it means to find worth beyond the scale.

👉 waitingforweightloss.com

Don’t forget: Take time this week to breathe, pray, and reflect on where your value comes from. Then, come join the conversation in our community—we can’t wait to meet you there!

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Are you exhausted, hoping for the next miracle plan to finally work? In this episode, Heather Creekmore gets real about the emotional toll of constantly chasing weight loss, sharing personal stories about everything from Special K diets to cottage cheese pizza and the roller coaster of hope and disappointment.

Heather Creekmore discusses:

• The overwhelming pressure brought on by social media and the constant marketing of new supplements and gadgets

• How the pursuit of “fixing” your body can feel like a never-ending DIY project

• The impact of aging on body image expectations and responsibilities, especially for women

• The spiritual aspect of exhaustion, questioning whether the battle has taken too much from us and reminding listeners that our identity and value are found in Christ—not in achieving a specific body goal

• Biblical insight on rest, referencing Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30, and the invitation to find a refreshing, restorative break instead of a relentless treadmill

• How pursuing goals from a place of rest (rather than stress and striving) could transform your weight loss journey

Ready to exhale and approach your goals from a new angle?
Join the ongoing conversation in the free Waiting for Weight Loss community: waitingforweightloss.com. Episodes drop Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during Lent.

Resources & Links

• Waiting for Weight Loss Community (waitingforweightloss.com)

• This is a private app available for community engagement

Takeaway:
You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through weight loss. Jesus offers real rest—no more holding your breath.

Subscribe, join the community, and continue this journey toward peace-filled progress.

Connect:

• Podcast: Compared to Who?

• Community: Waiting for Weight Loss (waitingforweightloss.com)

Next Episode:
We’ll dig deeper into practical ways you can exhale and rest in your journey—don’t miss it!

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In this kickoff episode from the "Waiting for Weight Loss" series, Heather Creekmore shares her deeply personal journey with body image, dieting, and seeking value through weight loss. From childhood memories of self-critique, through dieting routines, relationship struggles, motherhood, aging, and finally, a shift in perspective toward faith and lasting hope, Heather invites listeners to reflect on their own stories. She encourages women to join the new online community, engage honestly about their desires, and find out they're not alone in this battle. The episode ends with a prayer and an invitation to process what waiting for weight loss really means during Lent.

Keywords:

Join the Conversation:
Visit waitingforweightloss.com to connect with other women and explore this journey together.

Listen & Subscribe:
The Compared to Who? podcast is proud to be part of the Life Audio network. For more Christian podcasts, go to lifeaudio.com.

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Today marks the exciting launch of our Lenten series, "Waiting for Weight Loss." This six-week-long journey is designed to reorient your heart towards what’s truly important while acknowledging your goals for body change—whether that’s weight loss, looking younger, or any other transformation you’ve been hoping for or working toward.

Throughout Lent, you'll get 20 short, practical podcast episodes—three each week—full of encouragement, strategy, daily prayers, and honest conversations about body image, food, and faith. Today, Heather shares her own experience, inviting listeners to consider the difference between healthy goals and making body change an idol. If you’ve been obsessing over jeans that don’t fit or other physical goals, you’ll find hope and help here.

**Join the Waiting for Weight Loss Community!**
For the first time, we’ve created a private, secure community (not on social media) where you can connect, ask questions, discuss episode topics, and find resources. To join, simply visit Waitingforweightloss.com and drop your email in the form and you'll get instructions on how to join.

Topics this season will include:

- How to keep your goals grounded
- Why God gave us bodies
- Discipline as a servant, not a savior
- What scripture really says about body size and transformation
- How to rightly order the desire for change

This is your opportunity to walk the journey with others who get it. Invite a friend, bring your questions, and join a supportive space focused on wholehearted health (body, soul, and spirit), keeping Jesus—not weight loss—as your primary hope.

**Don’t forget**: Whether you’re new to Lent or just want a 40-day journey for your heart before Easter, sign up for our private community at waitingforweightloss.com ! Let’s start a conversation, support one another, and find true freedom together.

Tune in tomorrow for Day 1 of this transformative series—and invite someone you love to join!

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In this fascinating episode of the Compared to Who? podcast, Heather Creekmore is joined by Dr. Brook Sheehan to explore the topic of listening to your body—addressing misconceptions, fears, and spiritual questions that often come up in conversations about health and self-care.

Dr. Brook Sheehan shares her powerful personal story, including growing up in a conventional medical model, her diagnosis with cerebral palsy, and her journey to becoming a chiropractor. Through her experiences, Dr. Brook discusses how she moved from ignoring her body’s signals to idolizing health—and finally, to navigating a balanced, grace-filled approach to honoring the wisdom God built into our bodies.

Highlights include:

• The difference between bodily wisdom and New Age thinking from a Christian perspective

• How tuning into simple “this or that” decisions each day can help rebuild trust with your body

• Destigmatizing emotional eating and recognizing that body signals aren’t always black and white

• Practical cues to listen for—like cravings, random sneezing, and dry skin—and how to respond with compassion and wisdom

• Encouragement for everyone who feels “broken” or out of touch with what their body needs

• The importance of grace over perfection in both spiritual and physical health

Dr. Brook also offers her “Body Signal Decoder” as a valuable resource for listeners who want to decode common body signals from a holistic perspective, covering physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual pillars.

Where to Find Dr. Brook Sheehan:

• Instagram & all resources: @drbrooksheehan 

Ready to step out of comparison and into living with more compassion toward your body? This episode is for you!

For community, encouragement, and support this Lent, check out the “Waiting for Weight Loss” series and free community at waitingforweightloss.com launching Tuesday, February 17!

Thank you for tuning in to Compared to Who?—where we’re always learning to stop comparing and start living!

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

Do you ever feel like joy is just out of reach? Is it something you have to work for, fake, or wait for some future version of yourself to finally experience? Heather Creekmore gets it—and she’s opening up in this episode with honesty about her own struggles to feel true joy, even while doing “all the right things” as a Christian.

In this episode, Heather Creekmore shares her journey through perfectionism, body image battles, and chasing joy through achievements, life changes, and even motherhood, only to find that joy can’t be manufactured through striving, positivity, or “arriving.” What actually blocks our joy, and how do we finally break free?

You’ll hear:

• The difference between happiness and joy—why this matters more than you might think

• The three big “joy blockers” and how they can sneak into anyone’s life (even when you know all the right answers!)

• Vulnerable storytelling about wrestling with body image, marriage, and motherhood, and what happens when joy doesn’t show up as you hoped

• Practical, faith-based strategies for actually growing in joy—no matter what your circumstances

• Encouragement to stop chasing “just over yonder” happiness and instead, rest in the truth of where joy is really found

• A free resource just for you: The “Obsessed to Blessed” mini-course at improvebodyimage.com/obsessed-to-blessed, helping you bookend your search for joy and freedom from body image struggles

Whether you’re feeling joyless, weighed down by shoulds, or just yearning for something real and lasting, this conversation is a hug for your soul and a nudge towards real hope. If you’re ready to stop comparing and start living, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Mini-Course: “Obsessed to Blessed” – learn more and sign up at improvebodyimage.com/obsessed-to-blessed

• Work with Heather and her team to find your joy. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-courses-and-coaching

  Don’t miss out—press play and rediscover the joy that’s closer than you think!

Subscribe, share, and join the community as we break free from comparison and uncover the joy that lasts.

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In this incredibly raw and hope-filled episode, actress Jen Lilley (Hallmark Channel, Great American Family, Days of Our Lives, The Artist) sits down with host Heather Creekmore to share the full story behind her 15-year battle with bulimia—and how faith, grace, and the power of honesty led her toward freedom.

You may know Jen Lilley from her cheerful Christmas movies and bubbly TV roles, but behind the scenes, she silently struggled for years with an eating disorder. In this conversation, she doesn't hold anything back. Jen bravely walks us through her childhood, the devastating origins of her eating disorder, and the shame-filled secrecy that followed her well into adulthood—even after launching a successful career in Hollywood.

But this is not just a story about struggle—it's about healing and truth. Jen opens up about the flawed advice and myths she encountered about eating disorders, the power of spiritual conviction over mere willpower, and the crucial turning point when she allowed herself to trust God fully with her recovery. She shares the deeply personal moment she finally brought her struggle into the light with her husband—and how that act of vulnerability ushered in a new season of hope and healing.

Listeners struggling with their own cycles of shame, secrecy, or body-image battles will find comfort, challenge, and encouragement in Jen's passionate, faith-filled story. This episode also explores practical wisdom for those walking through recovery, the essential difference between conviction and shame, and how to trust God even when it feels impossible.

If you’re ready for a conversation packed with honesty, grace, and actionable hope—listen in as Jen and Heather go deep, get real, and remind us that freedom is possible, no matter how long you’ve struggled. Jen Lilley's story of her 15-year battle with bulimia will encourage your faith and help you find your own healing and recovery through Jesus.

**Why Listen?**

- Hear the *real story* behind Jen’s journey through bulimia—far beyond Hollywood glitz
- Find hope and faith-based encouragement for overcoming shame and secret struggles
- Learn about the difference between conviction and shame—and why it matters for true healing
- Be inspired by Jen’s hard-won lessons: how vulnerability and trust can unlock your path to freedom

Don’t miss this episode—it could be the reminder you or a loved one needs that hope and healing *are possible*.

**Resources Mentioned**
- Jen’s new devotional: Wake Up Your Faith (amazon affiliate link -tiny portion of your purchase supports this ministry)
- 40-Day Journey at improvebodyimage.com

Tune in now and share this powerful conversation with someone who needs it!

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