Host Heather Creekmore delves deeper into the complex topic of how our relationships with our mothers can impact our body image and behaviors around food. Building on the discussion from part 1, Heather addresses the often-unspoken dynamics that influence our identity, self-confidence, and healing journey.

Heather emphasizes that the point of examining mom's role in body image issues is never to blame mom, but rather to help listeners better understand their own stories and why they've believed, thought, or felt the way they did around body issues. Heather also addresses how healing from body image issues might affect your relationship with your mother and the potential grief that comes from such changes because you no longer have your body image issues and food rules in common.

Heather also offers practical guidance for dealing with emotional triggers, especially when returning to childhood homes or spending time in family environments that can evoke past patterns. Heather also highlights the importance of recognizing our "little girl brain" – our young, survival-driven responses to familial interactions – and offers ways to stay present with ourselves and handle these emotional cyclones.

For further exploration of related topics, check out the episode on grieving the loss of an ideal body Grieving the Ideal Body and listen as Heather prepares to delve into attachment theory in the next episode (coming December 3).

This episode challenges listeners not to fear the acknowledgment of their mom's role but to instead lamentat these past struggles and embrace them as paths to healing and transformation.

Ready to find body image healing? Join us on the 40 Day Journey that begins January 7, 2025. Learn more or reserve your spot here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Grab Heather's latest book, The Comparison-Free Life learn more here:

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

Do your body image issues get worse when you're around family? Today, host Heather Creekmore digs into what may be the reason behind why you feel worse about your body at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Heather explores the question: Did your mom have an impact on your body image? While many women know she did, others can't recognize it quite as clearly. But, on today's show, Heather dives deep into the intricate dynamics between mothers and daughters, exploring how maternal influence shapes our body image and how much of this shaping happened well before the teenage years.

Today Heather uncovers some of the potential influences and connections between body image issues and the mother-daughter relationship. She also speaks to the reality that many of those who have a disordered relationship with food and body image issues will experience a flare-up of these issues when around mom--especially at the holidays!

Heather also addresses the intergenerational nature of body image issues, how they run in families and how your mom could simply be acting out of the way she was taught by her mom. Likewise Heather talks about how a healthy sense of self requires us to have agency over our bodies and our choices around food. And, though it becomes more difficult when we're around family, this "growing up" process is vital for our body image healing journeys.

The episode takes inspiration from Catherine Fabrizio's book, "The Good Daughter Syndrome."

Learn more about agency in this episode: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/finding-body-image-freedom-through-understanding-a

Learn how to forgive mom in this episode: https://omny.fm/shows/compared-to-who/forgiving-mom-or-others-for-their-roles-in-body-im

Need more help? Consider working with Heather or our team in coaching. Or, join us on the 40-Day Journey starting January 7th. Learn more at https://www.improvebodyimage.com

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

Ready for a quick, 7 Minutes of Scripture episode? Today, host Heather Creekmore delves into Ephesians 5 She begins by reading Ephesians 5:1-8 from the English Standard Version and focuses on the theme of imitation and influence. Heather emphasizes the idea from scripture that we are called to be imitators of God as beloved children and walking in love, as Christ did. She challenges listeners to reflect on whether they aspire to imitate Jesus or if they're more influenced by cultural figures or influencers, especially in the realm of body image. Heather encourages listeners to walk in love, focusing less on self-love and more on loving God and others, advocating for what Tim Keller calls "the freedom of self forgetfulness."

Are you ready to transform your body image? Join the 40-day Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

Learn more about Heather's latest book release on comparison here: https://amzn.to/3Uucwd4 (Amazon affiliate link)

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