How to Set Hope-Filled Goals in 2026 Without Obsessing Over Weight Loss: Feat. Amy Carlson

How to Set Hope-Filled Goals in 2026 Without Obsessing Over Weight Loss: Feat. Amy Carlson

Author: Heather Creekmore - Christian Body Image Author and Speaker January 2, 2026 Duration: 46:26

Kick off your new year with a refreshing and hope-filled conversation about the pressure to set body-related goals and the journey toward real freedom. Hosts Heather Creekmore and Amy Carlson dig deep into why so many women set weight loss as their top resolution and how our culture’s diet obsessions impact families, friendships, and faith communities. You’ll hear honest stories, including “are we getting left behind?” anxiety, the latest health fads (GLP1s and fiber, anyone?), and powerful encouragement to seek God’s “how much more” rather than settle for the world’s lesser goals.

Whether you’re a goal-setter, a recovering dieter, or someone wondering what you might be missing by chasing smaller jeans instead of a fuller life—this episode will inspire you to open your hands, journal, and pursue the abundance only God can give.

**Get your FREE Obsessed-to-Blessed Mini course here.


Journal Prompts from Today’s Episode

  1. What am I going to miss if I invest my time and energy into weight loss this year?
    (Reflect on what parts of your life could suffer or what experiences you might lose out on.)

  2. What parts of my life feel stunted or neglected because of my focus on body goals?
    (Take inventory of relationships, passions, or spiritual growth you could nurture instead.)

  3. What is my mind telling me ‘my life will begin when…’?
    (Finish this sentence honestly and challenge what you believe about starting to live.)

  4. What am I not asking God for that would truly bring “how much more” into my life?
    (Go before God with open hands – ask Him what He wants for you in 2026.)

  5. Who else is impacted by my health and eating practices?
    (Consider your kids, spouse, friends, or community and how your choices ripple out.)

  6. How does seeking smaller goals (like a certain weight or restriction) limit the breadth of my ‘garden’—my life?
    (Picture your life as a garden and consider what fruit you aren’t tending to.)

  7. “My life will start when…” versus “How much more does God have for me?”
    (Contrast your answer to these two prompts and pray for wisdom to pursue God’s best.)


Bonus: Community Conversation Starter
If something in this episode resonated with you or led to a new insight or goal, Amy encourages listeners to share their goal or what God is inviting them into for 2026. Imagine how uplifting it would be to see what God’s abundance is unfolding in lives beyond just body-centered achievements!


Encouragement
You’re not behind, and you don’t have to settle for less. Hear stories, biblical truths, and real talk that help you stop comparing and start living with open hands, trust, and greater faith.

Need more support? Learn more about the upcoming 40-Day Journey here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge

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


Heather Creekmore, a Christian body image author and speaker, hosts Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women. This space is for women who are exhausted by the constant pressure to measure up, whether it's to cultural ideals of beauty, fitness goals, or even spiritual performance. It’s common to know scripture about your worth in Christ yet feel a disconnect when you look in the mirror or navigate daily life. This podcast directly addresses that gap, moving beyond simplistic self-help or well-meaning clichés that often leave you feeling more defeated. Instead, conversations are grounded in a thoughtful blend of faith, mental health, and practical wellness. You’ll hear honest discussions about how spirituality intersects with the very real struggles of body image, diet culture, and personal comparison. Each episode aims to provide not just encouragement but tangible steps to help you live out your God-given identity with freedom and confidence. The goal is a stronger, more integrated faith that transforms how you see yourself, not by the world’s ever-changing standards, but through a lens of grace and truth. Tune in for a candid and compassionate resource that meets you right where you are.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women
Podcast Episodes
Intentional Living This Fall: Resetting Your Routine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:20
It’s September—the “January of Fall”! In this energizing and relatable episode, Heather Creekmore welcomes productivity and balance expert Leah Remillet to talk all about busyness, productivity traps, and how to refocus…
Overcoming Hospitality Fears: Practical Steps to Invite Others In [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
Today's conversation is all about breaking down the barriers to hospitality and inviting others into our imperfect homes and lives. Host Heather Creekmore welcomes hospitality expert and author Abby Kuykendall to talk ho…
Why Do I Have the End of Summer Blues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:38
Do you tend to feel sadness or let down at the end of special seasons-- like holidays or summer? If so, you could suffer from a (made-up) condition called CDD - Chronic Disappointment Disorder. Heather confesses that she…
What is the Best Bible Verse for Body Image Issues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
What's the best verse for your body image issues? You may assume its Psalm 139:14 (fearfully and wonderfully made) or 1 Samuel 16:7 (God looks at the heart and not the outside)...but Heather has another choice from the b…
How to Be an Intuitive Eater on Vacation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
Intuitive eating on vacation is trickier than you think, especially if you're used to dieting before vacation and then going "hog wild" while you're off your plan and on holiday. This episode is a live coaching call betw…
Is Social Media Affecting My Body Image? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:02
Is all that time on Instagram, TikTock or YouTube affecting your body image? Studies say, definitely. So, why do we still do it? Today, Heather interviews Allie Marie Smith, an author, podcast host, and director of an or…
What Should You Do When You Feel Fat? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
Today's summer replay will encourage you if you're a Christian women who has ever just woken up and felt less-than in her body. Maybe you call it feeling "fat" or maybe you feel "bleh" or "bloated" -- whatever your choic…