Compared to Who?: A Proven Path to Improve Your Body Image

Ok I get it... if you are like me you picked up this book because you couldn't bare the vicious cycle one more day of trying to eat better, be healthy, get a better body, stop overeating, stop food cravings... quit sugar once and for all! In a way I hoped that finding freedom also meant a nice plan I could follow and also get skinny! Oh my gosh did Heather shatter all that and blow my mind in such a loving way....with so much kindness and understanding she spoke my words, described my pain and told my story! But more importantly unlike any other book I've ever read on this subject ( and there have been a lot) Heather opened my eyes and reached my heart in a way I didn't think possible... to truly feel loved and valued for the first time... just as I am... and yes many people may shy away when they hear it's through Jesus. But give yourself the greatest gift and just be open and willing to allow your heart to believe what she shares...the peace and joy I now experience after 20 years of struggle and many many many other forms of help... she started me down a path and now I will do anything to stay in this freedom from comparison! Freedom from the Burden of Better (yup she wrote a second book titled that! I couldn't read that one fast enough after I finished this!) she also has an amazing podcast and hearing her speak is like the warmest hug from a true friend. I've had the privilege of getting to know her through her podcast.. and even group couching because yes she is real and she cares! And she is offering the same freedom she has walked through... it's real and life changing and I'm forever grateful I picked up this book!

LOVE this part of the book “I believe that just as the enemy of our soul, Satan, uses pornography to cripple and bind men, he uses the body image issue to destroy women.”Ladies (and men would understand us a lot better if they would read this, too), this book isn’t like anything you have grabbed off the Christian bookstore shelf. I picked this up expecting to be constantly reminded we are images of God and should do more praying and less eating in stressful times, surround ourselves with Godly women. Bla..Bla... We have all heard it! Wow, was I wrong! This book is amazing and speaks truth into societies never-ending pressure to be someone we were never meant to be. There are so many lies we believe, whether we know it or not, that just become part of our daily routine. Examining those brings an amazing freedom from the comparison I didn’t even realize I needed. Not only is Heather an amazing author, this book is hysterical! There are questions at the end of each chapter, but I must admit, the first time I read it I skipped them because I couldn’t put the book down! I have since gone back and read and completed the questions, twice. It’s next in line for my husband to read too. I think it will bring him an understanding of what women face like he’s never known. Thanks for this amazing book, Heather!

I give praise to God for leading me to this book and to Heather's work. I'm working on what I used to call body image and am now calling it forming an accurate and Godly view of my body. Heather speaks truth in love and grace and her words pierced my heart like no other. I read this in conjunction with doing her workbook which i HIGHLY recommend doing. I'm not the same person who started on page one. Moreover, as a side benefit, it really helped cultivate a habit of opening my Bible daily. This book is for everyone because I do not doubt that everyone has a skewed image of their body.

So, I don’t really struggle with body image issues. (And that’s actually not on account of my smoking hotness, heh heh). I just have different issues. So why pick up this particular book? Well, the author is a friend, and I thought I’d do what friends do--read it, and write a review. But, truly, she blessed ME by sharing her story about the freedom she has found through the gospel of Jesus. The book had much broader applications to my life than I expected it to have, honestly. So much of her message had me nodding my head in agreement. There are so many confusing cultural messages about our bodies and our worth. (“Which is it? Do I convince myself that I’m not, or do I convince myself that being hot doesn’t matter?”) Rather than try to strike the right balance between high/low self esteem, she proposes focusing instead on esteeming who God is, and striving for an accurate evaluation of ourselves. Whatever our particular struggle is, we all too often look for freedom in the wrong places. What we wrestle with the most are not external factors, but battles of the heart. When beauty becomes a treasure we chase, Heather calls it sin, and argues me must confront it if we want to be free. She lays out a plan to help, which might just work, with Jesus at the center of it. Jesus isn’t a “resource” that will give us what we desire for our own self-serving purposes. Instead, Jesus is our source, or hope and our savior. This author speaks the truth in love—(something she does consistently as a friend!) She writes with humor, grace and honesty. You won’t be sorry for the time you spend reading Compared to Who.

I didn't realize this book was very Christian - based. I liked the first chapter's message and some chapters are obviously hitting closer to home than others - overall I think I will keep reading. I will try anything at this point to combat my body image issues!

I feel like Heather peaked into my past, watched a perfectionistic girl strive and struggle, and then proceeded to write this book as a result. I truly could not stop reading this book! Heather writing is honest, funny, relatable and wise on topics many people struggle with: body image and comparison. Compared to Who? helps readers unpack the root reasons and causes for body image issues and comparison. Heather shares her own journey and struggle with body image in an extremely honest, vulnerable, authentic, relatable and (at times) humorous way. This book is great for anyone who has ever struggled with body image, self-esteem, disordered eating. Rather than just focusing on truth in God’s word, Heather will help you find freedom through grace and the gospel.

This book revealed so many wrong ideas I had surrounding food and my body image. It is so freeing. I wish I had learned these things earlier in my life. Definitely worth the read. If you have a chance check out her blog as well. She gives us so much good information.

This book helped me so much. I am in recovery from an eating disorder that I have struggled with for 16 years & I’m finally beginning to look at my struggles in a different way and it’s really helping me.Thank you Heather for your openness and willingness to share your story.I am also currently reading Heather’s second book ‘the burden of better’ and I highly recommend them both!

A great read and so simple really. Jesus is the antidote for all of life's ailments. Body image is no different. It made me sick for so long but Jesus is the cure. I'm excited to start on a new path. Highly recommended to get off the hamster wheel of believing the lie that how our body looks equals our worth.

This book made me laugh, and it made me think. It has taught me to stop and ask myself, why are you thinking that? Who are you comparing yourself to, and why? Good easy read.

Seriously this book mirrors my life. I'm sad to say I passed by this book months ago with ( I'm sorry) an eyerole. I judged a book by its cover. Not another self help, love who you are even though your a pear book. Stumbling across the blog and then the book once more, I found I was wrong. Please read this book, search your soul and if you find it doesn't apply, read it again!