231. A Healthy Perspective on Body Image (with Rachael Gilbert)

By cpaine | October 10, 2023

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Real talk: I’ve struggled with body image much of my life. I’ve used food and exercise as a reward and punishment. I’ve obsessed over what I ate or didn’t eat, how much I exercised or didn’t exercise, how my clothes fit or didn’t fit, and what the number on the scales.

I’ve beat myself up when the jeans didn’t fit, felt frustrated and discouraged when the scale didn’t say the number I wanted it to, and spent way too much mental energy thinking about what I see when I look in the mirror.

I’ve always gained 30+ pounds with each pregnancy and losing it has always been a challenge. But I felt like getting back to “pre-pregnancy size” was super important — so I’ve expended so much thought and effort and unhealthy pursuits to hit that.

I don’t share this so that people will leave comments saying, “But you look great!” I share this because I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this.

As women, we can invest so much time, thought, and money in the pursuit of what we think is the ideal body image… all the while missing that we are made in the image of God, thinness doesn’t define our value and worth, and that the Enemy loves to hijack our focus from Jesus to an obsession over our size.

And that’s why I’m so grateful for this week’s podcast episode with @rachaeljgilbert where we talk openly about what it looks like to have a healthy body image and practical ways to get there.

Yes, pursuing health and fitness so that we can have energy to do what God has called us to do and honor the body God has given us is a good thing. But the number on the scale or size on the tag of our jeans is not what defines us: Jesus does!

And I’ve learned firsthand that you can hit your goal weight and still be incredibly unhealthy mentally, emotionally, and physically. Because health isn’t just about what we put into our bodies or what we see in the mirror; it’s also about what we allow to take up residence in our minds and hearts and what we believe about ourselves and about God.

In this episode, Rachael Gilbert, the author of Image RESTored: Tear Down Shame and Insecurity to Experience a Body Image Renovation, shares powerful insights and personal journey shed light on the often unspoken struggles many face. We delve into the impact of trauma on body image and how addressing both big and small traumas is crucial for healing. Rachael’s expertise as a therapist guides us through the process, offering practical tools and a fresh perspective on finding freedom.

Rachael reveals the significance of addressing both big and small traumas that impact how we view ourselves. She explains how these experiences create barriers and impact our lives, and she shares her own transformative journey, emphasizing the power of processing trauma.

Her insights provide keys to unlock a new way of thinking and living, so I hope you will join us as we explore the layers of healing, embracing your identity in Christ, and discovering the path towards body image restoration.

In This Episode

[0:35] – Today’s guest is Rachael Gilbert, author of the book Image RESTored!

[1:17] – Rachael shares her personal body image struggles and healing journey.

[2:25] – Blending fitness expertise and therapy, Rachael guides body image challenges.

[4:33] – I ask Rachael to share some of her personal journey.

[7:11] – Rachael shares how she began to seek help and embrace change.

[9:32] – It starts with recognizing the desire for change, then embracing tools.

[10:42] – Rachael advocates for identifying core beliefs and challenging them.

[13:50] – Challenge lies with God’s truth, reshaping thought patterns for healing.

[16:01] – Rachael argues for creating a safe, empathetic space for girls’ body image struggles.

[19:57] – It was so important to Rachael to address her trauma, a key topic in her book.

[23:29] – Embrace insecurities, and confront them with tools for lasting freedom.

[25:20] – I add that we should recognize insecurities and find truth in God’s love.

[26:46] – A secure attachment to God improves body image struggles.

[28:59] – Rachael advises us to open our hearts to Jesus; He heals even the most broken parts.

[30:26] – I explain why I love the title of Rachael’s book.

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