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

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.

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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.)

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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!

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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

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