"Warrior" Praise or Pressure?

Send us Fan MailBroken But Still Breathing with Liv LooJen Weaver sits down with Liv Loo, owner of MoveToLiv, for a candid conversation about chronic illness, movement, burnout, and the pressure that comes with being seen as a “warrior.” Liv shares how growing up with rheumatoid arthritis and uveitis shaped her approach to adaptable movement, while Jen opens up about medication changes, self-advocacy, and the realities of living with an unpredictable body. We discuss what it really means to support disabled and chronically ill people well, why asking what someone needs matters more than labeling them, and how both women protect their energy while still showing up for their communities.Key topicsLiv Loo shares her background as the founder of MoveToLiv and explains how she creates adaptable movement for people with chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, and mental health challenges.Liv talks about being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 4 and uveitis at age 8, and how those experiences shaped her empathy and relationship with movement.Jen shares her own recent weight loss journey, including losing 68 pounds, and the tradeoff of losing strength and muscle in the process.The conversation explores the “warrior” label, including why it can feel affirming to some people and deeply pressuring or toxic to others.Liv explains how being viewed as a warrior can create an expectation to keep showing up, helping others, and staying inspirational even when she is exhausted or flaring.Both women talk about the importance of asking people how they want support rather than assuming that encouragement, advice, or labels will help.Jen shares her experience with medication changes, including pausing methotrexate around her grandson’s visit to reduce infection risk, and Liv discusses being on the same biologic for 19 years.Liv describes how she has decentered her rheumatoid arthritis from the center of her identity, keeping it as one part of who she is rather than the whole story.The episode gets practical about burnout, saying no, asking for more time, and recognizing when a project, partnership, or responsibility no longer fits your body or capacity.The conversation closes on “broken but still breathing” as a lens for grief, healing, resilience, and trusting that being in the middle of the mess still counts as survival.https://www.instagram.com/movetoliv?igsi=MTdkZGU3aHhsYXZ1ag==We are not doctors, just two chronic illness patients sharing our perspective, lived experience, and the ins and outs of navigating this journey.Connect with Jen: https://www.instagram.com/jenthegracefuladvocate/?__pwa=1Connect with Stasha: https://www.instagram.com/tenaciousinme/?__pwa=1 Join the Rheumatoid Arthritis Connect Group: connectgroups.arthritis.org/groups/rheumatoid-arthritisUse code Gracefully_Jen for 20% off compression gloves with her affiliate link: https://www.graceandable.com/GRACEFULLY_JEN