Welcome to The Chronic Fighter and My Mission

I vividly remember lying on the floor in kindergarten, screaming to my mom because of such immense stomach pain that dragged on for a week at a time. By sixth grade, I would lie in bed with debilitating migraines. I'd have the shades down, sunglasses on—even the smallest amount of light felt unbearable. Then, during my junior year of high school, my parents found me on the ground shaking after I had fainted and fallen out of a high-top chair. In my sophomore year of college, my non-epileptic seizures began.

I went from having three seizures a day to starting my own podcast and business.

Welcome to The Chronic Fighter Podcast, where we help teens and young adults with chronic illness take their lives back.

I'm your host, Liv Winkler, a health and nutrition coach, founder of The Chronic Fighter Health Coaching, lifelong chronic illness warrior with a degree in psychology and a concentration in health coaching.

This podcast meets you exactly where you're at in your health journey and offers science-backed tools that changed my life—and can change yours too.

I would love to be the person for you that I wished I had growing up.

Growing up, I didn't dream about one day being rich or owning a fancy house. Looking back, all I really wanted was to feel more in control of my health and my life.

There's a common quote that says, "You can have a thousand problems in your life until you have a health problem. Then you only have one."

Honestly, there were seasons in my life when that felt very true. Maybe you've felt that way too.

When so much of your day revolves around managing symptoms, it can be hard to think about anything else.

But the reality is, you're not alone.

Chronic illness is far more common than most people realize. In fact, the CDC estimates that around 60% of young adults are living with at least one chronic illness.

If you're one of those people, I want you to know that your life isn't over. You still have the ability to build a life that excites you.

Over the years, I've made lifestyle changes that have allowed me to better support my body. Even when my symptoms flare, they don't get to dictate everything I do. And I want to teach you how to do the same.

Why I Started This Podcast

Hi, welcome to the first episode of The Chronic Fighter Podcast.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm your host, Liv Winkler. This podcast has been in the works for a long time, so I'm incredibly excited to finally share it with you.

When I first told my friends and family I was thinking about starting a podcast, no one was really surprised. They thought it was pretty fitting for me.

When I was young, I had one of those little pretend microphones that I loved talking into. I was also a huge fan of Video Star and loved making music videos to Taylor Swift songs.

Then came Musical.ly and, of course, TikTok. Better believe I was making my friends do TikToks with me.

In high school, I even had one of those Bluetooth microphones that synced to your phone so you could sing karaoke in the car.

I'm an awful singer, so podcasting is probably the better route.

My Lifelong Journey with Chronic Illness

In all seriousness, I am passionate about helping others with chronic illness because it has been part of my life since the day I was born.

I'm hoping to reach people navigating similar challenges, help them feel less alone, and show them they're capable of amazing things no matter where their health is at.

For over two decades, I've dealt with mysterious health problems. I've seen countless doctors and undergone what feels like every test imaginable.

Some of my earliest memories involve symptoms...

My health story is full of moments like these, and throughout this podcast I'll be sharing much more of it.

For most of my life, I felt different and alone—not because I didn't have an amazing support system, but because no one around me truly understood what it felt like to live in a body like mine.

Kids at school made fun of me for missing class. Doctors often told me I was a complicated case, and many didn't think college was realistic for me.

In medical settings, it often felt like the focus was on what I couldn't do rather than how I could adapt and continue pursuing the things that mattered to me.

Why I Created The Chronic Fighter Coaching Community

If you're listening to this podcast, chances are you've felt overwhelmed trying to figure out chronic illness.

I know I did.

That's exactly why I created The Chronic Fighter, because no one should have to figure this out alone.

My parents and I spent years researching, connecting the dots, implementing lifestyle changes, advocating, and searching for answers.

Experts estimate that 80–90% of healthcare happens outside the doctor's office, and that was certainly true in my experience.

Through one-on-one coaching, I help bridge the gap between doctor visits and everyday life by focusing on symptom management, nervous system regulation, sustainable habits, and practical strategies.

Why I Stopped Hiding My Health Struggles

Pain was my norm.

There were days when I could barely walk, yet very few people knew what I dealt with behind the scenes.

About two years ago, I finally started sharing my story online.

I realized so many people felt the exact same way.

But I don't believe chronic illness has to define our story.

The Trap of "Destination Addiction"

One of the biggest things that keeps us stuck is destination addiction—the belief that life only begins when everything is finally fixed.

You don't have to wait for your circumstances to change before you can start living your life.

Having the right tools can help your body feel safe and supported, even while you're still searching for answers.

The Advice That Gave Me the Confidence to Start This Podcast

"Do you think this Liv cared what other people thought of her?"

My aunt reminded me that people will always question and judge you, but you have too much to offer to let that stop you from sharing your experience and wisdom.

That was some of the best advice I've ever received.

What You Can Expect from Future Episodes

We'll talk about chronic illness, nervous system regulation, personalized nutrition, navigating the healthcare system, relationships, purpose and identity, reducing flares, and learning to adapt your life to meet your body's needs.

The name The Chronic Fighter represents every person learning to accomplish their goals while still caring for their body.

A fighter doesn't push harder—they choose smarter.

Three Lessons I Wish I'd Learned Sooner

1. There will never be a perfect time. Life doesn't begin after healing—it happens alongside it.
2. Self-trust matters more than answers. Continue searching for answers, but don't wait for permission to move forward.
3. You don't need to push through pain to move forward. Learn to work with your body instead of burning yourself out.

Upcoming Episodes and What's Next

We'll dive deeper into my health story, hear my parents' perspective, discuss nervous system regulation, navigating friendships with chronic illness, and much more.

Thank you so much for listening to The Chronic Fighter Podcast.

Whether you're navigating chronic illness yourself or supporting someone who is, I hope today's conversation resonated with you.

Remember to celebrate the little wins and always have something that gets you excited to get out of bed every day.

I'll see you next time.