09/03/2026
Weighted Vest, Whole Mall & a Tourist Trap That Wouldn’t Feed Me
https://youtu.be/Bwz-286XRVs?si=t2L7l
I walked an entire mall in a weighted vest with Ataxia. Then I stopped at Downtown Flavortown and watched everyone else eat.
I went to the mall to prove a point: you can get out, move, challenge yourself, and handle a normal environment while living with a neurological condition.
Not just “manage symptoms.” Actually go do the thing.
Then we stopped at Downtown Flavortown by Guy Fieri. I follow a carnivore diet — meat, that's it. So I asked for something simple: four burger patties. No bun. No sides. No sauce. Just the meat.
They said no.
To get four patties, I would have had to buy four complete meals — roughly $11–12 each — and throw most of the food away.
I passed. Everybody else ate. I didn't.
That experience reminded me of something important: when you're following a specific diet, don't be afraid to ask for what works for you. Plain meat, no bun, no sauce, no sides. Many restaurants can accommodate simple requests. If they can't, find somewhere that can.
WHY I WALK WITH A WEIGHTED VEST
I use a weighted vest to make walking more challenging and to give my body additional resistance and sensory feedback.
The extra load can make your muscles, core, posture, balance, and coordination work harder during a normal walk.
For me, it's another way to challenge my nervous system without simply walking farther.
WHY I DO THIS
I was in a wheelchair. I couldn't touch my own nose. I went 18 months without a diagnosis, bouncing between hospitals, with neurologists telling me the wheelchair was as good as it gets.
Eventually, I was diagnosed with Ataxia — acquired Ataxia on top of an unknown hereditary Ataxia.
Today, I'm walking, driving, traveling, and living independently.
Exercise and nutrition became a major part of my approach.
My goal isn't simply to manage symptoms. My goal is independence.
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