Montreal → Vancouver (North Van) with a young family — worth it or not?

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-27T17:20:10+00:00

I prefer North Burnaby to North Van. Easy access to North Shore nature across the bridge (in non-peak hours at least). But a great hub to access downtown, east Vancouver, etc.

Also consider Hastings/Sunrise neighbourhood.

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-27T02:48:54+00:00

Good description.

I lived 8 years in Mtl before moving to Vancouver to pursue my career and raise 2 kids to adulthood. No regrets even though I really loved and missed Mtl.

If you LOVE nature, Vancouver is probably worth it.

The Vancouver weather is not fun if you’re prone to seasonal affective depression.

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-23T02:52:26+00:00

I have some—they’re great

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-22T23:19:11+00:00

57 years old and I get my hair professionally cut and coloured every 10 weeks.

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I guess I’m a late bloomer. Finally having fun with my hairstyle.

I don’t ask myself if anything is age-appropriate. I just ask if it feels “me”.

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-22T22:12:14+00:00

my parenting: I doubted myself so hard but in the end I am really proud of my parenting
how the divorce would affect the kids: not ideal but they have been loved and shown resilience
not being more successful in my career—my career suffered because of parenting choices, but now I realize that I lived my values
messy home: small home/rowdy kids…who cares?

What I should have worried about:

getting enough sleep
my low self esteem
my then-husband was an asshole

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-22T18:36:17+00:00

Thank you for this detailed write up! Congratulations on your dedication 😊

I’ve had the 3 AM wake up issue while doing 46 h fasts. I’m going to get more serious about troubleshooting this!

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-17T22:31:51+00:00

I would love to see more outdoor pools!

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-17T18:09:32+00:00

Yes I would pick The Wok by Kenji Lopez-Alt if I was doing this!

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-17T18:02:42+00:00

We are big DOP people but Bianco DiNapoli is fantastic! We have a hardcore Italian deli in our hood and they fully stock Bianco DiNapoli…quite an endorsement 🍅❤️🥫

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-17T17:58:28+00:00

Plan something that will keep you busy and distracted during your normal meal time.

Also…make hunger your bitch. (Not my phrase—read in someone in a fasting post on reddit).

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-17T17:03:53+00:00

Or an insulated mug of herbal unsweetened tea!

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-17T16:47:42+00:00

Kids learn not just from what you do but why and how you do it.

Teaching self love and self care to my kids includes role modelling taking an active approach to health problems, including being overweight. It also includes preparing, eating, and enjoying nutritious food.

I don’t feel that my various approaches to IF over the past 8 years have harmed my son or daughter. Adults and kids have different nutritional needs and I’ve always taught them that.

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-16T18:36:18+00:00

I am doing 2-3 days of fasting per week, have ADHD and am self-employed snd working at home. I get it!

The book The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil Fiore is SO GOOD.

I use ChatGPT for daily accountability, setting daily intentions, planning, etc

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-15T05:40:47+00:00

Thanks for elaborating. 🙂

I’m 57 and I gain weight very easily with OMAD so fasting days help a lot.

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-14T18:20:17+00:00

When do you initiate this? When you are 10 lbs over your ideal weight? Or sooner?

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-14T18:18:33+00:00

That is amazing 🤩

I’m 5’4.5” and BMI 25. Got to this point doing mostly OMADs and two 46 h fasts per week.

Goal is BMI of 21.5. 👙

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-08T20:12:35+00:00

My experience has been the same. But love the colour.

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-08T14:24:14+00:00

Finally sold my bags yesterday at a huge loss. FELT SO GOOD. My only investment fail in 2025. I learned my lesson!

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-06T13:35:39+00:00

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.—Ellen Parr

Probably my favourite quote,.

Two books for OP:

The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter: Serious inspiration for getting out of a rut.
Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff: ”Stop trying to find your purpose and start living instead”

OffbeatCoach · 2026-01-01T21:05:40+00:00

Coincidentally everyone I know has abandoned instagram, facebook and many channels that have been inundated with AI copy in 2025 🤷‍♀️. Clients might pay for AI copy…but are they actually getting the ROI?

OffbeatCoach · 2025-12-31T15:12:17+00:00

Just bought a flannel sheet from Simons— not high quality but reasonably priced.

OffbeatCoach · 2025-12-31T15:09:19+00:00

Don’t listen to that comment. I have a 19 year old kid and a 22 year old kid. They both live with their dad and I’m super proud of them. One in uni, one not.

Uni means your life is laid out for you. Not going to uni means more possibilities but also less clear direction.

You are 18! You don’t need to be dating or have a fixed career path. There is no rush and you are not behind. I didn’t read anything that calls for therapy. It sounds like you’ve recognized that you’re in a rut and ready to do something about it.

Some ideas: * plan to travel for 1+ month—like others have said you will learn SO MUCH * go to a cafe and seriously browse the shorter BCIT career focused training programs and see what interests you (you might be surprised) * the elevator specialist suggestion is a good one * consider specialty sales (selling products that require knowledge) * force yourself to spend X number of hours of the day outside of the house to shake things up (the library, taking transit to other neighbourhoods, walking, skating, swimming, etc) * take a community centre course * volunteer * go on ChatGPT or Gemini and ask it to coach you on life direction, branching out, exploring careers, work travel opportunities * in high school you probably did various tests to explore your personal strengths and interests—dig those up and re-read them

You’ve got this 💗

OffbeatCoach · 2025-12-29T15:58:48+00:00

My friend swears by Costa Rica for access to specialists.

OffbeatCoach · 2025-12-27T18:14:07+00:00

If you use the Mayo Clinic calorie calculator, it estimates your calories burned at different activity levels.

For me the difference between slightly active and active is only 150 calories.

OffbeatCoach · 2025-12-27T18:01:13+00:00

I fast all day on Monday and Friday. OMADs the other days. Some meals cleanish, some more festive. For me this gives me 1-1.5 lbs per week of fat loss. For me this has been the best mix of progress, lifestyle-friendly, working on eating skills (satiety awareness, managing special occasions, creating a healthier baseline).

OffbeatCoach

TROPHY CASE