Montreal: A Lesson in Habit Formation
In 2016, I found a way to party every weekend in Montreal despite the U.S. drinking age—what I didn’t expect was the lesson it taught me about habits and fitness.
Imagine it’s 2016 (and let’s just acknowledge how Portugal miraculously won the EUROs that year—no need to debate that).
I’m 21 years old, on an exchange year right by the American/Canadian border in Vermont. Most of my mates are 20, which means I’m the only one who can legally get pissed in the USA, since the drinking age is 21.
So how did we all work around this to make sure we could still go out and party together?
Simple. Every Friday, we’d drive up to Montreal (the drinking age there is 18), book an Airbnb, have a blast, and head back on Sunday just in time for classes.
Montreal quickly became the city I visited the most without ever actually living there. It even holds the record for the coldest temperature I’ve ever experienced—an insane -32°C! But aside from the cold, what really stood out to me was how naturally bilingual Montreal is.
Most residents grow up speaking both French and English, and thanks to the city's cultural diversity, many people also pick up a third language at home—whether it’s Mandarin, Portuguese, or Italian. By the age of 18, it’s common for Montrealers to be fluent in three languages, all thanks to the environment they were raised in.
This got me thinking about how much our surroundings shape the habits we develop—whether it’s language skills or fitness routines.
I see this all the time with my 1-2-1 online fitness members. The environments they’ve been in have influenced how they approach exercise and nutrition. But with the right support and guidance, they’ve been able to reshape those habits to better align with their goals.
As we head into the colder, darker months, it’s easy for old habits to resurface and for motivation to dip. That’s exactly why I recorded a podcast episode called The Winter Arc, where I share strategies to help you stay on track with your training, routine, and nutrition as the seasons change.
If you want to stay consistent and keep up your momentum this winter, <<First Name>>, you can check it out below
Click here to check it out on Apple Podcasts.
Click here for the YouTube version.
Speak soon,
Leo
P.S. Below are some pictures of me in Montreal from 2016, mostly likely taken on my old iPhone 6S.
