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The Who, What, Where, When, Why & How to Bulletproof Your Coffee

December 20, 2016 By Lindsay Gee

If you follow me at all on social media, or if you read my blog, you will have heard me talk about my Bulletproof Coffee quite a bit lately. And yes, it’s MY Bulletproof Coffee…back off…get your own! If you don’t follow me on social or read my blog (*gasp*), get with the program, I’m pretty funny and sometimes I have some good stuff to say. Most times. Okay…always. Start following!

I digress.

I’ve been going through some big changes lately. Finding my heart, finding my center, getting some sleep and working really hard (that last one isn’t a change, that’s pretty dang consistent). With change usually comes growth and growth usually requires quite a bit of energy. Don’t even get me started that this has all been happening as I’ve been trying to create some Christmas magic for my kiddos! Phew!

However, I’ve been consistently drinking my Bulletproof Coffee in all its upgraded coffee bean glory (did you know a lot of coffee beans we make our brew from have mold? MOLD! EW!), with Brain Octane (hello MCT oils) and Grass-Fed Ghee. And, because I love it so much, I have a few social posts with me and my beloved coffee cuddling together in my office. Awwwww. With all the cuddling and canoodling, I’ve had quite a few questions about my coffee.

Does it really work?
What the heck is that?
Butter? Really?
Explain yourself! You don’t endorse products!

I thought I could write this post to explain Bulletproof Coffee to you, why I love it, what it is, when to drink it and how to make it. So, let’s begin.

Who?

Me, silly goose. I’m talking about my experience with Bulletproof, no one else’s. I’m a big fan of research and finding products that are scientifically sound. While I still feel there needs to be more research on the benefits of MCT oil on energy and mental focus, for me, it works like a hot damn.

What & Why? (These two just go together, you’ll see)

Today I’m writing about the three products that I use (almost) daily. Upgraded Bulletproof Coffee, Bulletproof’s Grass-Fed Ghee and of course, the product I am MOST fond of, Brain Octane Oil. There are numerous other products you can try, CLICK HERE to find more products if these 3 aren’t what you’re looking for.

Upgraded coffee beans: Think non-moldy coffee beans. And, if you think your coffee doesn’t have mold, think again. Research studies have shown that 52 – 91.7% of green coffee beans were moldy and 50% of brewed coffee contained mold. Bulletproof has mold standards. Meaning, they have a process and actual mold standards where they don’t let the moldy suckers through to their beans and then to your body. Just say NO to mold.

Grass-Fed Ghee: This is Bulletproof’s option for grass-fed fat. You can also find grass-fed butter at your local health food store (some grocery stores carry it) and use that. Unfortunately, it’s not available in Canada just yet, so for all my Canucks, just use grass-fed unsalted butter.

Brain Octane Oil: This is the secret ingredient, I swear. Brain octane oil contains 16x the healthy fats of coconut oil and can be converted to ATP (the cellular fuel your body and brain actually use) in three steps (FYI…sugar has 25 steps). It also bypasses your liver (which is probably on overdrive, thank you, Santa), so it’s readily available for your big brain and strong muscles to easily use! What does that mean? It means the effects of the Brain Octane Oil can be felt almost immediately.

I’m not kidding. Immediately. I love this stuff!

There is more and more research coming out on the benefits of MCT oil of mental focus and physical prowess (I’ve always wanted to use that word in a blog) and for me, it works. In particular, my mental focus is much clearer and I have energy to spare on my Bulletproof days.

Where?

Wherever you want, my friend. Drink it at home, in your car, at work, in the shower, while you chase your kids (wait no, don’t drink and run). Take it to go, drink is slow, drink it fast. Just drink it wherever you are.

When?

I drink my Bulletproof Coffee at 10am every morning. Now, I’m a bit of a schedule goober and I live by my calendar. So, it’s 10am for me. Aso, I drink my Bulletproof coffee after I workout. I tried to drink it before, but for me, my workouts suffered. I think too much blood was diverted to digest the fat.

I do recommend you drink it before 1pm.

How?

Here’s how I brew my perfect cup of Bulletproof Coffee:

2.5 Tbsp (or 2.5 Tbsp) of ground Bulletproof coffee go into my french press (yup, I’m that fancy now). Pour 1.5 cups of hot water (I let my kettle boil then let it sit for 2 minutes) into the french press. Let stand for 4 minutes.
Add 1 Tbsp Brain Octane Oil to your blender.
Add 1 Tbsp Grass-Fed Ghee (or grass-fed butter) to your blender.
Add 1 tsp cinnamon (optional…I likes my cinnamon!)
Add the brewed coffee to your blender.
Blend until frothy. I usually blend it for at least 1 minute otherwise, I found it wasn’t creamy enough.
Enjoy

7 simple steps to mental focus and energy all day. It’s so worth it.

Alright, party people. It’s time for you to go enjoy your coffee. There are some great sales on now AND many, many other products. There’s hot chocolate, tea and these little ampules called “Unfair Advantage”, which give you mitochondrial boosts (read more here, I need to read more on this one!). So much to choose from. Time to SHOP!

Questions? Just ask! Again, this is my personal experience with these products. But for me, it’s a game-changer. Life is mega-crazy at all times and I love that I found something that helps me focus. While some days are still a grind (life is like that), it’s nice to have a little help…from my OWN body…working WITH me. Woop! Go me! Go body! YAY!

And pssst…you really should be following me on social: Facebook, Instagram & Twitter…I’m everywhere!

4 Strategies to Help You Cope When Everything Goes Wrong

December 14, 2016 By Lindsay Gee

It’s going to happen. Like it or not things are going to go wrong in your life. It could be a minor thing like spilling coffee on your pants. It could be a major thing like illness or an accident. Or it could be a bunch of minor things that create a major thing. And some days, some months, some years it seems like absolutely everything is going wrong in your life and nothing is going right.

We all have moments when we look to the sky and quietly whisper “Seriously? This too?”. Moments when you think you can’t handle one more thing and you’ll actually question your ability to withstand the pressure of one more weight added your shoulders. Moments when you think “if one more thing goes wrong, I’m pretty sure, no I’m certain, my head will explode”.

I’m happy to report that no, in fact, your head won’t explode and there are numerous strategies you can use to help you slow down, reflect and get through times when you feel like everything is going wrong.

Prioritize your tasks.
Usually, when you feel like everything is going wrong it’s a very busy time in your life. You’ll find yourself with a task list of a bajillion (it’s a word) things to do and when we have so much to do, we move quickly. Unfortunately, it’s usually when we’re moving too quickly that more mistakes happen and more things go wrong. So first, slow down and breathe. Take time to reflect on all the things/tasks/demands you need to get done and prioritize that list.If it’s a bad day, prioritize your day. A bad month? Look at what needs to get done over the next month and set goals you want to achieve within the next 30 days. Bad year? Same deal. List everything that’s gone wrong and figure out how to help yourself make them go right. Prioritize that list and focus on the top three tasks. Really, really be aware of what’s most important to you to “fix” and solve the major issues going on in your life.
Reach out. We’re all so connected now through social media, the internet and all of our devices. But, when’s the last time you’ve actually connected with your friends and family members? When’s the last time you connected with that long-time friend you never have 5 minutes to chat with? When things go wrong, it’s time to get off your devices and reach out for human contact. We live in a busy, busy world but don’t forget that there is still a lot of love out there. I bet there is someone in your life who would love to help you get back on your feet.Don’t be shy about asking for help. It could be a simple request for an afternoon playdate so you can get some errands done in peace. Or, it could be a larger favor like a weekend alone to reflect, prioritize and figure some things out on your own.Whatever you need, reach out and ask for it. Your friends and family want you to feel good. They want you to feel loved, cherished and taken care of. But, if you’re constantly putting on a brave face and saying “it’s okay, I’m okay, I’m good”, they’re going to believe you (until things really go wrong and they need to come pick you up off the floor…trust me on this one). So, reach out. And hey…there’s really nothing as therapeutic as a really great Girls’ Night surrounded by the incredible women in your life. Laughter truly is the best medicine.
Practice gratitude. When things are going sideways on you, the last thing you’re going to want to do is be grateful. However, this is probably the best time for you to stop, reflect on your life and remember what you have to be grateful for. You can start with the “little” things like hot coffee, a beating heart, food in the fridge, your children. As your start listing off the “little” things they’ll become less little.Sure, your kid was a nutjob and made you late. But, you have a child who loves you like crazy. Be grateful for that. Your job is demanding and your boss is a tyrant? You have a paycheck coming in and a way to help support your family. Everyone is sick in your household…for the third time in a week? Be thankful for medicine and your strong arms to hold the ones you love as they get well. Roof is leaking, food’s gone bad, car broke down and your dog ran away (insert Blake Shelton song)? You have a home, a car and your loyal dog will come back because he loves you and you have his favorite bed and stuffie.
Gratitude. It’s a powerful, powerful tool. Trust me. I challenge you to write down three things that you’re grateful for every morning and every night before you go to bed. And just watch. Watch the power of gratitude affect your life and welcome the positivity back into your heart.
Workout. Well, if you know me at all, you knew this would be on the list. The power of moving your body, of exercise, is incredible. So when things go wrong, go workout. Practice yoga, find a group fitness class you love, go throw some weights around, sweat yourself silly on your treadmill. Whatever you love to do to get active, go do it.During those moments of “Really universe, really?!” it’s time to get your sweat on.
Let your body take care of you. Go. Sweat. The endorphins and other hormones released, the mental focus and the overall well-being that exercise can bring into your life will help you reframe your thoughts and come up with a plan to tackle what needs to be tackled. The power of moving your body is incredible. Let your body help fuel and inspire your mind. There is nothing more therapeutic than a really good sweat sesh. So go lace up your sneakers, tie your hair up in that crazy pineapple you’ve been sporting and get moving. Your body, your mind and your spirit will thank you.

Things are going to wrong in your life. All the time. But, how you cope and react to those events is completely up to you. You get to decide what you want to put your energy into (for the most part). So, take control and try the above 4 strategies when you get overwhelmed with it all. Sometimes it’ll work like a hot damn and other times you’ll comment below about how ridiculous these strategies are. And, that’s okay! Some day it’ll work. Some days it won’t. But…don’t you dare give up. Don’t you dare lessen who you are and what you’re doing because you’re feeling beat up.

Remember, you’re amazing and you have amazing things to do in this world. Trust yourself, be grateful for all you have and get to work! You have an incredible life to lead. So go live it! Not every day is going to be a bad day. In fact, you’re going to have some pretty amazing days ahead of you. So focus there. Focus on the good.

Remembering the Good in Yourself

December 7, 2016 By Lindsay Gee

Have you ever had those times in your life when you question your worth? When you start looking at the person you are, the person you’ve become and you start thinking “jeez, I could do better, be better, be more”? I’ve recently just come through that experience and the secret to coming out of that nonsense?

People.

It’s that simple. Now, don’t get me wrong…people are most often the cause of you having to dive into the abyss of yourself and search for your goodness and worth. But, please know, it’s also people that pull you right back out and into the bright, warm, strong arms of love and acceptance.

To say I’ve had a rough few months would be an understatement. My health has been poor and I wasn’t sleeping. I was also at a crossroads with my business and there was a lot of change happening…something I struggle with. So, I started to doubt myself. I started to wonder if I could actually pull off this mega-dream of world domination.

Then…I traveled to see the people who I am working so hard for. As the Founder of Hot Mama I often get pulled into the business side of things and I forget who I am doing all of this for. It’s for you, Mamas. And my family, of course. But, it’s for the benefit of families, of Mamas and of their children that I work so hard. And I have the Alberta Hot Mamas to thank for grounding me and pulling me out of my cave of doubt and worry.

I recently traveled to Alberta to visit some of our Franchise Owners. Often times I don’t look forward to traveling, but this time was different. I NEEDED the Hot Mamas. I needed to remember my why. And what better way than by surrounding myself with the very people I am working so hard for (and with!).

There wasn’t a moment during my trip when I doubted myself. Mamas were excited to meet me. Nervous to meet me. And so open and warm and friendly. There was NO WAY I could possibly doubt myself.

I haven’t laughed, loved and felt more honoured in quite a long time.

I know why I’m here and I know why I work so hard. But sometimes, you need people to remind you. Sometimes you need to let the energy you’re helping to create surround and ooze back into your soul. Sometimes you just need to let all the bad go and accept the good.

I cannot thank the Alberta Hot Mamas enough for my last visit. I enjoyed every single aspect of it. From cooking with our Calgary West Sarcee Mamas for Made by Momma, to participating in classes with Edmonton SE and Edmonton SW, to kicking some serious Spruce Grove Hot Mama ass, to hanging out with some of the coolest St. Alberta Hot Mamas in town! Aaaaand, how can I forget the wine, the Caesars and OH!…the Santa Shuffle 5k.

See? It was busy, busy, busy.

The best thing? Our Sherwood Park Franchise Owner texted me at the end of the trip and said “You all looked so happy!”…and Mamas…I don’t think “happy” has been an adjective to describe me in a very long time. And what a wonder it was to hear that!

Thank you, Hot Mamas. Thank you for bringing the happy back into my life. You have reminded me of my goodness and my worth. I am forever grateful.

One last thank you…I GOT A SELFIE STICK FINALLY! YAY!

With much love and mad respect,
Your OHM

The Day Exhaustion Took Over

November 22, 2016 By Lindsay Gee

Be careful.
Take time for yourself.
You need to rest/sleep.
Self-care is so important.
You are important.
You can’t keep working at this rate, one day it’ll catch up with you.

Yeah. I’ve heard it all. And, until it actually happened, I just smiled, nodded and agreed with the person spouting their wisdom…then I got back to work.

For the past 4.5 years, I’ve worked hard. I mean, really, really stinkin’ hard. Most days (not all) I work 15-16 hour days but lately it’s been more like 20 hours per day. It takes time and energy to build an empire and plan for world domination, and with only 24 hours in a day, I tried to put most (if not all) of them to good use.

Until I couldn’t.

For the past month, I’ve pushed myself past what was healthy. Past what I knew I was capable of. But, the demands were there and the work had to get done. No one else could do it. My team was already taxed to the max, so as the leader of my crazy company, I needed to step up, give more, do more, push more and get it all done. And I did.

Until I couldn’t.

Last Friday I woke at 1:30am and started to work. That was atypical, but recently, my mind just won’t shut down. If I wake to shift in bed, I’m up. There’s no getting back to sleep. I’m a classic insomniac. And that is not something I say with pride.

So last Friday I woke at 1:30am and got to work. By 7:30am when my kids woke I’d put in a solid 6 hours of work, was ahead of my plan for the day (how couldn’t I be?!) until it all came to a screeching halt. All of a sudden I was shaky, agitated, exhausted, nauseous and to be honest, I’ve never felt so awful in my life. I managed to get my kids to school then headed to bed. I tried to sleep but couldn’t.

I was restless, my body wouldn’t settle, my mind wouldn’t stop. I had things to do, but no energy to do it. No amount of willpower was getting me out of the hole I had dug for myself. My body wouldn’t rest. It was revolting against me the only way it could…by knocking me flat.

It was time to stop. I had hit the wall of exhaustion and it felt like the worst illness ever.

I’ve never been scared of my body before, but I can honestly say that last Friday, I was scared. I didn’t know how to stop, to breathe, to rest. I couldn’t stop or breathe or rest.

So, I reached out. To friends, to family, to loved ones. I broke down so I could build back up.

It’s true that your body will only handle so much. You and your mind can push and push and push and still feel like you can push some more, but your body is the ultimate gauge of how healthy you are. Because when it’s maxed (and after 4.5 years I think I’m finally maxed), it gives up. No notice. It just…stops.

You drop.

It’s not a pleasant fall and it’s been 4 days of medication, fever, sleep meds and self-care to get my feet back under me. Four days isn’t so bad…but I still have some recovery to do. I have to rest.

As I laid in bed trying to rest, the following questions kept coming forward in my mind: Why do I push so hard?

There are the typical excuses of world domination, founding a company, wanting to be successful, showing up all those who doubt me, etc…but the real reason? I think it’s because I don’t want people to think I’m not working for them. I want people to know that I’m working…literally day in and day out…to help build our business. I need them to know that they haven’t sacrificed their family’s lives for someone who sits around and does nothing.

And that’s where I’ve gone wrong. I’ve sacrificed my own body for this. I’ve sacrificed my health for this. I’ve sacrificed my own family for this. And while our mission at Hot Mama is extremely important, it cannot be at the cost of me.

It cannot be at the cost of me.

I went to the doctor on Sunday and she asked when I wanted to be admitted to the hospital. I didn’t even tell my husband that. She said, “do you want to be admitted now or would you like to keep killing yourself for another week and really feel the depths of exhaustion…because you’re there now…next step is medical”.

Well…holy shit.

Oops.

Talk about a wake-up call.

So Mamas…here’s me . Claiming myself back. I talk and I talk and I talk about the importance of prioritizing. Of putting yourself high up on your list. But I certainly don’t practice it. I try to. I do small things, but it’s time I role model to all of those who follow me the importance of rest.

And yes, right now…I need medication. I need meds to help me sleep. I’m okay with that. Because after a few nights of sleeping from 9pm to 7am I’m slowly crawling back to myself. I’m committing to rest. I’m committing to me and my own importance.

I’m important. It’s time I start treating myself like it. I need rest. And so do you, Mama.

Don’t be me. Don’t push so hard and work so hard your body breaks and shuts down. Learn from me. I am not a martyr so I’d best stop acting like one. I will commit to rest. I will commit to sleep. I will commit to these things because I know I need it.

I’ll write about how I plan to take care of me soon; maybe I’ll even come up with the ultimate self-care guide. But for now, I commit to sleep. For now, I will use the medication my doctor gave me, but soon I will come up with a new plan to help with insomnia and I will let you know what works for me and what doesn’t.

But Mama, please listen: if you’re tired, exhausted, pushed to your max…don’t be me. You need to stop. Put your head on your pillow, tell yourself you’ve done the best you can with the time you’ve had each day and rest. Just rest. Rest your mind, your body, your soul.

Just rest.

Because trust me when I say that if you don’t, your body will eventually take over your mind and the results are not pretty and they are certainly not fun.

Rest, Mama. You need to rest. Ain’t no shame in that. And that is what I’ve learned over the last four days. There’s no shame in resting.

And rest I shall.

Wanna Help Me Sleep Tonight, Make Some Money AND #FinishStrong?!

November 10, 2016 By Lindsay Gee

I stay up late. I stay up late a lot. Or wait…maybe it’s that I wake up super early? Hmmmm. Anyhow, let’s just say I work long hours, ridiculously long hours. And, you know what? I don’t mind one bit. I love what I do. Founding a company like Hot Mama, well…it’s a badge of honour I wear with pride. Incredible pride.

With 24 Hot Mama franchises now up and running, you bet your sweet buns I’m proud.

We empower women, inspire families, promote family fitness and build community. A community of women like no other. If you need a safe place to get fit or increase your fitness, if you need support as you struggle with Motherhood, or if you simply need a wild, crazy, silly authentically true group of women, Hot Mama should be your home.

My goal is to start a complete and total mass movement of family fitness with Hot Mama. I also want people to know that when they go to a Hot Mama business they will be welcomed with open arms, loving smiles and strong shoulders to lean on. I want all of that in every single franchise we open. Not only do we offer free classes to postpartum women to help combat postpartum depression, we provide incredible fitness programs and challenges and support and love and respect.

That’s Hot Mama. That’s who I am and that’s how I want to always be remembered.

So, I work tirelessly on this business. We have helped 100’s of women (if not 1000’s now) climb out of depression and anxiety. We have helped many women accept who they are. We have lifted women on the hard days and rejoiced with them on the good. I am so honoured and grateful that we have helped so many.

So what keeps me up at night?

I toss and I turn because I know there are women in communities that we currently do not have a location that desperately need us. Women who are in the depths of the darkness of postpartum depression. Women who have no idea how to begin their fitness journey. Women who are tired of being judged for their mothering choices and just want to find a safe place to land. Women who want to push and drive and dig and be role models of healhy living for their children. Women who want to drink wine, do burpees and laugh. Laugh a lot.

We have helped so many in the few franchises that we have. But, I know we have to help so many more. I know this is essential to who we are. I know the good that can be brought to a community with Hot Mama. I believe in us and what we do 100%. I believe in me. I believe in our franchise owners. I believe in our headquarters team. I believe in all the Hot Mamas in our community across Canada and now the UK. I believe.

So, I’m asking YOU to help us spread the word. We want to FINISH STRONG in 2016. I’m pushing to open at least 8 new franchises in the next two months. Gasp. I know, right? How can I do that? I’m going to ask YOU to help. I’m going to ask you to send people to our website and encourage them to apply for their own Hot Mama business. If you’re in the community and you know and love what we do, we’re asking you to think of at least three people you can send our way.

We can do a lot of good. But, we need you. I need you. I need help spreading the word. And, because I’m asking of something from you I’d love to offer you a referral of $500 – $1000 per franchise sale that you refer (um…they do have to purchase though, I can’t pay ya just to refer). That means if you refer someone to us by sending them our link www.hotmamafit.com/franchise, and they purchase before December 31, 2016…we are going to pay you. Oh yes we are.

So…do YOU know 3 people. Can YOU send 3 people our way that you think would embody love, support, community, fitness, role modeling and family? Do you know someone who is passionate about helping women, getting kids moving and is a lover of all things family? THEM. Those are the women we want to talk with.

Thank you. Thank you for reading this. Thank you for thinking about our community. Thank you for being you and supporting Hot Mama and all we are trying to push forward.

With incredible gratitude and much respect, I ask this favor of you. Please check out www.hotmamafit.com/FinishStrong for more information.

Please, help us spread the word so we can #FinishStrong in 2016