Something that I continue to struggle with on a daily basis is figuring out how to balance my professional life as a freelance writer with my responsibilities as a stay-at-home dad. Either one of those roles individually can represent an all-encompassing lifestyle on which I can define who I am. It always feels like there is never enough time; I’m typing these words at close to midnight and I could really use a good night’s sleep (or a good week’s sleep for that matter).
The more I’ve come to examine this exhausting conundrum, though, the more I’ve come to realize that the root of the problem isn’t a lack of time. Instead, it has to do with a lack of willpower. It has to do with a lack of energy. It has to do with a lack of motivation or a lack of focus. If I can better optimize how I spend my time, both as a father and as an entrepreneur, I can be more effective in both roles.
Power Your Mind and Body?
For a time, I thought that coffee could be an answer. Or at least a part of the solution. But regular coffee sometimes isn’t enough. It can perk me up temporarily and help me power through the morning, but it can oftentimes lead to a dreadful crash. And I really don’t want to turn to any sort of pharmaceuticals.
That’s why when Bulletproof Coffee asked if I would like to try their system, I jumped at the opportunity. I had heard of them before, but I thought it was just the idea of tossing a dollop of butter in with your regular hot coffee. As it turns out, there’s more to this system and that’s how you can arrive at its claimed benefits.
It starts with the coffee itself. Bulletproof has optimized its process to minimize mold toxins, which can contribute to a range of possible health issues. Lower quality coffee is oftentimes contaminated with the mycotoxins. Another key ingredient is the Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil, derived from 100% coconut oil, to provide energy quickly, boost cognitive performance, and help to burn fat, all with no crash. And finally, grass-fed unsalted butter (or ghee) adds the healthy fat to fuel your day.
I’ve written before how coffee can be good for you, but it has to start with good coffee. Many of the purported negative effects of coffee are linked to those mold toxins. Good coffee, on the other hand, can lend itself to better memory recall, improved performance, and reduced risk of type-2 diabetes. It’s even a good source of antioxidants, especially with the special roasting process used for Bulletproof upgraded coffee beans (available ground or as whole bean).
Making Bulletproof Coffee
In my household, it’s not really practical to brew up a whole pot of coffee each day since I’m really the only one who will drink it. After dabbling in a few different single cup brewing methods, including an Italian stovetop coffee maker, I’ve largely settled on my Aeropress as my contraption of choice. Bulletproof says that French press is easiest, so it’s really up to you. The system is designed to make one cup at a time.
I simply make my cup of coffee with the Aeropress as usual, add in one to two tablespoons of Brain Octane (start with less and work your way up) and one to two tablespoons of grass-fed butter. You can use grass-fed ghee instead too. Once it’s all in there, I blend for 20 to 30 seconds until it’s frothy like a latte.
I used a hand blender, for the sake of convenience, but you can just as easily use a regular blender or something like a Nutribullet. The “Bulletproof” part of the process was actually a lot easier than I had anticipated!
The more butter you use, the lighter and frothier your coffee will be. My first cup barely used one tablespoon of butter and it was decidedly darker than subsequent cups where I stepped up to 1.5 to 2 tablespoons. The Brain Octane is colorless and flavorless, so I didn’t even notice it was there. I rarely add sugar to my coffee anymore (which can lead to another crash), so this worked out perfectly.
Helping to Get Through My Day
I’ve only been drinking Bulletproof Coffee for about a week. I am not a scientist, dietitian or physician, but I can speak from my own personal experience. After drinking my first ever cup, I had a great work session for the next couple of hours. I felt more focused and the words came to me more easily. Coincidence? Maybe. Could I have had the same reaction to “regular” coffee? Perhaps. But it happened again with my second cup the next day too.
It’s obvious enough that I haven’t completely figured out this whole “work-at-home dad” thing just yet. If you are looking for something more out of your morning cup of Joe, if you’re tired of crashes and midday blahs, you might want to give Bulletproof Coffee a try. At least in the short term, it’s giving this dad a nice energy boost.
Disclosure and Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. Bulletproof Coffee provided monetary compensation and product samples in exchange for coverage. All opinions are entirely my own and reflect only my own personal experience. They should not replace medical advice.
Nice one Mike. I’d love to hear if it sustains your work and energy and all the rest. Good point about the higher quality coffee making a difference. You are what you eat, so why not eat the best stuff right?
Again, I’m no scientist or doctor or anything like that, but my personal experience is that it provides a sustained level of attention and energy for at least 2-3 hours. I didn’t get the same kind of afternoon crash that I normally do.
Completely in agreement. I have been drinking this for nearly 2 years and cannot imagine going without; which I now will not. With my own business, 3 kids and all of lives other demands it will absolutely change your life if you let it.