This morning I took some ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and bacon out of the freezer. I had no plans for what I was going to do until later in the day I became inspired to make shepherds pie. I think it must have had something to do with all the carrot rounds I had been making!
Of course it is not a traditional Shepherds Pie. I used ground turkey instead of lamb, didn't use a layer of carrots, and didn't use mashed potatoes!! Not much of a shepherds pie. lol. My layers include ground turkey in a tomato sauce (with bacon and hidden shredded cauliflower), shredded zucchini and carrot, and sweet potato/pumpkin mash. I hid the cauliflower in the meat sauce because I am hoping my husband and Avery at least eat the meat sauce. LOL. I made Aver some individual sized pies and skipped the veggie layer... baby steps!!
Ingredients:
- Ground Turkey -- I just used a prepacked chunk, I have no idea what it weighed
- Bacon -- use as little or as much as you like. I cooked the whole pack, but Ave and I ate at least 1/2 of it ;-)
- Sundried Tomatoes -- use as many as you like. I love them so I use lots (probably 3 forkfulls) I buy mine pre-shredded at Costco
- 1 can diced tomatoes -- I used a medium sized can
- 1 can tomato paste
- shredded cauliflower -- this you can use as little or as much as you want. I wanted it subtle, so I probably used 1/4 cauliflower head
- shredded zucchini, and carrot -- I just used up whatever was in my fridge and I used all I had
- 2 sweet potatoes
- pureed pumpkin -- I used leftover canned pumpkin. Just make sure its not sweetened
- salt and pepper to taste
- cinnamon
Directions:
- Roast sweet potatoes until soft -- I cooked one in the microwave from frozen.
- Remove skins and mash.
- Add equal amounts of pumpkin and mix well.
- Add cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside mash.
- In a large skillet, cook up the bacon. Crumble/chop the bacon and set aside. Try not to eat it all!
- throw your shredded zucchini and carrots in remaining bacon fat and cook - place in a bowl and set aside.
- cook the cauliflower in remaining bacon grease - place in a bowl and set aside I needed a little more fat, so I tossed in a little extra bacon grease (we keep ours stored)
- add ground turkey and sundried tomatoes into skillet and brown turkey I kept chopping mine up to avoid big chunks
- add the bacon, diced tomatoes and tomato paste and mix well
- add cooked cauliflower to the mix
- Begin layering your dish (oven safe). I used pyrex dishes Meat mixture, veggies, mash.
- place in the oven and bake at 350 until sauce bubbles- 15-20 min, and broil for 10 minutes to brown the mash
My recipe intructions are not written as beautifully as most blogs, but you get the point! LOL
I hope you enjoy it....
Happy Eating!!
JoJo!!
Yes! You heard me right, the proof is in not eating the pudding? What does this mean?!?! It means that I have cut out sugars and made some pretty significant changes! In the first 6 days I lost 5 pounds, 2.75 inches off my belly, 0.5 inches from my hips, and 1.8 inches from my love handles. I would say that is success!! The nice part is, the last time I weighed myself, I had maintained the weight loss!! I will weigh in again tomorrow, and take my week 2 measurements.
Has this been easy? Yes and No.
What Has Been Easy?
- Surprisingly -- not drinking wine. The have been some tough days with Avery where I would not have minded a glass, but not big deal
- Not eating sweet potatoes. I have introduced so many other great foods/veggies, that I have not really missed them as much as I thought I would
- not eating all the fruit. I have not even had my daily dose of fruit, there have been days that I have not eaten any fruit
What Has Been Difficult?
-the energy levels. I have not felt an uplift in my energy. In fact, I feel more tired than I ever did before the detox. Granted I am working out more, but I sitll feel the detox is effecting it.
- work out recovery. I am finding it much more difficult to recover from my workouts. My muscles seem to be sore much longer than usual.
- I cant run!! My runs have really been suffering. I am sucking wind badly. Doesnt seem like I have enough glycogen stores to get through a 16km run! I did read somewhere that it really takes 3-6 weeks to become fat adjusted and to stop depending on carbs.
How Do I Feel?
Like CRAP! LOL. I am tired and frustrated. I thought this was supposed to decrease the fatigue, but I feel like it has increased. I am frustrated because my workouts, specifically my runs are suffering. I dont want to give up on the challenge, but I really expected better results (energy wise)
On a positive note, I feel great about the weight loss and the size changes. That is one of my big reasons for doing this. I also feel good about myself for sticking to it. I'm pretty proud of myself for that one. I am excited for my next weigh in and my next set of measurements. I am really hoping to see some more progress. I dont expect to have lost another 5lbs and 3 inches, but I would like to see a little change.
Have I Cheated?
Sort of. I made Avery some gluten free pizza, it used almond flour and tapioca flour. I did taste the crust, it was DELICIOUS!! I can not find anywhere in the 21DSD in the manuel that tapioca flour is off limits, but is is questionably paleo, so I would assume its not safe, but OH WELL!! At least now I know now what I want for my treat day when I am done the detox!!!
SORRY I HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATING!! I have been so tired by the end of the day, that I just want to go to sleep, so I do!!
Until next time!!
JoJo!!
Well I missed updating you on thew past few days, so I thought I would catch up, (although a little prematurely for today, but I'm confident I will stick with it today).
So far so good! I am sticking to the plan! I think I am kind of in the swing of things now, so it really doesn't seem too bad. I have to stop myself from finishing Avery's breakfast (paleo fruit/nut muffins and fruit), and I have to stop myself from licking my fingers when making Avery's food, but otherwise I seem to be doing well!!
MIND OVER MATTER. THE RESULTS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, AND THE PROCESS OF GETTING THOSE RESULTS IS MAKING ME STRONGER!!
What Am I eating?
Breakfast - is usually a left over scramble (meaning dinners left overs are thrown into some scrambled eggs, or if I'm working out in the morning it is a 1/2 green tipped banana and a muffin.
Lunch - if I worked out I have my left over scramble for lunch. If I am running in the evening I like to have some protien and veggies for lunch (i need a dinner meal), if I have no plans I enjoy a salad
Dinner - this varies depending on how much time I have. If there are left overs, I eat those. Or I make some combination of protein and veggies. Last night I made chicken burgers (ground chicken, ginger, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes) with a portobello mushroom bun, and pan-fried veggies (beets, zucchini, onion and parsnip)
How Am I Feeling?
It's really hard for me to say. I just got off the antibiotics, I'm not feeling sick anymore, although I have an awful sore throat.
I ran 15km today, and felt much better than I have been on my runs over the last few weeks. With that said, I crashed towards the end of the run. Did I crash because I need to eat when I am running, I need to adjust to the diet a little more, or am I not ready to run that far, that fast? I started biking, and yoga, is that why my legs are tired, or am I missing something I need in my diet?
Something I think I am dealing with is the sugar withdrawl. I am getting headaches. Lots of headaches. Not a fun side effect at all, but I does tell me that I was probably eating too much sugar, because my body has become dependent on it. I was a sugar addict!!
Anyways, that's really it for now. I am going to tough out these headaches, try to get a little more sleep, and make sure I am drinking enough water!!
Still Detoxing,
JoJo!!
JoJo
