Meal Prep

So my meal prepping is probably the most basic in the whole world.  I am not a serious hard core muscle builder, so I'm not taking time measuring any nutrients out or anything like that.  This is the most simple way that I know how to do it, and it helps a lot when I'm running around and have seconds to pack a whole days worth of meals in the morning.
If you read my last post you saw everything I got on my grocery list, so I will just hop right in to what I prepare!

• Cucumbers and celery- I was and cut these up so that they're in ready to eat pieces.  They make a great addition to a lunch, or they're great for snacking in the middle of the day! If they're ready to eat I will be more likely to eat them and they will be less likely to sit in the back of my fridge and rot!
• Brown rice- I find that 2 cups of rice normally lasts me the longest without going bad or anything, so I boil that and put it in one big Tupperware.  I'll spoon it out and warm it up as I need it.  I think it saves more space rather than putting it out in separate containers. 
• Chicken- I normally do 4 chicken breasts at once.  This time I did two of them with my famous seasoning and the other two I just used low sodium teriyaki sauce. I cut the cooked pieces into littler pieces and put them into containers.  This way it's easier to just throw them over rice or over a salad or however I want to eat them. 

And that's basically all I do.  If I need to make a batch of granola for the week I usually would do that too, but I had plenty to last me for the week.  There are things that I eat throughout the week that don't get prepared on meal prep days.  Since the chicken sausage I buy is already pre cooked I will just cut that up the day I want to have it and warm it up with my rice.  I also use the steam fresh veggies, just because it's easier to me, so I will steam those on a daily basis too.  I make sweet potato fries basically almost every day (I'm beyond obsessed with them) but I have found that they taste better when they're cut fresh, so I cut those up on the day that I cook them as well. 

I hoped this helped some of you who are looking to start meal prepping! Like I said in the beginning this is totally just a basic routine, and just what I normally do on a weekly basis. 

xoxo, 

Summer

Grocery Haul!

Hey guys! So I don't know about you, but I'm OBSESSED with grocery shopping.  It's one of my favorite past times.  No idea why, but something about it is just so relaxing to me..please tell me I'm not the only one.  Tonight I went on a much needed grocery trip.  I literally was out of EVERYTHING. I had been snacking on a pack of club crackers for the past 2 days (so sad, I know) anyway, I thought I'd share with you the things that I picked up.  I know back to school is starting, and once school time comes around it's so easier to just grab fast food on your way home, or go out for late night snacks while studying.  My plan is to post some easy recipes on here for y'all that can help curb your cravings, and still not completely ruining your diet! I have some great breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner ideas that I think everyone can enjoy! As a disclaimer I am by no meas a nutritionist, and I know only what I've read about health. I just eat what makes ME feel my best.  I know that not everything I eat or buy at the grocery store is healthy either..but I just do what works for ME.  Hopefully this will inspire you guys to clean up your cart a little, if one person gets inspired than my job here is done.

• steamed veggies packs
• frozen berries
• sweet potatoes
• lettuce
• celery
• cucumber
• yogurt
• almond milk
• sharp cheddar cheese
• deli turkey
• deli provolone cheese
• coffee drinks
• chicken sausage
• balance bars
• raisin bran crunch
• skinny pop
• pita bread
• caramel corn rice cakes

This grocery haul cost about $73 and should last me about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks.  I didn't need to buy chicken this time around because I have a bunch from the last time.  I will be posting my meal prep routine in the very near future....I PROMISE!! And I'll be posting snack recipes and lunch on the go ideas as well! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I will talk to you soon! 

xoxo

Fitness Routine!

Well hello everyone! It has been a long time-as always-what other way would I start out a blog post?!

Today I'm going to share with you my fitness routine and what I eat!
I always love these types of blog posts and watching these videos on YouTube, and I'm feeling very inspired today, so I thought why not?! Let me add in a disclaimer that I have no idea what I'm talking about.  This is just what I do to keep myself in shape, and it works for ME! Everyone is different, so if these things don't work for you, or I don't do things how I should please keep in mind that I'm just a normal person who lives this lifestyle.

We will start off with exercise:
The types of workouts I do depend on my work schedule.  On days that I do have to work, I go to the gym.  I'll normally do 30 minutes of treadmill, followed by 30 minutes of the elliptical.  On the treadmill I don't do anything too special.  It really just depends on how I feel that day. Sometimes I just walk, sometimes I jog, sometimes I run on an incline, so you get the picture.  After I finish those I will go over to the free weights, and just do all different kinds of workouts with those.  I really just make things up as I go.  If I do the same thing over and over again, I just get bored, so I like to switch it up a lot.  Then after I get my arms burning I will go and do 2 circuits around the weight machines that my gym has. I also love the fitness classes that my gym has to offer, and when I get time I like to attend those.  I think working out in a class setting can get you more motivated.  I try to do a pilates and yoga class once a week, and then a lifting or kettle bells class twice a week.
On days that I don't have to go to work I like to spend my time outside! I'll go to my local park and I usually jog/walk any where from 6-8 miles.  I use the Nike Running app to track my distance, and I listen to various stations on the Songza app.  My favorite one at the moment is the Get Pumped: Pop Anthems play list..literally amazing. It's got everything from Britney to N*Sync to Rhianna and Katy Perry.  I need that upbeat music when I work out or I would go crazy.
Anyway..I do this 6 times a week, whether it's in the gym or outside.  Sundays are my rest days only because I normally have to work open-close, and am exhausted afterwards.

My Food:
Now I just recently got into prepping my meals, and I don't know why on earth I didn't start doing this earlier.  It is a blessing! Here is an example of what I'll eat on a daily basis:

Breakfast- scrambled egg whites on whole wheat toast
After I finish my workout - Smoothie- one banana, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, spinach, yogurt, water (I really just keep adding things until it tastes good, it keeps me full for most of the day)
Lunch- I eat one of my premade meals- ground beef with tomatoes, onions, green onions, green peppers, and spinach...It's basically like amazing taco filling that doesn't have taco seasoning on it..and brown rice.
Dinner- Chicken breast and veggies- I make mine beforehand, I just cook it in a pan with olive oil, lemon juice, and dill weed. For vegetables I really just eat what I have on hand; broccoli, mixed veggies, brussel sprouts, whatever.

And that's basically it.  Now I'm not all healthy all the time, I still like to go out and eat restaurant food...I am obsessed with chocolate, and I ALWAYS have some type of chocolate on hand, and I like alcohol.  The trick is to not deprive yourself.  I'm in no way unhappy...ever..I eat what I want, when I want, but pre-making my meals makes it so easy for me to just grab something and heat it up..especially since I don't have a normal set schedule.

This is what works for me, and I've lost about 10 lbs and went down a whole size since really kicking this routine into gear! I hope it has inspired you to get your booty up and moving!

My Favorite Chicken Dish

This post should probably be titled 'One of my Favorite Chicken Dishes' because I am basically obsessed with chicken. But this is one of the top ones, and boyfriend and I have been eating it a lot lately, so I decided to share!

Ingredients:

• sweet peppers (red, orange, yellow)
• 2 chicken breasts (or 4 chicken tenders)
• taco seasoning
• brown rice
• queso

Obviously from the ingredients you can tell that this recipe has a LOT of room to make it your own, and that's one of the reasons I love it so much. I tweek it a little each time and it always comes out different. By the way I got this idea from the dish that my boyfriend always gets at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. (a true hidden Memphis gem...seriously, someone's even been shot there!) But anyway, I highly encourage you to make it your own and add new stuff each time! Let me know if you try it and hash tag your pics with #perfectbelleblog. I'd love to try new ideas! 

How To Make! 

• First you want to start your rice, because cooking rice literally takes FOREVER. Brown rice is my all time favorite, but we have had it with Spanish rice as well, and it's just as good. 
• Next, cut up your peppers. I use the sweet mini peppers you can buy at the store in a big bag.  I'm obsessed with these because they cut into the perfect little pepper rings, and I love to snack on them. I find that the perfect balance is about 4 red ones, 3 orange, and 2 yellow. 
• Add the peppers to a preheated pan (medium heat) with a little water and put the lid on.  Only let it sit like this for about 2 minutes before adding the chicken because it WILL BURN. 
• Add the chicken.  You can cut it up or leave it whole.  I like to cut it up while it's cooking, cause that's the easiest way for me to tell if the chicken is done or not. (I have a horrible fear of eating raw or under-cooked anything). 
• Once the chicken has browned up a little sprinkle in your taco seasoning.  I use probably less than a table spoon, but really I just eyeball it until it looks like enough. 

• Let your chicken finish cooking and sample the peppers to make sure they're not crunchy anymore.  Turn the heat off and add in your queso.  You can honestly pour as much as your little heart desires.  I mean...it's queso, so go all out.  Let the cheese warm up a little bit and then serve the mixture over rice! 

I hope y'all get a chance to try this out, because it seriously is so yummy!! 

In other totally unrelated news, IT'S CHRISTMAS BREAK! Although I still have to work, I have a TON more free time, so expect more blog posts! yay! I'm so excited, and I have some good idea!! 

Stay Sweet!

xoxo, 

Summer