Christina Greve

Maximizing Your Creative Output — 4 Powerful Tips

4 Must know ways to maximize your creative output

When I was growing up, I knew I was a creative soul—every day I had a strong desire to create something.

I would hurry home from school to draw, paint and make my own sculptures, and when I was 11 I started designing my own clothes. Yet creativity always seemed to be a struggle.

I was rarely proud of my creations. I doubted my skills. I always felt I could do better. But worst of all: I believed that if I didn’t create something amazing, it meant that I wasn’t good enough.

I put all of my value as a person into the art I created, the same way that some adults put all of their identity into their career.

At times it made me a really depressed and frustrated young girl!

Then in my twenties I gave up, using the biggest excuse of them all to quit my creative projects: I´m not good enough. (Feel free to nod if this sounds familiar).

Luckily one day I realized the truth. (Doing work in psychology for many years has some benefits…lol).

I learned the following:

A) I am not my art and my art does not define my value as a person.

Even though creating art is a very personal matter, it does not define ALL of you. You are much more than what you create!

B) I was focusing on making a perfect final result, and in the aim for that, I forgot to enjoy the creative process. I forgot to have fun – I was to serious!

I thought my value as a person was related to what I created—I needed people to love what I made. I was fishing for approval via my art. How people judged my work controlled how I felt about myself.

Therefore, I was so eager to create something perfect, it made me forget that any creative process should be fun, playful and exciting!

Creativity flourishes when things are done for enjoyment. Joy matters as much—if not more—than “getting it right.” What matters is the pleasure—not perfection.

Today, the final result in my creative process is no longer a concern. If I create a stunning photograph, then great, if not—I simply delete it!

It’s pretty simple when you think about it, but I used to make it so complicated!

I believe that as a photographer, creativity is essential to success, so how do you maximize your creative output?

Here’s what I know to be true:

1. Creativity is not magic and there’s no such thing as a “creative type.”

Creativity is not a trait that we inherit in our genes or a blessing bestowed by the angels. It’s a skill. Anyone can learn to be creative and get better at it—and that includes you!

Action Step: Over the next month, decide which skill you’ll put effort into learning—and enjoy how it will benefit your creative mind.

2. The creative process will never be easy, no matter how much you learn about it.

Instead of taking your art so seriously, focus on making it about passion, desire, fun, joy, experiments, humor and child-like play.

While creativity can be a challenge, the work goes more smoothly if you take it lightly. Humor greases the wheels of creativity. When you’re joking around, you’re more free to consider any possibility, after all, you’re simply having fun.

Having fun helps you disarm the inner censor that all too quickly condemns your ideas as stupid or wrong.

Action Step: Creativity takes root in childhood. For the child, life is a creative adventure. Spend some time recalling how you loved to play as a child. Write down ways you could bring back that spark into your creative work today. I promise, you’ll score some fun ideas!

3. Daydream your way to more creative thinking.

Taking time out to daydream will boost your creativity. Studies shows that people who daydream more score higher on various tests of creativity.

That’s exactly why you should take breaks: to rest, relax and enjoy time alone.

Action Step: Keep a daydream journal and write down everything you’d love to happen. Go wild and unleash your wildest dreams. You can even be a princess if you like—there are no rules! Tapping into your dreams in this way will open your mind to more creative ideas.

4. Expose your five senses to pleasurable activities.

This is my favorite tip! In my opinion, nothing evokes creativity like nurturing your senses. Make it your goal to expose your senses to pleasure—daily or at least weekly.

Hearing, seeing, smelling, touching and tasting are your five sense. Treat your senses as if they were your children. They need caring—and they need to play and explore new things.

One of the reasons that people love to travel is because when we’re out of our usual element, all of our senses are exploring new experiences and pleasures.

Action Step: Think about how you can spoil your senses during your everyday life—then make an effort to follow through.

Leave a comment below and share which action step you´d like to try + feel free to share what YOU normally do when your creativity needs a boost.

Know someone who would benefit from reading this blog post? Tweet, Like, Pin and share. Thank you

As always, thank you so very much for reading along.

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Truth Bomb Monday: The Camera Don´t Really Matter

Christina Greve on Instagram

Let´s kick off my new blog series; Truth Bomb Monday

Photographer Ansel Adams once said;

“You don’t make a photograph just with your camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”

I think this is so true!

The camera don´t really matter; it´s like golf. Winning is all about the golfer, not the club.

So dear photographer, no matter how wonderful it is to have fancy, expensive camera, never use the lack of it as an excuse not to be creative

Happy Monday

(iPhone snapshot, edited with Picfx)

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5 easy ways to become a better photographer

If you think being a great photographer is all about taking stunning photos, think again. While gorgeous photos are certainly a part of your success, there’s more involved to becoming a standout photographer.

Here, I share 5 ways you can rise even higher in your field—and trust me, these tips are not difficult to implement into your life and business. You’ll find that once you do, your career will flourish even more.

1. Stop comparing yourself to other photographers

Comparing yourself is a big no-no.

Never, ever compare your creative journey with someone else’s. Doing so is a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you. They may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every person has their own pace.

Your journey is your journey—and you may as well enjoy the beauty of it.

When it comes to photography, you will never “arrive”—no one ever does. There is so much to learn in our business, so if you waste time looking over your shoulders and comparing yourself to others, you´ll loose valuable time, time you can invest in growing your art and your business.

Enjoy your journey and celebrate your art♥.

2. Join a network of like-minded, kind and creative people

There’s power and magic in community.

If I hadn’t joined a photography network of like-minded people, I would definitely not be at the level I am today. When I was a beginner in 2009, I joined a photo community—unaware of how much it would affect my work.

I was fortunate and very lucky to meet many wonderful people, many of whom gave me caring feedback and heartwarming comments. Their support helped me grow and develop my photographs—and today, they are still in my heart and in my network.

Facebook has many great photography networks, and you can also join sites like 500px, flickr, Instagram and many others. One thing I noticed when participating in a group: the more active you are, the more beneficial your experience will be because you’ll connect with others and learn from them.

When you join a group, seek out friendly supporters who lift your spirit and help you believe in yourself, and avoid socializing with criticizers. Although positive criticism can improve your photography, sometimes it can be demoralizing.

If you think criticism is affecting you negatively, avoid it until you can handle it. Ignore those who try to bring you down and have no good photographs to show. And you don’t have to remain in a group if it’s not for you; networking should be a positive (and fun) learning experience.

3. Say no to competing with other photographers—you’re on your own journey

Another important step in becoming a better photographer is to stop competing with other photographers in your area. Instead of trying to keep up with your competition, forget about them and do your own thing! In fact, you are much better off if you never look at what other photographers in your area are doing.

Listen to your heart, and only your heart.

Ask yourself how can you create a better business for your clients. What can you change or improve to make them feel important and welcome? Your heart is the foundation of your wisdom; love is intelligent; and knows the truth of things. Use that power to shine as a photographer and eliminate any concerns about the competition.

If you need a dose of inspiration, look at entrepreneurs/shops/businesses outside of your field.

Which shops/businesses do you absolutely adore?
Which shops/businesses inspire you so much they make your heart pump faster?
What do you admire about them?

When you look around for inspiration, you can improve your own business and set yourself apart from other photographers in your local area. You’ll be amazed at the results!

4. Take a break from the camera—and do something else

I know how much you love photography. You may even feel that you can’t live without it. I know how easy it is to fall into overworking at something you love. But I want to tell you that taking a break is beneficial to your work, your business, you life.

Passion is a strength—it´s your fuel and your drive. But overworking can hurt you. Sometimes the signs are obvious: you’re not fully engaged in your work; you’re not feeling enthusiastic; it’s causing you stress; and so on. Working at something you’re so passionate about can put you at risk for burnout, so it’s important to take periodic breaks.

Make it a priority to take time away from work, to rest, walk, lay on the beach, read a book, exercise, meet with friends…whatever inspires you and makes you feel good. After some time away you’ll return to your photography feeling rejuvenated—and ready to create!

5. Stop selling yourself short

Are you keeping your prices lower than the competition?

It might sound like a good idea; it’s how supermarkets get the ball rolling. And it’s tempting because of the economic crisis. But trust me when I tell you: it doesn’t work in the photography field.

Your pricing structure is one of the core fundamentals in business that leads to success. The cheaper you sell yourself, the harder you have to work! What will happen when you set a low fee? You’ll get lots of price-shopping clients to book you, you’ll work your butt of and possibly burn out—not so fun, right?

There’s a better option: You can charge a fee that will a.) make sure you don’t work under pressure and b.) support the amount of time you spend on a client.

This way you’ll feel happy when you work—and plus you’ll have more time with your family.

The higher your price, the more time you’ll have to spoil your clients, do your finest post-processing and brand your business.

And let’s be honest here: Price-shopping clients do not often value all the work and effort you put into it. True, isn’t it?

If you do want to keep your prices in the lower range, consider doing mini-sessions. Not everyone wants to have a full photo session if they’re just looking for a nice photo for their Facebook page, their web site or for an invitation.

Offering mini sessions can be a great way to make extra sales. Not only do they take less time, but you also have the opportunity to make the client fall in love with you and your work. They might end up spending more money than planned, because they just have to have the images—and they’ll talk about you to all their friends.

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

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Photoshop: How to Reduce Shine on Oily Skin

If a client have oily skin, the best thing is to cover it with powder. If you don´t work with a make up artist, make sure to have powder and a brush in your bag in case you need it.

The key is not to add to much powder, as it can make the skin look lifeless and boring – but to much shine is not good either, as it can take to much focus away from your subject.

Another way to deal with shine on oily skin is to fix it in Photoshop. It´s really easy and quick!

Here´s how I do it:

How to reduce oily skin in photoshop

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Pin it to win it | Elegant & Feminine Camera Bag

The Giveaway has ended – the winner is Unnur Osk Kristinsdottir

(Winner please email me within a week to claim your price, thank you)

Pin it to win it | Your chance to win a fabulous Camera Bag (Value $184)

I´m thrilled and delighted! My blog and my photography business turns 4 years this month! It´s amazing how much has happened during those 4 years and I´m thankful for everything I´ve learned, all the wonderful and heartwarming people I´ve meet and all the fun I´ve experienced. WOW!

Of course it calls for a celebration! So this week, I´m giving away one exclusive camera bag – fit for a true photography diva

The bag is from Shootbags and comes in the most perfect Spring/Summer color; turquoise. The bag is just what you need to bring your camera + lenses, safely with you, on locations and on your travels.

Follow the rules carefully to enter:

1. Pin five images from www.christinagreve.com. Choose from your favorite blog posts.

2. Leave a comment below this blog post with a link to your pinterest profile, so I can find you, if you win.

3. Go to Pinterest and follow all boards on Christina Greve

The winner will be announced Tuesday May 7 – here on the www.christinagreve.com blog.

All nationalities are welcome to enter – I ship to all countries.

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Moodbard | Mesmerize me with pastel tones

Moodboard by Christina Greve

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Your heart knows the truth of things

Image by Christina Greve

Listen to your heart, and only your heart.

Not the voices of friends, family, strangers, magazines, tv….not the critical voice inside your own head. Listen to your heart!

Your heart is the foundation of your wisdom; love is intelligent; and knows the truth of things.

The Heart can see further than the eyes. It can see the truth behind appearances.

It knows what you should do in each and every situation you find yourself in.

When you trust your heart, you find your true power!

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A little piece of Heaven | Falsled inn

Falsled inn by Christina Greve

Last week I had the honor of visiting a little piece of heaven. Invited by a dear friend of mine, we took of to have a bit of fun, and some well deserved rest.

Falsled is a gourmet restaurant and inn in Denmark. Located outside the town of Fåborg, Falsled Kro is one of Denmark’s finest gourmet inns. Once a 16th-century smuggler’s inn, it is now a premiere Relais & Châteaux property, nestled in the beautiful, peaceful Danish countryside on the Island Fyn.

The inn is famous for its gourmet dining experience. The chef, Per and his great team, prepares a French-style cuisine using local ingredients from the area.

The service is exquisite, from arrival to the sad farewell. The only thing I was missing was green leaves on the trees. Even though the weather has changed lately and we are able to enjoy some lovely spring weather, the danish trees are still naked. Hopefully within the next two weeks that will change dramatically

I love exploring little cosy corners of my country, since I did not see much of it as a child. Next month I´m going to the Island of Møn to visit friends and in June I´m taking Mr.dj on a retreat to the Island of Fanø. Both places have such stunning nature and history. Can´t wait!

Falsled inn by Christina Greve

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5 ways to prepare for Spring/Summer photo sessions

Today we had our first warm Spring day in Denmark. Yesterday it was freezing and today almost Summer conditions. Needless to say the weather has been talk of the town all day!

Inspired by the delicate sunshine and the singing birds, I decided to write some tips about starting the Spring/Summer outdoor photo session season. I personally LOVE to photograph my clients out in the open. It´s a little more work, but it´s all worth it.

Here´s the deal:

1. Scout for new interesting locations

It´s good to have a handful of great locations, consisting of places you´ve worked before. When you know a location well, you know the best shooting angles, the best backgrounds and the best time a day to shoot there, it makes your job less stressful. You are in control and can concentrate much more on giving great service to your client. You can get the pictures done in less time without tiring out your subject.

Challenge yourself to choose 5 different locations. Make sure to test them to see how they work in practice.

When looking at locations, bear in mind that you’re probably going to use a wide aperture for most portraits, to create a shallow depth of field. Look for a background that will give interest without dominating.

Personally I like to pick places which are located in quiet areas without to many people around. Take a weekend to drive around and investigate your local area and see which great new places you can find for your Spring/Summer photo sessions.

You can take pictures of the location to show to your clients, to help them decide what they like.

By Photographer Christina Greve

2. Fine-tune your style

Ask yourself if it´s time to fine-tune your personal style. I´m not talking about big changes, but more small adjustments to improve your overall style. Do you always use that same old hat on your subject or put them in that same old chair? Is it time for a change and for finding new amazing props for this season?

Look at ways you can challenge yourself to improve shooting angles, composition, lighting and styling. Don´t try to change to much at once, but decide for two or three small changes, that will instantly add something new to your photos.

By photographer Christina Greve

3. Get new clients to book you

There are many ways to get new clients to book you. What will work wonders this season, as well as in the long run, is having honest client testimonials on your website. Spend a few hours writing old clients, which you have had a great connection with and ask them for their testimonial.

For a testimonial to inspire potential clients to book you, it needs to say much more than “great work!” A perfect testimonial should describe the reason why the client chose to work with you, and it should outline the results. The more real and specific the details, the better.

Post the testimonials on your website. Know that they will work even stronger if you post it together with a picture of your client.

Another great tip is to send one or two gift vouchers to old customers. One they can use if they choose to re-book you this season, and one they can pass on to a friend aka potential client. Offer something like an extra free print, extra photos or a free make up session before the shoot.

By photographer Christina Greve

4. Consider hiring an assistant

Shooting on location can be a bit demanding at times. There´s a lot more to consider than if you´re shooting in a studio. You need to handle all sorts of weather conditions so it can be handy with some help.

If you are shooting during the day when the sun is high on the sky, your assistant can help you hold a diffuser or reflector. Also I like to have someone to watch over my gear when I´m working. I get so focused looking into the camera and often tend to move away from my stuff. I´ve never gotten anything stolen, but you can never be to careful when working in a public place.

The assistant can also help your client change clothes and make sure they have something to drink + be your second eye during the shoot.

Often you can get a photography student to help you out for free, in exchange for tips and advices about photography. If you have an assistant with you, you are able to dedicate your full attention to your image making + give the best support to your client.

By photographer Christina Greve

5. Create a Spring/Summer offer

Make sure to let your costumers know that you have special events going on for the coming season. Make special deals and events, like, “End of School”, “Super model for a day”, “Beach sessions” and “Summer break session” ect.

The more you can talk with excitement about your own events the better. Make your marketing a constant process of fun and inspiring events. If you are super excited about your own ideas and events, chances are your costumers will be too.

What about you, do you love to shoot on outdoor locations? Do you have a favorite location?

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21 days of detox – How I did it

Detox with Christina Greve

Yesterday I ended my 21 days detox cleanse!

Many of you have asked how I did it, what I ate and how I´m feeling now. I will try to cover all of that in this post.

The detox was a challenge I gave myself for several reasons. I wanted to:

do something good for my body, after a long period with tons of work and little time to take care of me.
take control over my cravings for coffee, wine, chocolate and cheese – which I got way to much of.
feel healthy and full of energy.
see if it would make me look younger
loose weight.

I´m no expert in detox. Everything in this blog post is simply to share the journey I´ve been on for the past three weeks. I´ve done this detox my own way. Before I started I read about different detox plans and tips. I knew I didn´t like the ones about starving yourself, as I don´t believe it´s good for your body. For me it was important to give my body as many nutrients and vitamins as possible.

The detox plans that inspired me the most was The Clean Diet, Simple Green Smoothies and Juicing Vegetables. So if you are interested in doing a detox yourself, I truly recommend that you look into the guidelines for those diets. I took the best tips from each of them, the ideas I liked the most and made my own detox plan.

My detox plan looks like this (recipe further down this page):

Breakfast: green smoothie with supplements

Snack: a glass of vegetables juice + 7 almonds

Lunch: a salade or a healthy pizza

Snack: fruit or vegetable juice

Dinner: a glass of vegetables juice + 7 almonds + a sliced apple

With this diet I was never hungry (except for day one) – all the veggies makes you feel full. The body adjust so quickly to the new diet and the smaller meals.

For 21 days I didn´t eat:

Bread, cereal, pasta, rice, ect.
Diary products like milk, cream, cheese, butter, ect.
Alcohol, wine, champagne
Sweets, chocolate, cakes, ice cream, ect.
Coffee, soft drinks, ect.
Meat – I got two slices of serano ham twice a week, that´s all.

For 21 days I only ate:

Vegetables
fruits
Nuts
Water
Green tea
Small amounts of chicken, salmon and serano ham
A spoon of parmesan cheese twice a week
Supplements

Week 1

So a week before Easter I jumped right into it, honestly with a little doubt that I was able follow through.

But sometimes it´s great to start before you are ready, before you believe you can do it and just learn along the way.

The first week was hard! I knew that there would be different reactions from my body due to the detox, so I embraced it as good as I could. The first three days I almost slept non-stop. I was extremely tired…my body was working hard to get rid of the toxin – all my energy was gone because of it. After three days of sleep I started to feel a little more energy, but I also had a bad headache and that headache stayed with me for the first 8 days!

I couldn´t take any pain-killers as that would ruin the cleanse of my body, so I rested as much as I could in stead. All the rest gave me plenty of time to think and one thought that came to me often was this: ”my body must really need this detox cleanse when it´s reacting so extreme” Honestly I was a bit chocked to realize that.

I was constantly craving coffee – big time…my body was screaming for it! (Properly the headache was because of caffeine addiction). I had severe mood swings, which I normally never (almost never..hhrrmmff) have. My mood could swing from extremely sad/angry/feeling sorry for myself to extreme happiness/hyper energy/feeling proud of myself…. it could change within minutes! Needless to say my family was a bit confused…lol.. but they were great supporters.

In the end of the week I started to make perfect poo – oh, sorry to be so direct…but it was more or less the only way I could see positive progress in the first week

I didn´t do any exercise during the first week. The body needs peace and relaxation to get rid of as much toxic as possible.

Detox by Christina Greve

Week 2

Week two was amazing. I lost weight, my skin started to look firm, the white in my eyes started to look whiter and I had so much energy. I still had mood swings but I was joyful most of the time with only a few downs. The headache was completely gone – which was nice!

I found a daily rythme for preparing the food I was eating. I found it fun and interesting to experiment and learn even more about detoxing the body.

I still had a cravings….again the coffee craving was worst – but also chocolate…sigh… I was surprised that I didn´t miss cheese, milk, wine, bread at all….which was really new to me.

Week two was a challenge in other ways. I had several big events to go to. A design shop opening + a photoshoot in Hambourg, a birthday party and a music event in the Museum of modern art in Copenhagen.

I knew I had to spend a long time on the road and in restaurants, and couldn´t just go to my kitchen to prepare my detox food. I packed a big bag of fruits and nuts and crossed my fingers that I would be able to find some healthy places to eat.

Detox by Christina Greve

It was my first time in Hambourg and I really liked the city. I was surprised to find many, many healthy places to eat. Even the hotel I stayed at (Hotel Gastwerk) had a wonderful big healthy breakfast to indulge in. I was happy and no one seemed to raise an eyebrow due to my healthy eating – not even when I turned down the most delicious cupcakes!

Copenhagen made it hard to follow my detox – I was not lucky to find myself at places with a healthy selection of food. For the first time during my detox I had to starve myself a little, instead of eating the wrong things. Just before the concert I did manage to get a smoothie and some salmon. At the concert I started of in a really great mood – I was almost hyper, but in the end I got tired and thirsty…and a bit annoyed with everyone who had a delicious alcohol drink in their hand Mood swings again!

Detox by Christina Greve

Week 3

During week three I started doing a little bit of running and fitness again. I noticed that I had much more energy to exercise. I normally get tired easily when I´m in the gym, but that was no longer an issue. Just fabulous!

My skin looks great, my small wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes are gone. My skin has a healthy glow and I think I look a little younger. My cellulitis has dramatically been reduced. What´s not to like about that!

I sleep like a baby during the night, don´t wake to go to the toilette anymore and I easily wake up in the morning.

I feel calm, stress-free, happy. The mood swings are gone. The coffee cravings are (finally) completely gone. Honestly I don´t even feel like drinking coffee again!! How did that happend? I don´t feel like eating red meat and bread anymore….what!!… and I don´t even know what milk is!

My body is asking for other things now. I´m craving foods like, ginger, almonds, celery, beetroot and wheat grass!

I´ve lost close to a total of 11 pounds (5 kilos).

I still miss chocolate…

The most surprisingly thing is, that I don´t want to go back to my normal way of eating. I don´t miss it. I don´t miss the feeling of carrying a heavy body. I don´t miss the stomach ache I used to have to often. I don´t miss looking old with puffy eyes.

I´m going to continue throughout May and June. I´ll make a few adjustments though. I´ll add more healthy protein to my diet, so I can exercise more, and raise my metabolisme. On Fridays and/or Saturdays I will allow myself to eat what I want. The rest of the week I´ll keep eating a clean raw diet. I call this the 20/80 rule. (80% RAW food/vegetables and 20% others).

My simple eating plan

Every morning I start with a healthy smoothie. Be careful, because not all smoothies are healthy and not all smoothies will help you detox. I like to make a green smoothie and add some supplements to it, to optimize it even more. I add coconut oil or coconut juice, wheat grass, fibers, essential oil and protein plant based powder. You can get lots of inspiration for green smoothies here, Simple Green Smoothies

Christina´s Green Morning Smoothie

half a banana
3 slices of cantaloupe melon
juice from half a lemon
a chunk of ginger
a handful of fresh spinach leaves
half an avocado
6-7 ice cubes
1,5 cup fresh pressed apple juice

If you like, you can add supplements. I added the following:

1 teaspoon of Pukka fiber plus - good for the stomach, makes you full longer.
1 teaspoon of Pukka wheat grass - gives you energy, better mood, helps you detox.
1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil - great for the skin and organs. Makes you full longer and gives energy.
1 tablespoon of Oil of life or Womens Essentials oils - energize your body, improve skin and hair. Lot´s of vitamines.
1/2 a teaspoon of Stevia (natural sweetener) – optional
2 tablespoons of plant based protein powder - builds muscles, boost your digestive system, makes you full longer. I don´t like protein powder very much, so every other day I leave it out and eat a few almonds instead. Just to make sure I get some protein.

Blend everything in a blender until smooth and delicious. Drink it right away. Enjoy and feel the energy!

AM6A2190.web

Ideas for Lunch

For lunch I eat either a salade with salmon or chicken, or a healthy tortilla pizza.

Healthy Tortilla Pizza

small organic spelt tortilla
a teaspoon of organic/bio tomato sauce
a big handful of spinach
a handful of mushrooms
slices from one tomato
slices from a green pepper

Heat in oven for 5-10 minutes on 200.

Weekend Pizza

On Friday and Saturday evenings I eat my pizza or salad in the evening (and then take vegetables juice for lunch), just to be able to have a longer dinner with friends and family.

I also add a little extra to the pizza in the weekends; two slices of serano ham + a spoonful of fresh italian parmesan. Warning: really delicious!

Easy and delicious salmon salad

Another favorite of mine is the salmon salad (see below).

fresh salad leaves
half a cucumber
2-4 slices of salmon
mini tomatoes
juice from half a lemon
fish eggs (optional)

Spread the salad leaves on the plate. Slice the cucumber into very thin slices and mix it with the salmon on top of the salad. Sprinkle with mini tomatoes and lemon juice. Decorate with fish eggs. Voila – enjoy!

Salmon salade by Christina Greve

Fresh mint and lemon water

This is so simple and so fresh. I love it! I got this idea from Radostina from 79ideas. She posted this recipe and I´ve used it every day since.

Put fresh peppermint leaves, slices of a lemon and water in a glass. Add some ice cubes if you like and that´s it

I drink it instead of coffee and I drink it with my lunch.

Fresh Vegetables Juice by Christina Greve

Vegetables Juice

Alright, let´s look at my main ingredient of this detox; vegetables juice!

You can juice almost all vegetables, so it´s all about experimenting and finding out what you like.

My favorites are:

Beetroot
Carrots
Ginger
Fennel
Celery
Cale
Spinach
cucumber

To make it taste good, I add 2 apples + 2 lemons pr. liter. I like to add a big chuck of ginger. It´s very strong, so be careful in the beginning. I find that ginger takes all cravings away – a wonderful helper during the detox.

Fresh Vegetables Juice by Christina Greve

Keep vegetables juice in your fridge – all the time!

When I make vegetables juice, I make 2-3 liters at a time. I fill it on thermo bottles and store them in the fridge. That way I always have something ready to drink. The juice can stay fresh for 2-3 days in the fridge.

Helpful detox supplements

Helpful Supplements

Here are some great supplements recommended to take during the detox:

Probiotic: There will be tons at your natural food store. Make sure it has at least 40 billion cell count per serving.
Fiber: A good natural flax fiber or vegetable fiber products. Example is Ground Flax Powder. Will be available at your natural food store.
Digestive Enzymes
Plant Protein
Coconut oil
Coconut juice
Bio/organic tea
Wheat grass

Natural sweetener: Stevia, honey or organic syrup. Use with care.

Final tips

If you would like to do a detox, my best tip for you would be to make sure, you have nothing or little planned during the first week. I was lucky I had the first week of, because of Easter. Therefore I had time to rest and concentrate about my new eating habits.

Don´t exercise for the first week. Then slowly get back into your training routine when you feel stronger and have more energy.

Be prepared to tackle curious questions and reactions when you go out. Some people like to comment on what you eat or don´t eat. Sometimes you need thick skin, to tackle the “aaw common it´s just one cupcake (or one drink, or one piece of chocolate) – it can´t hurt much”….

Smile and be strong

That´s all for now!

What about you, have you ever done a detox? How did you do it and what results did you get? If not, would you like to try it?

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