I first met Dr Lohia three years ago at my house for a cup of coffee. There she was, perfectly poised, talking to me about how important it is to look after your skin in your 20’s. We spent the better part of the afternoon talking about sunscreen, paleo diets, giving up dairy and microdermabrasion. Kiran was very systematic in the way that she approached skincare and maintained a very good work ethic. We got along like a house on fire and she became a dear friend quite quickly. I have heard Delhizens sing praises of her treatments, they way in which she consults and conducts herself and her on-screen presence. I swear by her photo facial and her under eye rescue treatment as I’ve seen noticeable improvements over a few sessions. I highly recommend a visit or a consult with her just so you can understand how to take better care of your skin. Today, she talks to us about how she manages to maintain work life balance and still look so healthy. Here is her day on a plate.

Well, my days are generally hectic, with a new baby in the house, 2 clinics, a TV show and my various writing commitments. I do try to take care of myself nd my little girl in between my difficult overscheduled life.
If I don’t, I find I disintegrate into a morass of stress, so I really hold on to those moments of calm when I can grab them.

7 am Wake up and take ten long and deep breaths and visualise that I am breathing in light and positivity and breathing out darkness and negativity. Then, I try to remember how thankful I am for everything in my life. I do this so that the stresses of the day don’t overwhelm me as the day goes on. Because after all, I am exceedingly lucky to have been born into this life, and its really important to remember that, even through all the bumps in the road.

7:15 am I need my coffee! I cannot live without it. I would die a slow and horrible death if I don’t get this morning coffee. I know a lot of people who can’t do without their morning cuppa will testify.

I usually have it with a splash of homemade almond milk since I tend to avoid dairy in my diet. I also have soaked almonds and walnuts, and a few raisins. It’s a little tip that I picked up from an Ayurvedic healer and I find that it helps me face the day.

The morning is also the time I spend with my little girl – we play, I read her a book, I do her massage and give her a bath! If she is sleeping, I try to catch up on my medical reading, and I read the New York Times and ProPublica.

9 am Workout time. I either do a boot camp class or call a personal trainer home. I try to incorporate a workout at least 4 times a week (6 if I am really lucky). The only time I miss out on a workout is when it clashes with shoot timings. I find that my mood is a lot better on the days that I do get a workout in.

10 am Breakfast. Usually, this is either an egg white omelette with bell peppers, onion and tomatoes with a side of sauteed mushrooms. Alternatively, it will be oats made with almond milk and a dollop of peanut butter. Sometimes, when I am feeling particularly mischevious, I’ll help myself to a yummy paleo chocolate chip cookie from V’s Bakeshop.

Then it’s off to work!Now, while I try to snack during work hours, I generally don’t even have 5 minutes to myself, so I am generally starving when I get 10 minutes for lunch, which generally depends on my schedule so there is no real set time. (Such is the life of a working mum! I know mums around the world will empathise with me. I do remember to drink lots of water though because Delhi is hot! Otherwise, I get really hungry and dehydrated.

Lunch: I love a good poached or grilled chicken with baked aubergine, or a grilled fish and sauteed vegetables – A lean source of protein and veggies are my best bet for the lunch. The protein and low glycemic index helps keep me my blood sugar levels stable and prevents the dreadful mid-afternoon slump.

Post-work snack: I love roasted makhana (also called foxnuts). This was something that Jia actually taught me, so thank you, Jia! You are my saviour. It fills me up and prevents me from hogging at dinner. I actually think it is quite tasty and I prefer it over a tub of butter popcorn.

Dinner: Usually, this tends to be on the heavier side so I can also entertain my husband’s taste buds, so it could be Thai green curry, or watermelon and feta salad with balsamic glazed chicken, or even a flaxseed based gluten-free and dairy-free pizza and spinach salad

Dessert is a must by the way, so it’s either a few pieces of dark chocolate or fruit!

I am not gonna lie. I, too, have cheat days and days when I want to go overboard. I have a major sweet tooth, and I absolutely adore bread and all things unhealthy. But on the good days, I do try to stick to the above because it makes me feel good and makes me healthier in the long run. Also being disciplined through the week allows me to indulge and spoil myself over the weekend.

About the Author:
Dr. Kiran Lohia, New Yorker and recent transplant to New Delhi. Columbia University educated celeb dermatologist and also the beauty host for NDTV’s Get the Look. Check out her Instagram feed here. To know more about her treatments, head over to her website here

Photo Credits- The Pink Post Inc. Link to their instagram feed here