Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have three kids. Being a journalist can be taxing, how do you maintain a work-personal balance?
Ms. Reham Khan:
To be honest, I have no work-life balance. My life is my work. My kids have always have been involved with my work. They contribute, criticise, and manage; we have a very collaborative approach! We do everything together. It’s always been like that. When they were younger, it was cooking and laundry, and now it is the same but…more. Even now, my kids prefer to go out with me, whether it’s to the cinema or for a holiday. For me, parenting has never been a chore, but rather a privilege. I gave them all my time in their childhood, and now, as adults, they give me so much time. The older two are workaholics like me. For us, work ethic is not for material gain, but comes from an ability to enjoy what we do.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Good Health is of utmost importance to meet the pressure at work. How do you go out maintaining a healthy diet?
Ms. Reham Khan:
If I had not enjoyed good health, I would not have had the energy to accomplish that I have. My ability to work non-stop without getting exhausted always surprises youngsters who come to work with me. If you join my team, you are expected to keep up. I can work 19-20 hours a day, and need as little as 4 hours of sleep. A typical day is at least 16-17 hours of work.
To have a LDL of 90 at 44 is pretty decent I think, and it’s the result of a very clean diet and lifestyle. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs. I have a naturally high protein diet, and eat a lot of white meat, particularly turkey. I also love fish and seafood such as salmon sashimi.
But I have never deprived myself of anything, so will eat cakes and chocolates too. I tend to bake myself a lot, and use organic ingredients. A lot of readymade baked stuff has unhealthy oils like palm oil etc.
I am lucky to have a very high metabolism. But I must stress that I do not agree with very strict diets that advocate starving or eliminating entire food groups. Girls should realize that we all have different types of bodies, and that is our beauty. Why try to fit into one body image promoted by magazines? Your diet should also change according to your age and lifestyle. Mine certainly has. For example, if I have a long day ahead and know that there will be unhealthy or greasy food offered, I will have three boiled eggs for breakfast. I start the day with a glass of warm water with a lemon squeezed in it. I love the taste of coffee and drink a lot during the day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How do you go about incorporating it into your routine to lead a fit & healthy lifestyle?
Ms. Reham Khan:
I am not the sort who will hit the gym. I do not have the time nor the inclination. I will do stretches and core strengthening exercises once or twice a week on a yoga mat rolled out in the study, and also do arm exercises with light weights.
My work involves a lot of walking and I am a naturally active person. My house has lots of flights of stairs, which I make use of. Friends often complain, but it’s normal to see me running up and down the stairs all day long. I am usually in jogging shoes, (even indoors) which is a good tip for staying fit: just keep them on. Even before pedometers were all the rage, I was doing more than 10,000 steps a day. I enjoy swimming. Mums can stay active with the kids through everything from the local park to ice skating. My kids are much older now but I still race them to the slides. That inherent activeness and energy is what I believe keeps people in good health.
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Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
