Opening Doorz

Opening Doorz Editorial | April 09, 2026

Raavee Gupta is Opening Doorz to Martin D’Souza, stripping away the celebrity gloss to talk frankly about her Workout Routine, Eating Habits, and the Spiritual Quotient that keeps her grounded.

Workout Routine

I’ll be the first to admit it: I wasn’t always the poster child for consistency. If you had asked me three or four years ago about my fitness regime, I probably would have given you a vague answer about “going when I can.” But about two-and-a-half years ago, something shifted. It wasn’t just a New Year’s resolution or a passing whim; it was a necessity. I’m in my 40s now, and the dreaded perimenopause hit me like a freight train.

Suddenly, it wasn’t just about looking a certain way for the camera or fitting into a specific dress size. It became about survival—physically and, perhaps more importantly, emotionally. When your hormones start playing tricks on your mind and body, you have to find an anchor. For me, that anchor became weight training. I find something grounding about the iron. It’s predictable, it’s challenging, and it demands your full attention.

Weight training is what truly works for me on every level. Physically, it gives me the strength I need to navigate this stage of life, but mentally, it’s my sanctuary. I enjoy it so much more than any other form of workout I’ve ever tried. There’s a certain empowerment in lifting heavy that you just don’t get from a treadmill.

However, life is about balance and trying new things, even when you think your sports days are behind you. In the last year and a half, I’ve taken up tennis. Now, you have to understand—I have never been a sports person in my entire life. It just wasn’t part of my identity. But I’d always had this lingering curiosity about tennis, a little voice saying, “Just give it a try.”

So I did. And honestly? I love it. It provides that cardiovascular burst and social element that complements the solitude of the gym perfectly.

My typical week is a five-day commitment. I hit the tennis court twice a week and head to the weight room three times, occasionally four if I’m feeling particularly energetic. When it comes to the weights, I’m a traditionalist. I stick to a split routine where I target separate body parts on different days. One day is dedicated to legs, another to back, and so on. This structured approach keeps me focused and ensures I’m giving every part of my body the attention it deserves.

Eating Habits

When it comes to food, I’ve found a rhythm that I’m quite proud of. I am very consistently balanced. For me, it isn’t about restrictive dieting or counting every single calorie until you lose your mind; it’s about nutrition that actually works for my body.

My husband and I do eat out quite a lot (we enjoy the social aspect), but we are very conscious of what we order. You won’t find us indulging in a lot of what I’d call “unhealthy” fats or a mountain of deep-fried food. To be perfectly honest, I don’t even like the taste of heavy, greasy food anymore; it just makes me feel sluggish.

Instead, our meals are built around freshness. Salads are non-negotiable for me—they accompany almost every single meal I eat. I’ve actually gained a bit of a reputation among friends for being the person who eats salads for breakfast. Whether it’s a bowl of crisp, fresh greens, a vibrant stir-fry, or a simple sauté of seasonal vegetables, I need that hit of fresh to feel fuelled.

Protein is the other pillar of my plate. I’ve never been a big fan of chicken, so I usually skip that. My protein sources usually boil down to red meat, white fish, and seafood. It’s a preference that works for both my husband and me. We’ve reached a point where, no matter how much we might be enjoying a night out at a restaurant, we don’t go overboard with junk. There is very little to no actual junk food in our lives.

Except, of course, for my one major exception. If you’re counting paani puri as junk food… well, I don’t! That is my ultimate guilty pleasure. Dear God, I could literally eat paani puri every single day. I don’t, obviously, because balance is key, but the craving is always there.

To support my weight training, I do use protein supplements. I’ll admit I don’t always hit the 100-gramme mark that is often recommended for my activity level, but I do my best to supplement my natural meat intake with a protein shake.

We’ve also had to be more mindful about alcohol. Being in our 40s, the body just doesn’t bounce back the way it used to. Our intake is very measured now—perhaps not quite as measured as it ideally should be, but certainly far less than in our younger days. We don’t party hard on the weekends anymore because, frankly, we just can’t do it. It’s too hard on the system. More importantly, I’ve realised I actually like feeling fresh in the morning.

I’m the kind of person who is in bed by 9:30 PM. I go to sleep early, I wake up very early, and that’s the lifestyle that makes me feel whole.

Spiritual Quotient

I’ve come to realise that wellness isn’t just a checklist of exercises or a grocery list of superfoods. I truly believe that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a spiritual practice in itself.

When you make the choice to eat consciously, you’re honouring the body you were given. When you commit to moving daily, you’re celebrating your physical capabilities. And when you make the effort to protect your peace—whether that’s through early nights or saying no to things that drain you—you are doing deep spiritual work. To me, that is the essence of health: the constant, beautiful process of aligning your body, your mind, and your spirit.

As told to Martin D’Souza

Image Credit: Raavee Gupta

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