Stella Photi is founder of healthy holiday company Wellbeing Escapes. 

What do eat for breakfast?
On waking I have a glass of warm water with half a lemon squeezed in. After returning from walking the dog, I will have some porridge with berries and walnuts in winter and replace the oats with greek yoghurt in the summer.  If I have time, I will have a boiled egg with a slice of wholemeal toast. As a treat at weekends I sometimes make muffins using spelt flour and a small amount of xylobit (a completely natural sugar substitute that has 40% less calories) with blueberries or mashed bananas.

How do you keep fit?
I get bored quite easily with the same routine so I try and vary different forms of exercise. I power walk with the dog for an hour each day, try and get one session of personal training each week, at least one zumba class (my latest obsession) and maybe a yoga or pilates session, on a good week.

What motto/advice do you try and live by?  
I try very hard to find some happiness and laughter in my life every day whether it is laughing with colleagues at work or singing loudly and badly to music on the radio. Over the last few years I have learned not to be too hard on myself. I know so many A type personalities who drive themselves to be perfect in every aspect of their lives and forget to enjoy the small day to day pleasures. That used to me and now I am  very mindful of living a more balanced lifestyle. Curiously with this approach, I have achieved more…

How is your diet?
I have very strong feelings about food and I believe that a varied and healthy diet is the single best thing you can do for your health. I love all types of food, as long as it is fresh and made with quality ingredients. I only buy organic meat, poultry and dairy and try very hard for my fruit and veg to be seasonal and local. I detest what I call “fake food”, processed and readymade meals. I’m not a big fan on fad diets and am really against diets like the Dukan and Atkins diet as I think they are unhealthy. Any diet that bans fruit completely and promotes diet coke just doesn’t seem right to me. My downfall is chocolate. I have friends who can get by on one small square a week of dark chocolate, for me it’s more like one big bar a week and in the winter when I crave comfort foods it can increase to three bars a week.

What is your skincare routine?
Consistent but not brilliant. My Mediterranean genes have blessed me with fairly good skin so up to now I haven’t paid it that much attention apart from regular cleansing, toning and moisturising. I currently use Decleor products as I love their aromatherapy skin oils and balms and  have recently splashed out on Crème de la Mer eye cream.  Now I am into my 40s I have started thinking about having more regular facials in my free time, but still prioritise a massage or private yoga class over this.

What song do you listen to when you work out?
I see ya baby by Groove Armada.

What do you love to snack on?
Nuts and Nakd raw food bars – good alternatives when the chocolate cravings come on.

How do you relax?
I meditate – it’s amazing, I actually feel my limbs softening when I am doing it.

What three things can you not live without?
My dog, my son and my husband.

Favourite healthy holiday?
Como Shambhala Estate in Bali for sheer holistic bliss and luxury spa holiday and Ti Sana in Italy for a fantastic Detox holiday

Favourite place in the world?
My parents summer home in Cyprus – it’s a three minute walk to the crystal clear sea where I swim every morning, many times without seeing a soul.

What three things do you take everywhere with you?
My blackberry, my kindle and hand cream.

Top flying tip?
Holistic silk slippers with magnetic insoles – very comfortable and great for circulation. Just make sure you walk up and down the aisles every couple of hours and drink lots of water.