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Alysse Stewart
Alysse Stewart has been active all her life,
having been a track and field standout while
growing up in Durham. Still, as she turns 52
this month, she's never been in better shape.
She attributes that, in part, to discovering the
book "LL Cool J's Platinum Workout" a few
years ago. In the book, the famed rapper details
the routine that led to his chiseled good looks.
"And I just followed that," she said.
Never has hitting the gym been more of a
source of relieving stress and staying healthy
than it is now. Stewart, program director
at Magic 106.9, is the busy working mother
of 13-year-old Durell. Like many of us, she
worries about her son growing up in an
uncertain world and also about the impact of
COVID-19.
"I can't see life without my son," she said.
"However, at the same time, I worry about his
safety, his future and his happiness. I suppose
that's a stress point for many moms. And my
guess is that a lot of us don't take time for
ourselves to deal with how those protective
instincts add stress to our lives along with the
good.
"I've talked about this on the radio, but it
was a joy for me to actually grocery shop," she
said. "Now it feels like a place where I have
to socially distance myself, fewer smiles and
somewhat more of a rush to exit."
e gym and a little regular time to herself
keeps her healthier physically but has mental
benefits as well.
"For me, exercise keeps me balanced," she
said. "If I don't do it for long periods of time, I
do not feel my best."