Dr. Blessing's Book Reviews: “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett

Dr. Bev Blessing FNP, PHD

A few weeks ago I went on a road trip with my husband and some very dear friends.  I tend to get a little bored sitting in the back seat watching the scenery go by, so I decided that it would be much easier if I listened to a book on my IPOD.  I chose The Help, by Katherine Stockett. This book was written in 2009 and at the time received rave reviews. It has recently been released as a movie, and I thought it would be a good idea to read the book before I saw the movie. 

The Help is a fictional work that takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, and has three main characters. The audio version was read by women who all had rich southern accents. The story was a fully developed narrative that lets the reader explore the relationships of these southern women during the sixties to other women, to their children, to their “help”, to their white family employers, to their husbands, etc. But the story was about much more than relationships. It was a reminder to the reader that that even in the face of overwhelming odds, a little courage from a few can change an entire world. We are reminded also that acceptance of the status quo by the majority doesn’t necessarily make it right. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. But I am somewhat biased because this book is a close reflection of the times and the area of the country where I was raised as a child.

I grew up in the south, and in fact still have family in Alabama and Mississippi. When I was a child, my brothers and I often spent our summers with our grandparents in Tuskegee, Alabama. Tuskegee was much like the author’s version of life in Jackson, Mississippi. It was a simple life. The details of the story reminded me of much that I had come to know during that time.  I loved hearing the southern drawls and the general feel of the story. I had to remind myself time and again that it was a fictional work. There were times that I felt the story was somewhat cliché, and at other times I thought it was a thoughtful work, highlighting some very poignant issues. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was sad to have it be over.  I had come to know these women and loved them for their strengths, and their weaknesses. I loved their flaws, as well as their courage.  


What was interesting was how I felt as I was reminded of those times. The late fifties and early sixties in the south was a time of great change. We had forced desegregation of the schools, Martin Luther King marches in Atlanta, the killing of Medgar Evers, and the assassination of President Kennedy to name a few.    And yet as a child, I was unaware of the significance of some of these events. Now as an adult, I can better appreciate what was going on and the enormous amount of change that has occurred over the last forty five years. Throughout this book, I was reminded of people in my life like Shug and Janie, who taught me how to shell peas, and pick berries for cobblers. From them I learned how hard it was to pick cotton and that working inside the house was always going to be the better choice. (I hadn’t thought so prior to working a few hours in the fields.) During those times, I would hear from them words of wisdom that would later mold my character and passion to help and nurture others.
  
The book left me a little unsettled, however. (I believe most good books do cause us to ponder opportunities for change.) I began to wonder how much my own biases affected the way that I treated others. Even today I wonder how much do I truly appreciate the differences in people outside my immediate circle? Am I still unaware of the people that interact with me laterally, and treat them as if they are not there? I surely hope not. But I can tell you this much. I am committing to wake up to opportunities to better appreciate others in my life. To take the time to say thank you and to really mean it. 


In closing, I hope you take the time to read this book. I think you will enjoy being reminded of the some of the changes that our country has gone through. I know you will be encouraged by seeing the incredible strengths that we as women have and how when we are willing, we can change the world.    


www.fleurhealth.com

Want To Burn Belly Fat? Study Shows Aerobic Exercise Is Your Best Bet

Dr. Bev Blessing FNP, PHD

I ran across this fantastic article regarding jogging and belly fat. Belly fat and muffin tops are some of the most frustrating issues for many of us women today. In the past we have felt that it was the resistance training that was the most benefit for toning the body. The following study from Duke University does a head to head study comparing aerobic exercise, with weight training, and a combination of both, looking at the effect on belly fat. In the study, aerobics did the best, burning 67% more calories. The aerobic participants in the study only exercised an equivalent to jogging 12 miles per week. Since jogging is free, this is a very cost effective option for aerobic exercise. Weight resistance is still needed for improving lean muscle mass, but aerobic exercise is a great start. Now the only issue is finding my jogging shoes. 


Duke University Article:
Aerobic Exercise Bests Resistance Training At Burning Belly Fat
By Duke Medicine News and Communications


Aerobic exercise is your best bet when it comes to losing that dreaded belly fat, a new study finds.

When Duke University Medical Center researchers conducted a head-to-head comparison of aerobic exercise, resistance training, and a combination of the two, they found aerobic exercise to be the most efficient and most effective way to lose the belly fat that’s most damaging to your health.

This isn’t the fat that lies just under your skin and causes the dreaded muffin top. Belly or abdominal fat -- known in scientific communities as visceral fat and liver fat -- is located deep within the abdominal cavity and fills the spaces between internal organs. It’s been associated with increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer.

“When it comes to increased health risks, where fat is deposited in the body is more important than how much fat you have,” says Duke exercise physiologist Cris Slentz, PhD, lead author of the study published today in the American Journal of Physiology.

“Our study sought to identify the most effective form of exercise to get rid of that unhealthy fat.”

The Duke study showed aerobic training significantly reduced visceral fat and liver fat, the culprit in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Aerobic exercise also did a better job than resistance training at improving fasting insulin resistance, and reducing liver enzymes and fasting triglyceride levels. All are known risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Resistance training achieved no significant reductions in visceral fat, liver fat, liver enzyme levels or improvements in insulin resistance. The combination of aerobic with resistance training achieved results similar to aerobic training alone.

“Resistance training is great for improving strength and increasing lean body mass,” says Slentz. “But if you are overweight, which two-thirds of the population is, and you want to lose belly fat, aerobic exercise is the better choice because it burns more calories.”

Aerobic training burned 67 percent more calories in the study when compared to resistance training.

The eight-month study followed 196 overweight, sedentary adults (ages 18 to 70) who were randomized to one of three groups: aerobic training; resistance training or a combination of the two.

The aerobic group performed exercises equivalent to 12 miles of jogging per week at 80-percent maximum heart rate. The resistance group performed three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions three times per week.

All programs were closely supervised and monitored to ensure maximum effort in participation.

While the training programs were rigorous and substantial, Slentz says their previous research leads him to believe similar results could be achieved with a more moderate aerobic exercise program.

“What really counts is how much exercise you do, how many miles you walk, and how many calories you burn,” he says. “If you choose to work at a lower aerobic intensity, it will simply take longer to burn the same amount of unhealthy fat.”


You may read the original article here.

www.fleurhealth.com