My husband and I are an A/O couple. He is Type A and I am Type O. Interestingly our New Year's Eve guests are also A/O couples. When we talk about the Blood Type Diet, each of them acknowledges that it has worked great for me. They have no other explanation for how I got rid of my indigestion without medication. They can see for themselves that I wear clothes that are two sizes smaller, and that I have more energy. But they have issues that keep them from trying the BTD for themselves.

One A has had a serious wheat allergy for more than 20 years. The smallest amount of wheat gives her both physical and emotional symptoms. Even eating food that has touched wheat can cause her to react. By trial and error she came up with a way of eating that prevents the allergic reaction. Unfortunately rather than beneficial Type A foods like legumes, she turned to meat and candy. She is reluctant to try a new way of eating, when what she is eating now keeps the allergy away.

One O was trained as a scientist. She has struggles with her weight and has scientifically investigated all of the popular weight loss diets. She believes the answer is a low fat diet. She even tried to keep her children on low fat diets when they were little. She does not believe I can possibly be healthy when I eat so much meat and oil.

The A husband is an MD. He enjoys good tasting food. He is content in the knowledge that if he develops health problems, he can take medication. The idea of taking a drug every day for the rest of his life is not as repugnant to him as it is to me.

The O husband is married to the A with the wheat allergy. This has benefited him because they don't keep wheat in their house. He loves meat and eats a lot of it. He does not like vegetables, and teases me for eating so many of them

Please understand, I'm not making fun of my friends. When I ask myself honestly if I would have radically changed to the Blood Type Diet if I hadn't had chronic indigestion I have to say, "No, I wouldn't have." It takes some kind of unresolved problem to motivate people to change.

I have another Type A friend who is frustrated by a health issue. She said to me last week, "I have tried everything! I smiled and said, "Those were my exact words the day before I went on the Blood Type Diet."