I've been doing some shopping at the before and after Easter sales. To my delight, I'm wearing a size smaller in dresses and shorts.

Compared to the world of advertising, this doesn't seem like a remarkable feat. I heard an ad on the radio today with a girl gushing how on some diet she had lost 20 pounds in two months. I read a magazine ad that said buy this exercise equipment and you'll tone your tummy in four weeks.

Compared to those wild claims my modest dress size in a year seems pretty tame. It's certainly not going to get me an advertising contract. Nonetheless, I'm very pleased, and I'll tell you why.

I did not go on the Blood Type Diet to lose weight. I was happy enough with my weight before. Oh, I knew I didn't have the perfect figure, but I was content. I started on the Blood Type Diet because nothing else, including some high priced medicines, had helped my indigestion and GERD. When my GERD symptoms were gone in a week, and I could stop taking the medication, I made a lifetime commitment to the BTD.

I don't watch my portions, because I'm not trying to lose weight. I eat whenever I'm hungry, but I only eat beneficial and neutral foods. I eat until I feel satisfied. Even so, I lost 5-6 pounds the first 2 months I was following the BTD. In the 9 months since then, I've lost another 5-6 pounds. That translates into a size smaller swimsuit for the summer.

For me, losing weight has been a bonus. If your goal is to lose weight, I think you will see success on the BTD. Perhaps your bonus will be that you feel better, and then you will do what I did - make a lifetime commitment to eating right for your type.