As I become more involved in this virtual community we share as blood type dieters, I'm learning more about who we are. While there is no stereotypical BTDer, I've found many common threads...

1. Inquisitive: we're always willing to ask tough questions, even when we know we may not like the answer.

2. Intelligent: so many with advanced degrees in science, healthcare, and other fields. Compared to other diet communities, I've been surprised at how many of us have so much education and expertise.

3. Open-minded: in spite of our educations and backgrounds, we've all realized that there must be a better way to good health than what the authorities tell us, afterall, their advice doesn't work for everyone.

4. Recovering hypochondriacs: Many of us were 'difficult cases' for mainstream medicine, we confused our doctors, and often questioned their reasoning and methods of covering up symptoms rather than treating the causes.

5. Acutely aware of our health: We won't accept just feeling ok, or a little better, we want to be as healthy as possible, and are willing to sacrifice some comfort foods to do so.

6. Plan to be around awhile: Regardless of our age or state of health, all the attitudes that I've intoned from the different sounding boards is that we intend to be around to see the next generation grow, to see what the future holds, and to help shape that future.

Sure, sometimes we're frustrated with how difficult it can be in our surroundings to eat any sort of health food, sometimes we're faced with setbacks, sometimes we fall off the wagon and get bruised, but we know what we know and we're willing to fight to set things right.