Over the months/years that I have been on the diet and have read many blogs as well as many emails from fellow BTDers, certain negative tendencies keep surfacing while on the diet. Here’s what I consider the top 5. See to what degree they apply to you. I have experienced all five myself one time or the other.

Tendency Number One: Going cold turkey

When I first started on the diet, I went cold turkey…I cleared out my cupboards and fridge of all the nasty avoids I could find…it was an expensive day food wise. It was kind of stressful remembering what not to eat, what to order if I’m eating out...made me think that this diet is too hard to administer. I almost quit within the first six weeks. In hindsight I had wished I had introduced the BTD over a period of a month or so noting the changes (mood, sleep levels etc) as I gradually introduced beneficials and slowly eliminating avoids.

Tendency Number Two: Lack of thoughtfulness

Most of us live the busy life: we get up, get ready for work, get in our cars to either beat the traffic to work or drive our kids to school. As a race living in the 21st century… our inclination (or are we programmed?) is towards action. Now this may be considered to be powerful personality/societal strength, but it has a dark backside, Speaking from experience, our inclination to act often overwhelms our wiser approach to think before we act, or think before we eat. Have you ever been in a hurry, especially to eat, and you have stopped at the nearest fast food …or as I like to call them, ‘lectin/polymine breeding grounds’…without really thinking why you entered the establishment only to stare at the menu and say to yourself ‘there’s nothing here I can really eat without feeling lousy later’ so you settle for something (less than beneficial or neutral for your blood type) because you don’t want to get back in your car and drive somewhere else.

Tendency Number Three: Not really knowing the why before the do.

I know many people at work who know about the BTD and have picked up the book to read it once, have taken the time to get their blood typed as well as made some lists as to what not to eat etc. They started the diet only to fail miserable back to their old ways in several weeks/months. Reason is they forgot why they’re supposed to eat this way (most diets become fad diets because there’s not enough good “why” behind the diet). When I recommend the book (usually LRFYBT) to anyone, I emphasize that they should really take the time to read and reread the dynamics of the diet as it relates to their blood type. There’s a lot more science involved in this diet than the other one size fits all book. The “good’ science of this diet is the key, in my mind, for it’s success with people who follow it well. Know the science (even if you got D’s in science in school like I did)...let lectins, blood antigens, alkaline phosphatase, polyamines and agglutination role off your tongues with ease before you buy your first loaf of Ezekiel bread. The diet is a wonderful opportunity to learn about your blood specific persona in a deep and (not too complicated) detailed way.

Tendency Number Four: Over concern with 100% compliancy

I have a job where (there are odd times) I get a call from an angry customer saying how bad our delivery or service is etc. Usually it’s a problem with the courier who was late on his deliveries and couldn’t make the drop off before the customers’ business closes…something out of our control and the customer’s. I usually tell dissatisfied customers that our service levels are at 94% and we’re always trying to improve and they should take great comfort in that There are times when you might be hard on yourself or others when the odd avoid gets into the mouth. If you’re 75, 80 or 95% compliant on the diet, take comfort in your personal BTD “service level” even if it’s not 100%. Remember…perfection is unattainable. If you strive for perfection, you’ll achieve excellence (in any endeavor for that matter)

Tendency Number Five: Not being the master of your domain

I remember a time when everyone brought a bagged lunch to school or work. I also have vivid recollections of my parents taking a cooler of food with us when going on long car trips and stopping at picnic parks to eat. It was a time and place when fast convenient restaurants were far and few between…a time when people were generally thinner and healthier. These days we are bombarded with messages telling us to eat things that are fast, easy to prepare, juicy, frothy, thick, icy, and cheap…all messages to take you away from preparing your own food from ingredients you bought yourself. The BTD is not a “diet” that uses pre-packaged food like say Weight Watchers to actualize weight loss or lowering of blood sugar. It doesn’t plaster “A” on many packaged foods or on billboards to attract you into eating right. I feel it asks you to be master of your own ‘blood’ domain when it comes to eating.

Well…. all this deep analysis (if you can call it that) has made me hungry. I bought some cherries today at a local food market; I’m going to sit down with my Cancer; Fight It With The Blood type Diet book and learn more of the ‘why” while munching on these fast, juicy, thick, and beneficial little fruits.