Greetings. I'm ready to take on a the next step if you will.
I did notice that weight loss is the biggest deciding factor
if not the only one that determines whether or not you should
do the GTD over the BTD. I'm 5'11" 205lbs. If I would stick
to the BTD 100% then weight wouldn't be an issue.  

I was trying to decide if I should do my secretor test or
move onto the GTD next. Which is a better next step. I'm
also confused about all the other blood markers as well.

Is knowing your secretor type more helpful for the BTD or
GTD?

Sorry for so many q's. I'm lost when I read all the
terminology on these threads. Does the good Doc have
a tech dictionary? Please advise. Thanks!  

It's best to do the Secretor test before you move on

has btd helped you so far?

are there any health issues you are trying to address?

Knowing if you're a secretor or a nonnie, will help refine your food choices to help you either lose weight; heal existing, or future (potential) conditions...or all three As Christina so aptly once said: its like finding the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle"

Actually I'm an arthritic mess right now. My joints
are aching all the time. I have both rotator cuffs
torn and injured, left hip has joint scare tissue
and now lately my back is causing issues. Right
knee is giving me a fit as well. I believe I have
a week disposition in my tendons and connective
tissue. Weak and tired a lot. If this helps.

Sounds like you need GTD for sure IMO You poor thing!!!

Fair enough. I'll get the GTD book. Looks like a secretor
test is in order as well. Thanks a lot.

...don't feel for me, I asked for everything I got.  

Quoted from Possum

Sounds like you need GTD for sure IMO You poor thing!!!

Thanks for the support.

Quoted from Possum

Knowing if you're a secretor or a nonnie, will help refine your food choices to help you either lose weight; heal existing, or future (potential) conditions...or all three As Christina so aptly once said: its like finding the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle"

Well, to be honest, it has some, but I believe food
combining over the years has helped me the most.
I know, sore subject but you asked my dear.  

Quoted from Possum

Knowing if you're a secretor or a nonnie, will help refine your food choices to help you either lose weight; heal existing, or future (potential) conditions...or all three As Christina so aptly once said: its like finding the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle"

it certainly sounds like you need specialist attention so:

First thing, do the secretor test.  If money is not an issue, get SwamiXpress, otherwise GTD for the time being with a borrowed book and help from here, while you are saving towards the Swami.

Now the secretor test can be done by either a saliva test or a blood test.  The advantage of the blood test is that at the same time you can also determine your MN values, useful for SwamiXpress, although not essential.

I believe, the more we know about ourselves, the better we can equipped ourselves to deal with challenges.  There is healing on this road ...  

If arthritis is the issue you may want to consider following the diet in the Arthritis book.

http://www.4yourtype.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ED063S

Secretor status is important to know to follow the diet in the Arthritis book.

If you have decided to follow the GTD instead, often type Os can determine their GenoType without knowing Secretor status.

Thanks Christina. Good advise. Wow, never realized
I was in need of healing at my age but I suppose.
I spent my younger years on rounds and rounds of
anti-biotics and meds which I'm sure destroyed
my friendly guys.

Denial is the biggest disease sometimes.  

So the choice comes down to only a decision? I think
I'm confused again...sorry. I'll think about what you
said here and try to put it together with some more
reading.

Thanks

Quoted from C_sharp

If arthritis is the issue you may want to consider following the diet in the Arthritis book.

http://www.4yourtype.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ED063S

Secretor status is important to know to follow the diet in the Arthritis book.

If you have decided to follow the GTD instead, often type Os can determine their GenoType without knowing Secretor status.

C_S is making referenced to the fact that some Os have their type determined with just their measurements according to the GTD book, so in that case being secretor or non secretor will not change their type.  But, in your case that is irrelevant, because you already established that you have challenges to face and fix.  You will need to know your secretor status to give yourself the best chance to get you into better health.  

Quoted from keithallenlaw

Is knowing your secretor type more helpful for the BTD or
GTD?

I believe it is equally important in both diets. Being a non-secretor will change the status of many foods in the BTD, including the diet for Arthritis. For the GTD it is one of the more important determining factors of your genotype. Hope this helps.

I'm think I'm catching on. Thanks ladies and gentleman.

Quoted from keithallenlaw

I'm think I'm catching on. Thanks ladies and gentleman.

and possums??!!

Even for those of us who follow the GTD, some will still work with the Health Library books.  I refer back to many of the supplements from time to time when I am working with specific issues.

Keith, with all the joint (tendon, ligament) issues you are having, another puzzle piece for you might be to work with a good Chinese medical doctor.  I'm saying this because I'm having some good results by adding this to my health regime.  My big issues right now are not so much arthritis related as they are weak tendon/ligaments, along with fatigue.  Chinese medicine and acupuncture can address these issues pretty easily.

Quoted from keithallenlaw

Fair enough. I'll get the GTD book. Looks like a secretor
test is in order as well. Thanks a lot.

...don't feel for me, I asked for everything I got.  

I think most if not all of us have asked for everything we've gotten... in one form or another.

This I believe is true whether we knew what we were doing was harmful or not.  So now that we understand the consequences all of us here are in a position to feel for one another, are we not?  

SWAMI can also be an awesome step in the right direction, because it will refine and blend everything that you did previously while also taking your personal health concerns, further measurements, and history into account.

When I received my SWAMI I was so impressed that I bought another one for my husband as well!  

Re "...don't feel for me, I asked for everything I got."

I don't think that whether we asked for it or not, is really the issue as to whether we "feel for each other"
At various stages of their lives, my kids asked for stuff & reaped the consequences of their behaviour... At no stage did I ever "not feel for them" even when it was me metering out the consequences...   

I apologize if I failed to communicate my thoughts accurately.


I meant that our bodies themselves do not understand the difference between deliberate or ignorance in actions.

We suffer nonetheless, despite whether we had knowledge or not of living unhealthfully.  Even if our brains did not know, our body's "knew".  By "asking for it"  we did this unknowingly, because the results of our former ways would have, unfortunately,inevitably led to illhealth  

All of us that have come to this way of life on BTD or GTD have done so because we have health concerns that were caused by our previous ways of living and eating.  Being such we understand the trials that our fellow BTDieters or GTDieters are facing and have compassion for them because we are all in this together.  We support each other and feel for each other.

Did I explain myself better?  I guess it's just me being overly analytical of the situation

Basically what I was saying to him is:  

I feel for you because I am in the same boat as you

Ooops my mistake.. From what I thought the first part was saying...reading the second part too quickly, I jumped at the wrong conclusion Thanks for clarifying...