After just four weeks my friend Julia is having more success on my diet than I have had after three months. It can't all be genetics - what could I be doing wrong?

There are most likely two reasons for this. One is to do with your BMR. This is your basal metabolic rate which specifically is the number of calories you would burn if you stayed in bed all day. Your BMR increases the more physical activity you do during the day. The correct type of diet also increases your BMR because regular, well-balanced eating uses up energy for digestion. Julia's BMR may be higher than yours. On the other hand, people who have spent years on a series of inappropriate, low fat, low calorie 'yo-yo' diets, often find that they have reduced their BMR leading to later difficulties with weight loss.

 

You could also have different body types. This doesn't mean you are doomed to find the going tough. You simply need a change of plan, one better suited to your body. Try the Body Type Calculator which is based on ancient Ayurvedic science.