Hi there, everyone! I'm new here, and thought I'd take a minute to
introduce myself and share how I came to be interested in low
carbohydrate diets and esp. a paleodiet.

For the last 17 years, I've suffered from low grade depression (I'm now
39) that started out fairly mild and was easy to mask or deal with. But
as I grew older, I noticed it worsening, to the point I was no longer
able to cope (in the last 2 years). I sought medical help, and they, of
course, wanted to medicate me. I also went to a myriad of therapists and
different kinds of counselors thinking that there must be something wrong
with me. Why would I be so unhappy? I am healthy, have two beautiful
children and a wonderful family and friends. No serious problems to speak
of. I just couldn't understand what I could be so unhappy about, and had
myself convinced that I must really be mentally ill.. The drugs didn't
help but only made me feel worse: headaches, swollen glands, extreme
tiredness, feeling like I was walking in a dream, etc. I wasn't getting
anywhere in therapy either.  I had really given up hope that  I would
ever have a normal life.

By chance, I decided to visit a naturopath for a completely unrelated
condition (gall stones). I mentioned to her my depression, and my
inability to control my eating. That was one of the big things that
depressed me, was my eating habits. I craved junk food all the time even
though I knew better!! Couldn't stop eating it no matter how hard I
tried, or how much I truly wanted to. Of course, I have the weight
problem now to show for it! She knew right away what my problem was, and
began to explain to me about "hyperinsulinemia" and how my vegetarian
diet had been my undoing all those years! She put me on a diet very much
like the Neanderthin diet, except that I could have dairy products.
*Immediately* I started to notice results! Mainly that I felt good, and
wasn't craving carbohydrates! She told me that not only my weight problem
and food cravings were caused by eating all those carbohydrates, but most
likely, my depression was too. Well,  that was a little over a month ago,
and without really trying, and by eating all I want and never being
hungry or deprived, I have managed to consistently lose 2 lbs a week,
even though I have fallen off the wagon many times. It is very different
for this once fanatical vegetarian to start eating meat, so I am having
to adjust a bit to this diet. But I am determined to get back up on my
feet each time I slip and keep going no matter what! I know this is the
right dietary path for me..

I bought Neanderthin, and have read it, and can't believe that I ever
thought that eating all beans and rice would be good for me. I felt so
incredibly awful ALL of the time when I did! I'm feeling much better now,
and was able to cease my counseling sessions (there's *nothing* mentally
wrong with this old gal!) and have started coming back to life bit by
bit.

Thanks for letting me share all this. Sorry if it was too long. BTW, this
was my first posting to a list serve!  :-)

Happy paleodieting to all!

Cindy Caturia