I am just going to add something about sleep, as it seems all most of the nutrition and exercise elements have been covered by the above answers.

You say:

Been sleeping more than ever. Used to sleep 9 hrs a night now sleeping 9.5 to 10.5. Go to bed around midnight and get up around 9-10:30 (I was laid off from my finance job about 6 months ago, I know I sound depressed and I may be a little but depression runs in my family, hence I always have bouts of depression).

I think in addition to trying the diet and exercise changes above, you should try to go to bed when it gets dark and wake up naturally with the dawn, then get up when you first wake up (do not lie in bed once you are awake). Just try it for a week, that's all, and see how it changes the groggy feeling you have. If you have nothing to do in the morning, try some tai chi or yoga perhaps or spend time making a good protein and fat rich breakfast (don't cut out the eggs!).

Sleep in a completely dark room all night and this may help 're-set' your circadian rhythms. If you need to get up in the night, use a candle to see by (or very low lighting)....sounds kinda 'caveman like' doesn't it?

To keep in balance with this, get plenty of sunshine during the day...this may help remedy the bouts of depression you sometimes get.

You say you are waking up stiff, this maybe because you body is still de-toxing from your SAD diet, which can leave the muscles stiff upon waking. If you have a stiff neck you may also have candida (paleo is a natural anti-candida diet but see here for more details of tried and tested anti-candida foods/remedies). In addition, your muscles may be stiff because they are releasing heavy metals into your system, again from your recent diet improvements - here are some protocols for heavy metal detox.

Remember, it has only been a month; 'be gentle to yourself' is probably the best advice you can hear right now. Time is a great healer.

I am just going to add something about sleep, as it seems all the nutrition and exercise elements have been covered by the above answers.

You say:

Been sleeping more than ever. Used to sleep 9 hrs a night now sleeping 9.5 to 10.5. Go to bed around midnight and get up around 9-10:30 (I was laid off from my finance job about 6 months ago, I know I sound depressed and I may be a little but depression runs in my family, hence I always have bouts of depression).

I think in addition to trying the diet and exercise changes above, you should try to go to bed when it gets dark and wake up naturally with the dawn, then get up when you first wake up (do not lie in bed once you are awake). Just try it for a week, that's all, and see how it changes the groggy feeling you have. If you have nothing to do in the morning, try some tai chi or yoga perhaps or spend time making a good protein and fat rich breakfast (don't cut out the eggs!).

Sleep in a completely dark room all night and this may help 're-set' your circadian rhythms. If you need to get up in the night, use a candle to see by (or very low lighting)....sounds kinda 'caveman like' doesn't it?

To keep in balance with this, get plenty of sunshine during the day...this may help remedy the bouts of depression you sometimes get.

You say you are waking up stiff, this maybe because you body is still de-toxing from your SAD diet, which can leave the muscles stiff upon waking. If you have a stiff neck you may also have candida but the paleo diet should sort that out naturally if you keep low-sugar, low-carbs (paleo is a natural anti-candida diet)diet but see here for more details of tried and tested anti-candida foods/remedies). Your In addition, your muscles may be stiff because they are releasing heavy metals into your system, Chlorella (which is an algae) supplement may help absorb these metals in again from your bodyrecent diet improvements here are some protocols for heavy metal detox.

Remember, it has only been a month; 'be gentle to yourself' is probably the best advice you can hear right now. Time is a great healer.

I am just going to add something about sleep, as it seems all the nutrition and exercise elements have been covered by the above answers.

You say:

Been sleeping more than ever. Used to sleep 9 hrs a night now sleeping 9.5 to 10.5. Go to bed around midnight and get up around 9-10:30 (I was laid off from my finance job about 6 months ago, I know I sound depressed and I may be a little but depression runs in my family, hence I always have bouts of depression).

I think in addition to trying the diet and exercise changes above, you should try to go to bed when it gets dark and wake up naturally with the dawn, then get up when you first wake up (do not lie in bed once you are awake). Just try it for a week, that's all, and see how it changes the groggy feeling you have. If you have nothing to do in the morning, try some tai chi or yoga perhaps or spend time making a good protein and fat rich breakfast (don't cut out the eggs!).

Sleep in a completely dark room all night and this may help 're-set' your circadian rhythms. If you need to get up in the night, use a candle to see by (or very low lighting)....sounds kinda 'caveman like' doesn't it?

To keep in balance with this, get plenty of sunshine during the day...this may help remedy the bouts of depression you sometimes get.

You say you are waking up stiff, this maybe because you body is still de-toxing from your SAD diet, which can leave the muscles stiff upon waking. If you have a stiff neck you may also have candida , but the paleo diet should sort that out naturally if you keep low-sugar, low-carbs (paleo is a natural anti-candida diet). Your muscles may be stiff because they are releasing heavy metals into your system, Chlorella (which is an algae) supplement may help absorb these metals in your body.

Remember, it has only been a month; 'be gentle to yourself' is probably the best advice you can hear right now. Time is a great healer.

And because you

You say you are waking up stiff, in addition to an intolerance to something like wheat or dairy you may have or the exercise regime you are practising - this maybe because you may need to realign body is still de-toxing from your posture, so, try sleeping on the floor. Fold over a comforter on the carpet or a folded comforter and a mat if you have bare floorboards and start off on the first night for as long as you can down there (stay warm)SAD diet, get into bed during the night if you are uncomfortable. On the next night try again and see if you which can last leave the whole nightmuscles stiff upon waking. Sleep in a position that is comfortable for If you without have a pillow (stiff neck you may need to ease into this) use extra pillows on other parts of your body if you need to. Don't try to force it on the first night, move into this way of sleeping gradually. Your body will find its own alignment over time.

There seems to be absolutely no correlation between what we do at night (and what state our surroundings are in when we sleep) with our state during the dayalso have candida, but I believe (I am still doing research on it) that this may relieve some of the paleo diet should sort that groggy feeling out naturally if you havekeep low-sugar, low-carbs.

I am just going to add something about sleep, as it seems all the nutrition and exercise elements have been covered by the above answers.

You say:

Been sleeping more than ever. Used to sleep 9 hrs a night now sleeping 9.5 to 10.5. Go to bed around midnight and get up around 9-10:30 (I was laid off from my finance job about 6 months ago, I know I sound depressed and I may be a little but depression runs in my family, hence I always have bouts of depression).

I think in addition to trying the diet and exercise changes above, you should try to go to bed when it gets dark and wake up naturally with the dawn, then get up when you first wake up (do not lie in bed once you are awake). Just try it for a week, that's all, and see how it changes the groggy feeling you have. If you have nothing to do in the morning, try some tai chi or yoga perhaps or spend time making a good protein and fat rich breakfast (don't cut out the eggs!).

Sleep in a completely dark room all night and this may help 're-set' your circadian rhythms. If you need to get up in the night, use a candle to see by (or very low lighting)....sounds kinda 'caveman like' doesn't it?

To keep in balance with this, get plenty of sunshine during the day...this may help remedy the bouts of depression you sometimes get.

And because you say you are waking up stiff, in addition to an intolerance to something like wheat or dairy you may have or the exercise regime you are practising - you may need to realign your posture, so, try sleeping on the floor. Fold over a comforter on the carpet or a folded comforter and a mat if you have bare floorboards and start off on the first night for as long as you can down there (stay warm), get into bed during the night if you are uncomfortable. On the next night try again and see if you can last the whole night. Sleep in a position that is comfortable for you without a pillow (you may need to ease into this) use extra pillows on other parts of your body if you need to. Don't try to force it on the first night, move into this way of sleeping gradually. Your body will find its own alignment over time.

There seems to be absolutely no correlation between what we do at night (and what state our surroundings are in when we sleep) with our state during the day, but I believe (I am still doing research on it) that this may relieve some of that groggy feeling you have.

Remember it has only been a month; 'be gentle to yourself' is probably the best advice you can hear right now. Time is a great healer.