Well for starters it sounds like your metabolism is pretty slow. I know your thyroid checked out normal, have you tried taking your temp -it is in Atkins book. One doctor told me my thyroid was normal I decided to get a 2nd opinion with a specialist who tested other things and put me on thyroid hormone. There is a lot of info on about.com. Before I took thyroid I didn't get into ketosis eating 15 carbs a day, now I do.

Otherwise you will have to be very careful-whatever plan you follow. Each cup of coffee, even decaf is 1 carb, each artificial sweetner also is a carb plus the cream, so 4 cups can add up fast. Cheese can also be a problem, cut it out for a week and see what happens.

In some people just the taste of sweet causes them to release insulin, you may not be able to chew gum or have sweet coffee without that happening.

Your quads may be hurting from not getting nutrients. Increase your calcium, magnesium. Mine get really tight, when I added 300mgs per day of mag in addition to my 100% from my daily vitamin it went away.

I admire your effort and once you figure out whats going on with your body I think you'll be rewarded, so don't give up.