I understand that people have lost weight with that diet but I suppose you could also make a case that smoking helps you lose weight too. It's the method of losing weight I don't like. Atkins book (and yes, I have read it) basically tells you to either not eat or drastically reduce your consumption of breads, rice, pasta, beer, most fruits and vegetables. I just don't think this is very healthy at all over the long term. But to each their own. I'm just stating my opinion and my experience with the diet.