When I was in the military, they had a program in boot camp called the "Fat boys club" All they would eat is fruit and vegetables and maybe a little milk. This is a fasting type diet that I would never use but it ALWAYS worked.
Funny how this is not allowed in the Atkins diet. Also, not to rain on all the pro-atkins peoples parade but I have NEVER met ANYONE that I considered very fit on that type of diet. I have met people that lost weight(Like my post about calorie restriction, its the long one that I know you have read.), but I would hardly call them powerful members of the species.
For the rest of you, form follows function. Endurance athletes need a lot of carbs. Strength athletes need carbs to but mnore protein. HAve any of you SEEN long-distance runners? They are a walking contradiction to your beliefs.
Needs to be repeated.
Everyone wants a quick fix - "I can eat a pound of bacon for breakfast, as long as I don't eat a slice of bread? Cool!" The Atkins diet is for sluggards who are more concerned about their appearance than their health.
I to have used high protien/low carb diet with success. Here is what this type of diet does for me, besides the benefits of keeping cholesterole levels exceptable
it lowers the 'gas level' that i get from chips and cheese......and I know it's NOT the cheese since this WOE includes eating cheese, plus any time I slip and start eating them again the 'problem' comes back.
it also has reduced to zero the, um once a month cravings that would have me looking for something to eat, trying everything, but nothing would satisfy. (course a male probably wouldn't understand this, lol)
it also gives me the ablity to not think about chocolate continually. love that stuff, as long as I eat a 'controlled' carb diet the urge to eat choc and other goodies just fades away. for which I can say Thank God.
there are other pluses to but these are the biggest.