I lost 50 lbs in slightly over three months following Atkins, and never once felt the horrible hunger pangs that have driven me insane for many years. These two things alone make the entire lc woe worth it.
The mechanics of reducing carbohydrates from one's diet actually allows one to consume more calories than normal and still lose weight - "... it is possible to lose weight on a low carb diet without a restriction in calories, and even with an increase in caloric intake!" (italics added) - Jan McBride, M.D.[taken from http://www.low-carb-diet-safety.com/critics.htm]
The criticism of Atkins seems to be predominantly in the realm of: the weight loss isn't fat but water and muscle, one's cholesterol increases, one's risk of heart disease increases and so forth.
However, each of these objections are demonstrably disproven in me. Before I began Atkins, I weighed 320 lbs. I was miserable, always hungry and nothing I did would keep the weight off. My cholesterol was extremely high, I had high blood pressure and was lethargic.
When I began low-carbing, I had a monthly body test performed at my local gym (where they hooked me up to electrodes and ran an electric current through me) to determine my body composition changes.
Before I started low carbing, my "Water Content" was 59 liters. Three months later, after I lost 50 lbs, my water content was 61 liters, a GAIN of 2 liters. As for muscle mass, before I started LCing, my "Lean Mass" was 182 lbs. Three months later, it was 183.2 lbs, a GAIN of 1.2 lbs.
The ONLY thing that decreased was my "Fat Mass", which dropped 55.6 lbs.
Thus, there's simply no doubt the weight I lost was SOLELY fat. I also had a physical done two months ago and was extremely pleased to learn my cholesterol has plummeted. It is now 5.47 mmol/L, still slightly high, but nowhere near the 8.12 mmol/L it used to be. My triglicerides are 1.19 mmol/L, vastly lower than the 4.16 mmol/L, my LDL cholesterol has dropped to 3.64, still slightly high, but less than the earlier 4.35 mmol/L, but my HDL is now a perfect 1.29 mmol/L whereas before it was only .48 mmol/L. My high blood pressure has disappeared and I now have a healthy range of 116/80 to last October's 144/74. The nutritionist at the gym was utterly shocked to realize the LC way of eating actually worked! It was the opposite of what he'd been taught in school.
It is unfortunate I began eating refined flour and refined sugar products again, I gained back ten pounds, however, I've gone back to LC, so, hopefully, I'll lose the poundage I gained.
Finally, I don't understand your hostility to Atkins or the low-carb way of eating - all I can say is "it works for me." I've divulged details of my life and health to provide evidence that the LC diet works. I'm healthier than I've been in a very long while. And, I'm happy.
Please bear my case in mind before you condemn something that can actually save a morbidly obese person's life.
It works for those people it works for. However, some people do not tolerate the ketosis state. While some of you feel more energetic in that state, others (probably the majority) feel de-energized. I think that helps explain the higher drop out rate of a low-carb diet.
People should eat protein and fats on a diet, but some might want to not go so low on carbs. 40% protein, 30% carbs, 30% fat is a good ratio. Protein and carbs give 4 calories per gram, fat gives 9 calories per gram. Adjust your calories (for fat loss) to about 12x your lean body mass. Avoid sugars for carbs, including table sugar (sucrose) and fructose. Use EFA (essential fatty acid) fats if possible (such as flaxseed oil.)
Cardio exercise in the morning three times per week for 20-45 minutes at 70% maximum heart rate -- before breakfast, will get your metabolism up for the whole day.
Weight training three times per week for an hour will build muscle, and muscle burns calories 24/7.