The "Glycemic Index" approach is one advocated by Larry North, a Dallas bodybuilder-turned-gym-owner.
His diet guru, Dr. Cliff Sheets, advocates the low glycemic diet but only if you are on a weight-lifting, aerobic exercise regimen. The intense exercise requires some complex carbs and will burn them off. In addition, weight lifters tend to burn off fat anyway.
I know I did. But I don't lift as intensely as I did ten years ago, nor do I do aerobic exercise every day.
So, I went on Atkins, eliminating most carbs (still have a glass of wine with dinner), and have maintained my weight at 190. I cheat once a week, eating whatever I want.
Atkins is a tremendous eating program, and, with all the stuff available today with more coming into stores every day, we're gradually going to put the sugar growers into serious hurt. Sucra, a sugar substitute, tastes like sugar but has zero effect on insulin. It's truly a miracle product, and hopefully we'll see more sucra-based desserts and products.
For me, the low-glycemic carbs were OK as long as I was lifting weights and walking an hour a day.
Sucralose tastes good but it upset my stomach and made my face break out. It's unfortunate, because I can't stand NutraSweet and avoid it like the plague, but it seems sucralose has side effects for some people, too.