if you want to lose weight the best possible way dont follow the atkins diet. True atkins diet does work, however its so easy to put the weight on right after you eat say 15% carbs for the day.
Best way to lose weight is to eat 5-6 small meals a day, with most carbs in the morning giving you a chance to work them off during the day. Eat 11* your body weight in calories. weight 200lbs eat only 200*11=2200 calories. Also cardio 4-5 times a week at 75% of max heart rate is needed. get max heart rate by taking 220-age.
Theres 3500 calories in a lb of fat you basically want to eat 500 less a day then your amount of calories to keep you at your weight now... 2lbs a week is the target amount you look for when losing weight. When you lose more then that its muscle and water weight your losing.