The Atkins induction phase of the diet my not be no carbs, but it is really restricted carbs. Here's an excerpt from the Atkins diet induction phase:
Yes, phase 1 is restrictive but allows 20 carbs..
Having talked to many a person fighting the weight issue who were interested in Atkins when I used it to drop 50 lbs back in 2003, I really have to stress the education portion of it. Too many quickly jump into Atkins without understanding it and when they fail, they blame Atkins.
It usually starts like this
Them: "I did Atkins and I didn't lose weight"
Me: "Really? You kept at or below 20 carbs and didn't lose weight?"
Them: "Well, I couldn't give up tortilla chips and had to have my pasta but other than that, I was strict"
Me; "Then you didn't do Atkins"
OR
Them: "I did Atkins for 3 months and lost XX lbs, but then I gained it all back when I stopped"
Me: "then you didn't do Atkins, phase 4 is for life, its a life changing way of eating not a temporary diet"