By now, we've all heard of Atkins and know at least a few people who've tried it. This diet seems to be popular with men--probably because of the abundance of meat allowed.

Here are the basics:

Phase 1

Protein! In any form--chicken, fish, beef, eggs, etc.
Low-carbohydrate veggies (lettuce, celery, mushrooms, etc.)
Cheese, sour cream, full-fat dressings
No more than 2o grams of carbohydrates a day

Phase 2 and 3

Carbohydrate allowance is slowly increased to allow higher carb veggies and eventually fruit.

The Low Down:

Many people have lost a large amount of weight on the Atkins Diet--you probably know a few. It's amazing how the weight falls off when you're on a low-carb diet. There is definitely something to this craze.

Pros:

Quick weight loss--keeps motivation high.
A loss of appetite after the first few days
Food that feels filling and substantial--not just "rabbit food"

Cons:

The food list is restrictive--who knew you could grow to hate sour cream and steak?
It's a difficult plan to stick to, going out to dinner is tough, grabbing a quick snack isn't easy either.
As soon as you start eating starches and sugars again, it's like starting at the beginning.

My take:
Like I said, you can lose weight quick on Atkins. This is a great diet for that high school reunion or vacation you're looking to lose ten pounds for. It's not a realistic diet for the long haul. No matter what the studies say or don't say, common sense tells us it's unhealthy to eat cheesy omelettes and red meat every day. A good "quick fix" diet but expect to gain back every pound as fast as you lost it when you go back to your high carb ways.