My doc does modified South Beach - NOT Atkins. His theory (and I agree with it) is that if you eliminate all white carbs (bread, Pasta, etc...you know... the stuff that gets most of us in trouble in the first place an causes cravings because it's still in your diet) it will be easier to stay the course through your weight loss period. Once you go into maintanence, he lets you bring back the white carbs. So it's not Atkins he's got us following -Atkins is all Protein via high fat which will kill your Gallbladder, it's healthy food, protien, fruits and veggies.
Like other posters, it's, "eat your protein first", then the veggies. He also allows protein shakes. 4 cab max. No Atkins or Slimfast.