Would Atkins diet work if you're not that fat, but just want to lose maybe 10-15...

[h-nizzle]

...lbs?? I am not fat, I am just a lil soft around the belly and have love-handles. I heard people lose weight quickly when they go on Atkins, but that's usually if they are obese. Would it work for someone not that fat? I am 6'2, and weigh about 225 lbs, but I'd like to tighten up my mid-section. And do people really gain the weight back if they go off of Atkins? All I want to lose is 10 lbs and lift weights to build the muscle

[Lord_Darkclaw]

The Atkins Diet is a con, you will lose weight but only because you are cutting out calories from other sources. You will get better results (and without side effects) simply by cutting down your total calorie intake: Eat less junk, eat more real food.

[honie]

I just lost 11 lbs by limiting calorie intake to 1400 a day and sticking to foods with less than 5 g fat per 100 g of food. Added on some exercise and it took about 5 weeks.

The best way to lose weight is to follow a healthy diet, not a diet that is overly restrictive or that involves eating odd foods that you are going to find hard to maintain in the long term, as as soon as you return to your normal diet the weight will come back.

Good luck

ETA I still follow the healthy part of the diet, sticking to low fat foods but I have treats too which I balance out with exercise, I've maintained like this for a while and I'm much happier and healthier than before and I'm not missing out on anything.