I will speak positively about Atkins. It is the only thing that ever worked for me. If you're talking about burgers, go ahead and eat your fast food - just don't eat the buns. Don't eat fast food that's breaded and fried - and skip the french fries. Eliminate sugar, chips made from potatoes, flour or cornmeal. Do the induction phase for as long as you want to lose weight - that's 20 carbs per day. Eggs, bacon, beef, chicken, fish, cheeses, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, salads (with caesar or bleu cheese - still read labels and if it's more than 1 carb per serving, move on to another brand) - those were the staples of my daily diet. As long as you're losing, the diet is safe - is staying fat or continuing to gain weight safe? There is a recent report out that Mackie Shilstone (google him if you don't know who he is) said shows that if you are not losing weight, that it does present health problems such as reduced elasticity in arteries.
In addition, do some exercise. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if you're short on time for exercise. When you go somewhere, park as far away as possible.
When you decide you've lost enough weight, slowly add more carbs in, but be smart about the carbs you add. Whole grain breads (or even better use low carb wraps), whole grain brown rice and whole grain pastas. Skip the potatoes for the most part - rarely eat them - not never, but as little as possible (once a month or every other month). Slowly add in fruit - start with strawberries and blueberries, then apples. Continue to NOT eat breaded fried foods. Snack on nuts - almonds preferably. Make protein shakes with whey protein and fresh fruits like strawberries and blueberries or the occasional banana. I was a peanut butter and jelly freak - so now when I have them, instead of jelly I use fresh fruit - again, usually strawberries and blueberries on whole grain bread.
The reason I say to start with Atkins is because it will jump start your weight loss and if you do it right, you'll lose some pounds quickly which will motivate you to continue. I acknowledge that it's not a long term healthy diet (the induction phase) - how could anything that promotes bacon, butter and red meat be considered healthy? But refined carbs are equally unhealthy. As you spike your sugar on those refined carbs you also spike your insulin release which tells your cells to absorb the stuff in your system. Anything that isn't burned off is efficiently turned to fat. If you can slow that insulin release, you slow the fat retention. I think that's key to weight loss - blood sugar stability & control and insulin release control.
