I did atkins in the run up to a holiday last year and was successful in losing about 20 lbs. I have since got married and put it all back on, I've also not had any time for exercise which has compounded the problem. The one system I used which I think was really sustainable was the weightwatchers plan, it really changes the way you plan your meals and is not restrictive in the way Atkins is.
There is a front page story in one of the tabloids over here today giving info on how Atkins died and how unhealthy he was.