Contrary to what the skeptics say, this is not an "all-you-can-eat-meat" diet. Actually I eat less meat then I did before starting this lifestyle and I eat far more fish, vegetables, berries, eggs, cheese, nuts, olive oil and yogurt then I did before changing my way of eating.
I discovered the Atkins's Diet a few years back, and I've been grateful ever since.
As you said, the idea that I eat fat and meat and little else is non-factual, but some people are stuck in old stereotypes.
As you have found out, the Atkins' Diet is about changing our lifestyles. . . being aware of which foods contain a lot of sugar and simple carbs, choosing to buy foods with no-sugar added, exercising on a regular basis.
The great news is that I started working out as Dr. Atkins recommended in his book, and I still work out on a regular basis. I also walk my dog more often and farther when I come home from work, and many mornings I take a walk before going to work.
The only foods that I really avoid are baked sweets. . . only eat them in rare occasions.
I eat pretty much anything else, as long as I eat small portions of the "white foods", such as pasta. Since Italian food is my favorite, I always order steamed spinach with olive oil and garlic as a side dish, so I will not eat more pasta than I need to keep my small waist.
I eat more vegetables than ever before; I'm not always hungry or lethargic, the way I used to be by eating sugar and white flour all the time.
Btw, after you learn to read labels, you realize how much sugar is added to processed food. For instance, I buy my mayonaise at the local health food store, because the supermarket mayonaise contains sugar.
And any food ingredient that ends in ose is a form of sugar. . . fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, etc. Sugar can also appear under other names, such as syrup, HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), molasses, honey, etc.
I did and you look GREAT!! Congratulations. You're a fantastic ad for Atkins and give me hope.