The Atkins Diet has given all carbs a bad wrap and I'd like to clear up some of the confusion. There is nothing wrong with doing the low carb or no carb diet, but I have found that I personally performed better as an athlete and saw my fat percentage decrease significantly, while also maintaining muscle mass, with the right type of carbs in my diet. Carbs also help maintain a balanced blood sugar level giving you an even balance of energy throughout the day. Ever had that 3 o'clock crash? This feeling is usually due to a sugar level drop. You've gotta remember that, as humans, we need carbs to sustain a normal healthy lifestyle from normal brain function and mood to our daily workouts.
The type of carbs you want to have are whats called low glycemic carbs. What this basically means is that these are the carbs that take longer to digest in your system, giving you time to burn off the sugar. High glycemic carbs convert into sugar immediately and go right to your fat stores.
For those that want to reduce their carb intake here is how I would approach it. In the morning, pre and post workout have carbs with your meals then taper off or cut out towards the end of your day, such as dinner time. By following the principle of "Eat based on what you have done or are about to do" you will find that you will energy for hours and burn fat.
Check out this link here for more information on the gylcemic index: http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods.htm
