Originally Posted by Lindy

On your plate, a calorie is a calorie. In your body, not so much. Consider the thermic effect of different foods. Carbs, especially refined carbs, are, along with fats, much more easily digested than proteins. This thermic effect (the energy a food expends in digesting and assimilating itself) ranges from almost zero for fats, alcohol, and glucose to as much as 30% for proteins. That is one of the benefits of the high protein/controlled carb diet.
With thermic effect, a 1000 calorie bowl of ice cream (or white rice or potato) will net you about 965 calories. Assuming that you are running a caloric surplus, that's about 4.5 ounces of fat on your midsection. A 1000 calorie plate of lean steak will net you about 760 calories, or about 3.5 ounces on your belly. So much for all calories being equal.
Anyone who actually looks at those high protein/controlled carb diets knows that carbs are reduced mostly by eliminating refined carbs. White flour, rice, pasta, potatoes, corn, etc. and the various forms of sugar, including HFCS. No one is crusading against vegetables and fruit. High protein controlled carb diets are not bereft of vegetables and fruit, far from it. Drs. Atkins and Eades and the others strongly encourage consumption of leafy green and colored vegetables and fresh fruits.