A "lower" carb diet might be possible for you, including rice. Educate yourself on what low-carb eating really means, and pick a plan that suits you. South Beach perhaps? If you simply cut out sugar (and all products containing sugar or high fructose corn syrup), all white flour products (and corn starch), starchy vegetables (other than rice), and alcholic beverages (in excess), you'll be consuming much "lower carb" than the average diet, and you might find yourself losing weight. Exercise will help a lot.

It's possible that a reduced-calorie, reduced-fat (bite my tongue!) plan would work better for you. The point is, you'll want to pick a plan that will not only result in weight loss, but also will teach you a new way of eating to enable you to sustain that lower weight for life.

You won't be able to get the benefits of Atkins--the ketogenic or fat-burning effect--without abstaining from all but allowable carbs in allowable amounts for a period of two weeks or so...and in small increasing increments after that. Other plans have different introductory periods, with different effects. And of course, quite a few other guidelines apply.

Low-carb is a way of improving your blood profile (cholesterol, lipids, etc.) as a method to protect the heart, prevent aging oxidation, and maintain a healthy weight. It's not a "quick weight loss" scheme you can give up and still expect to maintain what you've accomplished. It has to become the "new normal" for life.

Best wishes.