Bacon, sausages, ham all contain nitrates and salt, which can make you retain massive amounts of water.

This is why Dr Atkin's recommends you "limit" your intake of these products. In other words, it is okay to have them a few times a week however it is not recommended as a daily source of fat and proteins.

As far as the low carb bars.....depending on the brand can contain as many as 23 carbs per bar. The effects these have on your system vary from person to person. If you find you are stalling, first thing to toss out are these. Artifical sweetners are next on the list followed by dairy products.

That is the fun part....finding out what you can safely eat that doesn't cause your insulin levels to spike up.

By all means experiment! I have been on Atkin's for a year now and I find I can eat all types of foods without it affecting me into gaining weight.

I can actually enjoy having a hot dog while watching a baseball game without having to fret if I am going to pay dearly for it later.