Worked for me for years...

Yep. I see no health benefits of consuming alcohol. When I drink, I wake up with an inflamed stomach and a headache. As my father says, if you have to choose between drinking too much or none at all, the latter is clearly the better choice.

I'm sorry drunk guys burn you with their fags and try to chat you up in their drunk stupor, but, like I said, I drink to network, not to chase girls.

Update: down 2 pounds since my last post. i tried to cut back, but screwed up after entering a beer drinking contest last weekend (ok, that was a stupid, impromptu decision). What I did do is work out much harder.

Well done on the 2lbs.

"Networking" - interesting way to describe it. Where I live networking involves a small glass of wine, a power suit and razor-sharp intellect. That's why anyone who gets hammered and ends up dropping on bended knee to propose a date or marriage to a total stranger kinda looks a bit silly, and is promptly surrounded by apologetic friends and collegues who drag the poor deluded creature away. One lot had to leave the premises, dragging their manager, because he wouldn't stop pestering me. I am overweight, no great beauty and no spring chicken either, by the way, yet seen through the bleary eyes of alcohol I become a strange seductive and irresistable siren.. hehehe .. hmmmm.

170 seems a reasonable weight for a male.

That's a very good point. Muscle weighs heavy so it's possible that you're already at an ideal weight.

Yes, when I tell people that I'm trying to lose weight, almost all say I don't need to. However, I have this layer of fat that I'm not happy about. It'd also be nice to have a six pack

Hi all, a quick update from your alcohol loving friend.

Since the last update, I gained back the two pounds I lost, but I can see my abs (line in the middle, slight line across, giving me a vague 4-pack).

It isn't the low carb diet, since I've been stalling for such a long time in terms of fat loss (note, this is not the same as weight loss). However, I have been working out like AN ANIMAL for the past 3-4 weeks. I'm definitely noticing more energy, more muscular definition, etc.

The plan now is to forget about the scale, and focus instead of getting ride of the layer of fat that is hiding the six-pack (vague lines will do . The plan is simple: keep low carbing (keep it within ~70 grams), and workout intensely every day (e.g. 12-15 sets of weights, followed by 4 sets of sprints... and if I'm not worn out, 6 kilos jogging, which I did today). I will, of course, rest on days when I feel drained and sore.

Bottom line: I can't get the body I want simply by dieting. Low carb can only take you so far!

People often say:
Follow lowcarb eating, lose weight and look good in your clothes
Follow lowcarb eating plus exercise, lose weight and look good naked!!

Yeah, whats the point of "networking" when, after you successfully "pitched" a "client", you can't feel confident after you take off your "power suit".

Anyways, another quick update.
Lost 3 pounds!
After working out very intensely for a month, I finally felt burnt out for the past 3 days. I've been taking it easy with the exercise. HOWEVER, I attributed my progress to 2 big factors:
1. I added vegetables back to diet and...
2. I started drinking ephedra (Ma Huang) tea 3 days ago.

As soon as I started drinking ephedra tea, the pounds just started falling (well, after 24 hours). Its like finding a hammer big enough to smash through my 170 barrier. Now I can see (vague) lines in my pecs when I flex. Yes, for those of you who are living in the US, you can't buy ephedra anymore. Maybe try your luck at a Chinese herbal place (ask for "Ma whoo-wong" or just write down 麻黄). In case you are wondering, I moved to China two weeks ago from Manhattan.

Monkeyman,

Just a thought about the alcohol. According to Paleo low-carb folks, beer has different effect on your body. You might try sticking to liquor and red wine, just to see if it helps, since beer is grain-based...

It wasn't able to lose the last 10% of my weight until I stopped eating gluten, soy & dairy, which for me caused inflammation (determined with an elimination diet) and added more fat. When I did, the last 15 lbs came off almost effortlessly. Nothing else worked for me, and I tried everything - more exercise, less exercize, fewer calories etc.

Good grief what line of business does this go with? No, I don't really want to know - just sitting here chuckling about this one!