blog dot northwindy dot com

What do you think?

This one is closer to the actual Vista UI

So I've installed Windows Live Messenger Beta to try it out, and apparently Microsoft has made it an invitation-based service much like Gmail. I used to wonder why companies made things invitation-based.. it almost makes it seem like an exclusive club, but the main reason is to limit users in the early stages of testing so that the networks aren't flooded. How did I get an invitation? Well, I joined MSDN (Microsoft's Development Network) awhile back so I could try out Visual C++ 2005 Beta, and I guess coders are getting first dibs on trying out the new messenger service. I have tons of Gmail invites if anyone wants one, but as for Windows Live invites, I don't have any as of yet. Once I get some, I can invite some of my friends who use MSN Messenger if they want. Microsoft also started their own version of my.yahoo.com, called www.live.com. It's still in its infancy, but it looks promising. You can try getting one from Microsoft on your own, but I think they are limiting them to developers right now.

Anyways, what else is new? I've been working out regularly as I stated in my last post. It's really given me a lot of energy in school and with concentration. I've also lost a little body fat so it's all good.

I've decided to volunteer to help with a programming competition in April. It's going to be in San Antonio so I can go home for a bit and visit with the family while I'm there. I don't know too much about it yet, but I'll probably post updates about it soon.

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/newplanet-072905-images.html

I guess I can throw out what I learned in elementary school that there are 9 planets in our solar system :-P

Well its been some time since I blogged so I thought I'd catch you up. I've resumed working out about a week and half ago and I've already noticed results. I wish I could say it was all hard work but I also attribute a lot to supplements I started taking. My workout schedule has consisted of going to the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Basically 3 times a week. Its a great plan when you are strength training. I've been doing a lot of circuit training, trying to get my body fat down while raising my lean muscle mass. I don't care about looking like a mesomorph. Basically, I want the muscle to boost my metabolism so that the fat stays off. Anyways, I've modified my diet, which now consists of a protein shake in the morning, after a workout, and before bed. Another thing that I'm embarassed to confess is that I also started taking these 'thermogenic boosters' called Ripped Fuel Extreme that highly increase my metabolism to aid in the burning of fat. They are perfectly legal and they aren't steroids (which i would never take). Anyways the first day I took them I was jittery all day. Basically they have 200mg of caffeine in them (a soda has about 50mg of caffeine in it). The result is an accelerated metabolism for about 7 hours. They cost like $15 for a bottle of 60, and taking 4 a day, I'll be out within 2 weeks. I'll probably buy one more bottle after I run out, but then I'm off completely. Four weeks of that is more than enough for it to do what its going to, and anyways I've read it starts to lose effectiveness after 8 weeks as my body adapts to it. (Probably not healthy being exposed to that much caffeine for too long anyways) Are they safe? Some people reported severe shakes or irregular heart beat, but I have not experienced those signs. I would discontinue immediately if I felt bad for any reason. I wasn't gonna stay on it unless I had results, but since I have I think 4 weeks of that and continuous circuit training for a few months (maybe more) will do. My personal goal is to be able to see my abs . It would be nice for once to feel proud about my body instead of self-conscious.

Well I've noticed a big difference with working out while being metabolically boosted. I started checking my body fat percentage using measurements, and two days ago (when I first started those boosters) I had 22.9% body fat and weighed 152 pounds (34.8 pounds of fat! 117.2 lbs lean body mass). Today when I checked I had 19.18% body fat while weighing 149 pounds (28.56 pounds of fat! 120.44 lbs lean body mass). More than likely my water weight was higher the first time I measured so its probably deceptive, but I've been drinking about 3 or 4 bottles of water a day. But in any case, I'm noticeably thinner. I'm gonna keep a record of my body fat percentage for my own use. Tomorrow is my next workout day so we'll see how it goes. I seem to be mostly recovered from my last workout.

Title: Ever The Same
Artist: Rob Thomas
Album: Something to be
Year: 2005

We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn’t tell you but I’m telling you now

Just let me hold you while you’re falling apart
Just let me hold you so we both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you forever in me
Ever the same

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
Under the warmth of the sun
Now it’s cold and we’re scared
And we’ve both been shaken
Look at us
Man, this doesn’t need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you’re falling apart
Just let me hold you so we both fall down

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Call on me
I’ll be there for you and you’ll be there for me
Forever it’s you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you’re no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I’ll not forget
But I can only give you love