[Note from the Proprietor: In case you're wondering what it's all about, well, we're smack in the middle of BLOGAPALOOZA! Hey, you're welcome to join in the fun if you like! All ya gotta do is click that cute little link and read all about it!]

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Guest post by Merry Mary who writes over at A Merry Life

January: 6 Tips for Drinking More Water Every Day: This post listed tips to help me drink enough water. These tips continue to help me as I learn how to make it through the daily struggle to drink the amount of water recommended.

February: Setback After Setback, How to Deal: Posted after I had a cold and had missed two weeks of workouts because of the tornado, this post has a few tips about how I’ve learned to deal with setbacks so they don’t become train wrecks. The tips are not only great for weight loss setbacks but for any setback in life.

March: I Miss Europe: In March I learned the I miss living in Europe more than I can imagine. This post is some of my favorite pictures I took while I was studying abroad.

April: Living Green Tip: Eat You Leftovers : Want to lose weight and lower your impact on the planet? Me too. I have been learning how to best achieve these goals and this is one tip to help make that happen.

May: College Commencement Speech (Stephen Colbert): I graduated from college (I learned plenty during those four years) and I wish Stephen Colbert had delivered our commencement speech. He didn’t, but I loved this one he gave at another school.

June: Struggling to Find Motivation : This post represents my main recurring struggle with weight loss: motivation. I often struggle to find the motivation to eat healthy and make myself exercise.

July: Things I Want To Do When I Lose Weight: I made a video list of some of the things I plan to do once I am at a healthier weight. This video helps with my motivation problem. I’ve learned reminding myself of my goals helps to keep me on track.

August: Create Visual Reminders For Weight Loss Success : A tip from SparkPeople helped me realize that keeping visual reminders around leads to more success in weight loss. I created a great board of visual reminders in my room that I glance at before leaving to help keep me on track.

September: I Love My Job and Swimming : This post is one of my favorites for the year because I learned I can do something physical – swimming a mile – that can impress someone who is active and in shape.

October: The Principles of Clean Eating: This post outlines the basic nutrition program I try to follow. I learned that clean eating is best way to improve your health and body and this post outlines the basic principles.

November: Your Body is PERFECT: I have learned with time that whether your are at your smallest or largest size your body is still wonderful. This post about body positivity encourages everyone to love the body they are in now.

December: An Ongoing Success Story: Weight Loss Blogger Fat Lazy Guy: The first in a series of awesome weight loss success story interviews with on of my favorite healthy lifestyle bloggers, Fat Lazy Guy. These interviews have taught me a lot about living a healthy life.

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I already took a look at how I did with my goals for 2008. Now I want to measure my year with a better indicator of success: what I learned about living a healthy lifestyle.

This is part of Blogapalooza where participants are all writing about what they learned this year. I reviewed my archives for 2008 and picked my favorite posts from each month that were either my favorite or demonstrated things I have learned this year. Here they are in case you missed them.

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[Further note from the Proprietor: Hey, if you're interested in having your own "best of 2008" posts highlighted right here at the Middle Zone, then by all means, click on this link: (BLOGAPALOOZA: What I Learned From 2008) and read all about it! BLOGAPALOOZA will be open for entries from now until Sunday, January 25.]

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