have a healthy baby

Ages ago, when I was 15, I decided to become vegetarian. I also decided at that time that, when the time came for me to have a baby, I would have to start eating meat again. I know it’s possible to be healthy, pregnant, and vegetarian, but I must admit I’ve never found it particularly easy on my own, and I would never want to risk hurting the baby. Ergo, that was my conclusion.

When my fiance and I discussed it, he in formed me that, ideally, I ought to start eating meat again at least one year before we start even trying to get pregnant. This idea unnerved me somewhat (though it’s logical,) and I’ve danced around avoiding the issue for the past year.

Today I came to the conclusion that I need to stop procrastinating. The longer this waits, the longer everything else must wait. I kept telling myself I should make it some momentous occasion, but it doesn’t have to be. I don’t need to wait for a special day. So I told my fiance.

Wow, you should have seen his reaction! Was he ever happy to hear the news! It’s amazing. I mean, I didn’t expect him to be so happy about it, but I guess it’s a real, tangible step in the direction we’re going, and he feels how special it is, too.

Who needs a special date? I know that he’ll “celebrate” it with me, anyway.

I’m not pregnant, yet. Actually, I’m still on contraceptives.

The ultimate goal is to have a healthy baby, yes… but before I can do that, I must be healthy, myself.

There are many sub-goals to this one.

I need to lose weight:
Not just a little weight, a lot. We’re talking probably a minimum of 100 lbs. In order to achieve this, I intend to join a gym and work out a minimum of 3 times per week. Beyond that, I also intend to change my diet appropriately.

I need to start eating meat again:
I’ve been vegetarian since I was 15. The idea of going back to eating meat again is actually very intimidating… however, I don’t feel confident enough about my diet to “build a baby” as a vegetarian. I have said this whole time that, when I become pregnant, I will eat meat again. My fiance says, however, that I ought to start eating meat before I get pregnant, so that my body has time to re-adjust and it isn’t a shock to the little one.

I need to start taking vitamins/suppliments… or at the very least start taking a prenatal vitamin.

Once all this is accomplished, I then can look on to new healthy-baby-related sub-goals.

I suspect this one will be a pretty long-term one!