For how long are you living as a vegan ?

[vegancookie]

*deleted*

[zvezdy]

The problem with vegetarianism is that it's helping no one. You should be thinking about consumer choice and how it negatively impacts the lives of the people and animals involved.

The time is now. I was never a vegetarian because it was never a choice. If it means supporting yourself, its probably better not to eat your family's meals than to kill one more animal for the sake of dairy and egg consumption.

You really will feel better for it. I've been vegan since I was 13. I'm 21 now. For me, it meant once I had a job, I bought all my food and cooked all my food. My family didn't support my food choices in the beginning, but it meant eating the cans of spinach and beans in my mom's pantry instead of eating family meals. It was a sacrifice I made an I expect the same of others who are aware of the consequences of their purchases.

[panthera]

Hard core! Props to you... especially for getting the truth about vegetarianism so early.

[Chenli]

Nearly 5 years for me I think...I've lost count.

[teasin]

Its been a long time for me. When i first turned vegetarian, there were hardly any fake meats, a just a few sausage mixes.
Things really have progressed for veg*ns, its a good sign in one way, bad in another.

[veganfishcake]

just over 5 years and counting!

[teddy bear]

[panthera]

[Vegan_Jackie]

I have been a vegan for 14 years. I call myself a born vegetarian because when I was born, I wouldn't take to milk. My parents had to give me soy milk so I pretty much grew up on that. As I got older I wouldn't eat meat I just didn't like it. When I turned 12 I made the choice to just go vegan.

[panthera]

You drank soy milk as an infant? Do you know if it was soy formula? I've always heard that soy milk doesn't have all the nutrients necessary for a baby's development.

[saflett]

I'd been vegetarian for 10 years and even though I knew turning vegan was the only right thing to do, it took me a looong time to finally make the final step..

There were always excuses and doubts, like 'how can anyone live without cheese?? am I not already doing much more than a lot of other people by being vegetarian?? It was no problem for me to quit meat, fish, eggs, milk, to stop wearing leather, suede, wool, silk, etc. But skipping cheese was beyond my imagination, despite knowing all the dreadful facts about dairy industry and its relation to meat industry. Finally there was no way out, once you REALLY realise how much suffering is necessary to provide you with a few minutes of pleasure, there's no way out. As I was considering the decision for a 100th time, I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance. Well, could I really put it off any longer??

Going vegan is a huge change, but the rewards are so worth it. Never felt better in my life, physically and 'ethically'

[panthera]

[sutchapants]

it's been about 2 months now. and I've never felt better
(panthera, the sheep is a lot easier to use than you think!)

before the "Big Switch" I was a vegetarian for 2 years, and i always knew it was coming. i had to be fed soy milk/formula until I was about 5 years old and milk products still make me feel kinda sick. and I've never liked flesh- I've always thought it silly/awful how people murder animals because they like their taste. i'm completely content eating tofu and veggies and fruits and other yummy, humane things.

[Beardy]

It was around Oct/Nov 1990, so approaching 20 years. I was 19. I'm embarrassed now that I was vegetarian for so long, especially as in the last 19 years I've eated a lot of variety of diets, and now eat better than anyone else I know, enjoy food more, and am very fit and healthy. Like other people who posted here, it was the best decision I ever made.

[Horsefriend]

I guess I haven't posted here yet. Eleven years. Doesn't quite make up for the 18 years as an omnivore, does it? I need a time machine.