Vegetarian/Vegan roll call!

Post here if you're a practicing vegetarian or vegan!

Feel free to also answer these questions:

1) How long have you been a vegetarian?

2) What made you decide to restrict meat or animal products from your diet?

3) What's the most annoying thing you've been told by a carnivore?

4) What's the last book you read about vegetarianism?

My answers:
1) I've lost count. I think it's been at least 6 years since I became a vegetarian. There have been adjustments over those years. About 2 years ago I started eating fish again to make myself a little more flexible in my relationship. I've often eaten eggs and dairy products: thus I was an ovo-lacto-vegetarian. Now I'm recommitting by giving up fish (did that a few weeks ago), eggs, and dairy. I would've still considered myself a vegetarian before; the term is pescatarian. Or, at least, a near vegetarian. Now I'm going vegan.

2) My girlfriend brought home a book called Food Revolution by John Robbins. A friend of hers recommended it to her. My GF never read the book, but I read it rather quickly. It was a page-turner. It did not pose itself as a diet per se, but made a cogent case against eating animal products. It covered the biggest arguments against meat: ethical, environmental, and health. I've never looked back on eating meat. Yes, I realize that fish is still meat. That was me relenting to pressure to be more versatile with my, now, ex-girlfriend.

3) Probably the most annoying person about my vegetarianism is my oldest brother. He constantly goads me about my being a vegetarian. He constantly gets in little comments that my lifestyle is unhealthy and that I'm probably not getting enough protein. The most annoying comment he ever made was suggesting to me that my vegetarianism hasn't really reduced suffering, because as far as anyone knew, plants like tomatoes suffered when they are eaten. He told me that who was I to say that tomatoes didn't feel pain when they are taken off the vine. Truly ridiculous. I pointed out the lack of a central nervous system, brain, etc. But he begged the question and suggested "I guess we'll never know. . ."

Meanwhile, during the entire time I've been losing weight and adapting lifestyle changes I can make permanent, he's been gaining weight and is an on-again, off-again Atkins dieter. He eats the greasiest foods and is certainly damaging his arteries and kidneys. His diet isn't in the least bit healthy, but my opinion on health is not greatly respected in my family, so my family follows my brothers' lead in Atkins. Everyone in my immediate family believes in Atkins. No one considers my choice to be vegetarian to be very healthy at all. In fact, my nephew has decided that he wants to become a vegetarian, and the family is now concerned that he won't get the nutrients or proteins he needs if he refuses to eat meat. The result is they are not respecting his decision and are strong-arming him to continue eating the chicken and ground beef that are staples in our home. sorry for the tl;dr.

4) the last book I read is Neale Barnard's Dr. Neale Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes. It is entirely relevant for people who don't have diabetes. Makes a good case for becoming a vegan. Describes a scientifically tested program of veganism that can help people maintain health without committing to an exercise program. I still exercise, but the book convinced me to give up eggs and dairy (thus becoming a vegan now). My mom was immediately concerned when I said I'd be giving up eggs. She thinks that eggs were the last source of protein in my diet. I have told her for years that I easily get between 70 and 100 grams of protein every day on my diet. But they never really listen to anything I say about this. . .