Hi all. I've been lurking on this forum for a long time now, close to two years. I figure it is about time to get involved. ABOUT ME: I'm 23, living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania - about five miles from Philadelphia. I've been vegetarian ever since I started buying my own food, about 18 months ago. I don't consider myself vegan: my workboots are not vegan (yet), I wear the occasional silk tie, I eat like 99% vegan, but I still partake in famliy birthday cake, etc. On the bright side, my mom made a vegan cake for my birthday this year, so my family is definitely becoming more and more supportive. My favorite exercise is sprinting, squats, and pushups. My favorite sport is wrestling. I mainly work out for recreation. I'm not opposed to working towards definite goals, but currently I workout purely when I feel like it for fun. So I go through periods of exercising everyday, and periods where I get home from work and do nothing physical. HOWEVER - I work as a laborer for a brickmason, so five days a week I put in eight hours of heavy lifting, carrying, sledgehammering, shoveling, etc. My motivation for joining this forum is to get past that 1% of my diet that is non-vegan. My reasons for being vegan lean WAAAYY more to the compassion/spiritual side than the health end. I feel like being a member here will help me live this personal commitment to myself, which I feel is essential to my spiritual wellbeing. FAVORITE FOODS: Papaya, avocado, and mango. #1 ACCOMPLISHMENT: I have completely abstained from drugs and alcohol since October 18, 2005.