I saw the Netflix show Game Changers, and decided to give it a go. Strictly for health reasons, not to save the earth or lower my carbon footprint. If you told me that I would be going vegan 6 months ago, I would have laughed in your face.
So, a month into it, I feel amazing. Energy level is significantly higher. My knee and elbow that were hurting significantly from my 3-5 days a week of pick up basketball are no longer hurting. Lost 7-9 pounds, and blood pressure trimmed about 8 points from both top and bottom number.
I don't crave meat at all. The hardest part has been the cheese. Almond milk and cashew milk are great alternatives for regular milk, and you can find reasonable alternatives. Beyond Meat burgers are good - the meatballs are great. Also, the Burger King Impossible Whopper - if you wouldn't have told me it was that, I would have thought it was a regular Whopper. No joke. Tastes exactly the same.
I am not saying everyone should try to go full vegan right out of the box. Maybe start vegetarian. But definitely don't knock it until you try it. Also, there have been a one or two days where I said that I was going to have a piece of pizza. I am not letting it control my life, but in changing your habits even to eating half of what you were, the results are there for the taking.