How long did it take you from when you became a vegetarian to becoming a vegan?
about a year
Did you notice any other improvements besides losing weight?
Not really since I didn't have anything that really need improving. I noticed changes- I thinl my skin become drier and the digestion takes longer.
And how do you manage to avoid processed foods. I see all these fake soy burgers and fake soy deli "meats." Do you also avoid those?
Thanks to my mother. She prepares humus, tehina, tomato squash, and whole wheat bread using a home bread maker. She is also a great cook and she prepares tofu meals, rice meals and pastas. I also eat brazil nuts, almonds and pecans, as well as all types of fruits and vegetables.
I used to eat these fake meat soy products but I no longer eat them because most of them contain eggs (egg albumin).
Are there any books you could recommend for people contemplating such a diet?
I can only recommend Hebrew books. Truth is I didn't sufficiently investigate this subject.
Do you ever get cravings for cheese? If so, what do you do about it?
I never liked cheese much so no. Meat makes me sick so I have no craving for that. The only craving I have is for ice cream, pizza and chocolate (since even many dark chocolates contain traces of milk) but there are vegy alternatives like pizza without cheese and soy based ice cream and sorbet. I suppose the solution is to find things that are both tasty and vegan, and also it takes some time for the taste senses to re-tune. I think that I came to like tomatoes and dates and other fruits much more than when I was carnivorous.