Going from ALMOST vegetarian to vegan??!

Going from ALMOST vegetarian to vegan??

i've always wanted to be a vegetarian coz i'm pro defending animal rights and i feel terrible knowing so many animals are being slaughtered or exploited daily on our bahalf. unfortunately, so far, i have only managed to be a semi-vegetarian. i dont eat beef, pork or seafood. but my mother is worried that if i dont consume certain products (like dairy or meat) i will become malnurished and thus be much less healthy than i would have been by having a balanced diet based on ALL things that are edible.

what i'm asking basically is: can i be healthy (NOT skinny - coz i'm an athlete) and be vegan at the same time? how can i accomplish to get all the proteins and vitamins by body needs without taking suplimentary pills (i dont like the thought of having something sinthetic in my body)? are soy, rice, etc products really as healthy as the real thing?

i appreciate the help. i dont want to have to quit on my whole belief system, but i'm afraid if it means i become anaemic, i'll have to...

first thng, it GREAT to hear this baby!!
well, yeah, i mean, im a vegan and i aint gt no prbs all ma life(regarding nourishment, the heart thngy was nt concerned with this)......yeah, its diff when u switch frm bein a non vegan to a vegan.......u can consume dairy and milk products baby, animals are nt killed for it....as for meat, u can take other protein supplements like green peas, and soya and stuff...rice helps a LOT too........QUITE a few veggies have actually gt mre nutrition thn meat....as a matter of fact the human digestive system is mre comfy w/ vegan stuff......ofcourse the change maybe be a lil disturbin but its gnna b allright in no time...^_^

all the best sweety!!
^_^