[aelle]

Hi, and congratulations on your decision!

1- I lost 30 lbs. Part of that equation was eliminating most grains and getting my carbs from fruits and veggies. I already eat organic and unprocessed; however my diet consists of meats, produce, and greek strained yogurt for the most part. I consume about 70-90 g of protein daily, as I work out INTENSELY each morning. So at 5' 2", 106 lbs, will I now gain back some weight from reintroducing carbs into my diet? (not a goal)

You know, there is an equally wide variety of vegan diets as there is of omnivore diets. You may eat too much carbs and put the weight back on, you may keep it down. I lost a lot of weight when I went vegan and have been perfectly stable ever since I reached a healthy weight.

2- Will I have enough energy to continue intense kettlebell and functional training for the Fire Dept (heavy equipment)?

Sure, if you make sure to eat a balanced vegan diet. There are vegan athletes out there that may be more able than me to give you specific advice, but for my everyday life and moderate workouts, I just make sure I get enough calories, iron, B12 and proteins and my energy level is just fine.

3- Does anyone enjoy unsweetened carob as a vegan, or is that one of the foods avoided?

Carob is vegan, so sure, you can have it. You don't have to though.

4- What are some sample meal plans you enjoy, without the use of soy?

I don't follow a meal plan, I just... eat. I suggest getting a couple of cookbooks like Vegan with a Vengeance or Yellow Rose Recipes, or look up vegan foodie blogs and build up a list of your favorite meals. There is a learning curve, so the first weeks or even months may not be the best. Now I have a variety of standards I eat regularly, and I just make sure they balance out over a few days.
The things I do watch is to make sure to get a high source of proteins at least every other day and leafy greens every day. In my experience, it made a great difference in my health. Green smoothies are a great trick to incorporate daily greens in your diet.

5- How much protein do I REALLY need, and what are the best foods for it?

I don't track my food intake so I can't give you numbers, but I pay attention to how my body feels and know if my foods needs tweaking. You will know you lack of proteins if you're hungry all the time, even as you leave the table. Too much of it and your intestines will let you know.
My favorite protein rich foods are beans and pulses: hummus, falafels, burritos, beanballs, curries, dahl..., as well as nuts and seeds (I make sure to add a handful of nuts every time I make a salad, stirfry or smoothie, both for proteins and omega 3). Quinoa is also great: it's a complete protein and can be used as a cereal. I love quinoa taboulis. I eat tofu, tempeh and seitan every once in a while but know other vegans who just adore these.