[funchy]

Allelle already gave you some great answers. Here are my 2 cents worth:

Originally Posted by SpiritChaser

will I now gain back some weight from reintroducing carbs into my diet?

Not necessarily.

And tons of carbs are not a requirement for going vegan. There are so many ways you could do this diet.

You could for example delete the meat and replace it with higher-protein plant sources such as beans, soy, nuts, seeds, etc.

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

There are bodybuilders and professional athletes who are vegan. There's no reason why you can't keep doing what you're doing.

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

It's vegan, though for some reason milk products are snuck into carobs/chocolates sometimes.

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

I would never eat the level of protein you feel you need, so I am the wrong person to advise you. I might suggest you talk to a licensed nutritionist who has experience with vegan or who personally is vegan. Sadly not all nutritionists know what to do with vegans, and I can tell you from firsthand experience, they're not always up front about what they do/don't know. Your best bet is to get yourself well educated about food (which will continue to help you, even if you do go back to meat).

You can always supplement the protein with powders, if you really feed the need to. You probably know the whey ones are dairy-based, so avoid them! Rice protein comes to mind. I've heard people praise Sunwarrior brand of vegan protein.

And you may not believe me, but the whole soy fear thing is awfully exaggerated. Soy won't give you breasts, make your testicles shrivel up, or whatever it is people claim. The phytoestrogens are not human estrogen. They're also low level in comparison to the mammal hormones people consume when they eat meat.

For good help with vegan bodybuilding, check out VeganFitness.

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

Depends on who you ask. Some people are so obsessed with protein they miss the bigger picture. Do NOT forget your body also runs on vitamins, minerals, some fats, plenty of water, electrolytes, etc.

If I had to suggest something, I'd say quinoa, which is a vegan source of "complete" protein plus other nutrients healthy muscles need such as calcium. It may look like a grain, but it's worlds away from plain old white rice.

You may also find that if you're eating enough calories of the moderate to lower fat vegan foods (veggies for example), the grams of protein they have do add up.

Tip:
Don't get discouraged. You'll get some "experts" telling you confidently that it cannot be done, and if you start to listen to them, you won't feel like sticking with your trial. It CAN be done.

Some good sites you may like:
Keri: Athletes who choose a vegetarian diet - ESPN Page 2
Vegan Athlete - achieve your full potential
Elite Island athletes who are vegetarians