You might not be "there" yet, but nearly 8 million people in the US are[1]. It's likely that most of them are healthy[2].
On the point of "sacrifice," animals aren't making one. To sacrifice something, you must willingly trade it for something else. (Though plenty of BBQ joints will suggest otherwise[3].)
It's easy to compare a vegetarian diet against the standard Anerican diet (SAD) and shout how great vegetarianism is. that doesn't imply vegetarianism is optimally healthy, just that the SAD is a horrible diet.
If people are able to thrive on a vegetarian diet, I have nothing but respect for that. My reading of the science and concerns over getting proper proteins without the negative consequences of phytochemicals evolved to poison me has me preferring to nourish my body well with real foods.
I have one life; I'm not going to gamble away my long-term health.
On the point of "sacrifice," animals aren't making one. To sacrifice something, you must willingly trade it for something else. (Though plenty of BBQ joints will suggest otherwise[3].)
[1] http://www.peta.org/living/food/2011-vegetarian-vegan-stats/
[2] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/3/525s.full
[3] http://vanishingsouthgeorgia.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/wil...