Re self discipline. I have faith in you, I mean I'm a human garbage fire; I am don't get-out-of-bed some days depressed and a polydrug user just to cope with life. I manage! It really does seem harder from the outset. Mostly because all it requires is for you to not do something, it's not like exercise (or even brushing your teeth :P) where you have to make yourself do a thing. You can live off pressure cooked beans and rice for a long time while you figure stuff out :) and there is a veritable army of us willing to help with whatever specific issues.

I am unsure if the belief that is ok to hurt sentient beings in certain scenarios or de-emphasis on consumption allows for veganism.

We're not Jains! haha I think it's fine to hurt someone who wants to kill someone if they wont stop trying and I don't have better options. The literal definition from the club that invented the word is:

"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

Nothing particularly consumerist or absolute pacifist or whatever in there. I mean some of the most based vegans go around sabotaging farms and shit. The reality is most of us are always buying things so a lot of visible veganism is seen through those small acts of defiance. This is the result of circumstance though not some inherent belief that all there is to do is not buy fur coats or whatever. All sorts of vegan movements take non consumerist forms such as research and development of alternatives (some small scale, like figuring out how to garden without manure etc and teaching others is vegan praxis), producing propaganda/investigating animal ag, rescue from and sabotage of facilities that abuse non human animals, working at sanctuaries, organising politically to further animal rights and so on.

As far as believer vs sympathizer: generally, it’s someone who won’t try to resist or even will even help in some way the changes you (and your group) are making to society because they sympathize with you and your beliefs even if they dont necessarily agree with them. It’s a a concept I think more easily applied to socialism but I think it can still apply to veganism too.

Ah that makes sense, thanks for explaining.