So then what do vegans call themselves before that point? "Vegan in training"? "Vegan junior"? "Planning to be a vegan"? "I don't eat meat or animal products, but I'm not a vegan because I haven't put in the hours yet"?

I'm being pedantic on purpose here because the idea of some minimum time requirement to call yourself a vegan is one of the most pedantic things I've ever heard, and supports the stereotypical characterization of vegans being overall pains in the ass.