So, I'm seven years into the band. So glad I did it but I was shocked at how little weight I lost. It took a long time, mostly because our bodies go into immediate starvation mode. I went from 240 to 180 over one year. I was never too tight and now seven years later, I have virtually no fill...just the band. I now weight 170. The last 10 pounds were lost when I hired a trainer. It took four months to ignite my metabolism that's how sluggish this weight loss procedure makes our metabolism. I now can eat normal amounts of food (not too much but normal) so I'm certain my stomache has changed. I go about every two years to the Dr. The tool worked but it's just a tool. Where I'm at today is that I think I have a clogged band. Friday evening at a fancy, expensive restaurant, I had a piece of chicken that still had cartlage attached. i pulled a piece from my mouth (not nice at a good restaurant)but I'm sure I swallowed a piece too and I cannot get it through or digested. That was Friday ... this is Tuesday evening. I am freaked out because I know I have to have this dealt with. Will it cost a fortune? I paid $14K cash for the band. I can eat some but there is constant pressure, not at all fun. Any advice? For you...you have to exercise, period. this is a bad diet tool but it does end the ability to binge eat and that was the trick to 60lbs. But I've been 150 before from diet and exercise and that look is entirely different. Start sweating to your waist.