Six month update
I can't say that I ever felt like it wasn't working like it should. This site is so tremendous at providing information, I felt like I had a very good idea of what to expect. I wasn't quite prepared for the amount of pain in the very early going but then, I'm quite the sissy when it comes to pain.
My one surprise was when I hit a plateau in only the third month. Didn't lose a thing for about 2-1/2 weeks. When I did start down, though, the loss came back in a spurt, kind of like a rubber band stretched tight. I knew then that plateaus would happen (and heaven knows I've experienced more since then!), but I didn't expect it so soon. If it happens to you, just be confident that it WILL pass.
Best of luck to you. This is a great life-changer, and I'm sure you're going to be happy with this choice.
Rich