Angie-your stomach isn't resticted at all until you have your first "fill". When the surgery is first done, he doesn't fill the band with saline because of the swelling in and around the stomach. You basically have to follow his diet until your first fill. Even after my first fill, I really didn't feel much restriction-so I'm still "dieting" until I have my second fill this Thursday. He only put 1.5 in first-now it'll probably be 2cc. I'm sooooooooooo tired of dieting LOL! Remember to drink LOTS OF WATER-if you're like I was-you're so sick and tired of hearing that LOL! I drank cokes and sweet tea all day long before surgery-(12/5/05) now it's water-with the exception of my nonfat, no whip, triple venti cinnamon dolce latter from Starbucks (my reward)! AND-don't drink when you eat-wait atleast 30mins. after you eat to drink liquid-which is hard to get used to! Just hang in there-it'll come off-whatever you do-don't watch the scales all the time-Bee at Spivaks ofc. told me to take my measurements too. Measurements have been encouraging-more than the scales!