I was banded on Dec. 22, and I have lost 20 pounds. At this point I'm still on a liquid diet and can' wait to move to the next phase. I feel as though I can consume large amounts of liquid and not have a problem, but I'm doing what I have been told. I paid cash for my surgery and I feel that I need to do everything possible in order to lose the weight I need to lose and also not waste the money that was invested in my health.