Follow-up to this post.

This went away a few days after I posted. My theory is that I got a pill stuck (a large antibiotic) in my esophagus and it caused a bit of a burn. I took the pill before bed without enough water.

Just took a few days to heel.

I'm now 3 weeks and 3 days out. Have lost just under 20lbs thus far and its been pretty painless.

I have noticed that my restriction isn't where it was in the first couple weeks but if you eat enough it certainly lets you know.

The biggest benefits are lack of hunger pangs and a built in portfolio control mechanism.

It would be easy to graze all day especially on soft foods. One must guard against that.

My typical day (though Thanksgiving and a big birthday party yesterday were exceptions looks like this):

breakfast: fage 2% yogurt (with a little splenda and some cinnamon) or atkins protein shake ~200 cals

lunch: small or medium soup or chili from soup place near my office ~200-300 cals

dinner: 3.5oz tuna (half of 7oz can) or similar amount of canned chicken, celery salt, a squirt of avocado oil mayo (Sir Kensington), and half of an avocado. ~400 cals

late snack: half a fage yogurt or cottage cheese. ~100 cals

This is the first time in my life that I've ever been able to eat "half" of anything.

I probably need to tone down the tuna at some point due to mercury.

Lastly, I can't get the water down that I need to. I'm just not thirsty. That remains an uphill battle.

Well done, looks like you got this!