I'm just reading and researching..... when you first get banded, you don't have anything in there right? So, is there any restriction? Is the restriction that is there due to swelling and such? When (and if... still researching) I get banded, am I going to feel starved due to the no fill + clear liquid diet?

Every doc is different. There are some docs that fill the band with a small amount of saline during surgery...and others that do not. If you do not have a fill, you may feel a little hungry after the swelling goes down. Talk to your doc about the things you can and cannot eat between the time you get your band and the 6 week fill.