Thanksgiving was Tough with Lap Band

What a week.  I thought Thanksgiving was going to be tough to get past without over-eating and I was right.  I grazed most of Friday and Saturday.  I know I was full, but leaving the leftovers alone was tough.  Wish I had given tham all away, but I spent a lot of money on the turkeys and did want those leftover sandwiches.  I also ate three bowl fulls of fruit salad as well over the weekend.  Lots of fruit, but too many calories I am pretty sure. 

Had my first battle with constipation from the surgery.  My typical cure, three habaneros, is nto recommended with lap band.  Having to consider chemical/natural alternatives in a bottle, yuck.

Time to weigh, I currently weigh 291, gained 3 pounds so far this week, but I have until Tuesday to do better and until Dec 7 to be down to 285, a goal I have.

Tuesday Update Time

What a week.  I found out some new things this week about my lap band.  First, if you eat too fast or too much, your new stomack puts pressure on your diaphram and it causes hiccups.  Second, there is a point when you eat too much you feel the worst pressure in the world in your chest.  Third, when you obey the rules everything works pretty well.

Now for hte gross stuff.  You can skip this paragraph if you do not like to read about bodily functions.  I have a fatty liver, it was enlarged when I had the surgery.  This makes for bad stuff when solid waste comes out.  It is something that is cured with a diet of less calories and less fat so I am not going to have a problem with that much longer, I hope.

Ok, nasty stuff complete.  I have apparently cheated this last week.  I gained 1 pound curing the week and I think it was from the 2 times this last week I had tacos.  I bought tiny taco shells on purpose, but I apparently ate them too fast and before my stomack said full, I gobbled down two too many both days.  I physically paid the price for it with hiccups and severe stomack discomfort.

I am learning to eat slower.  I have no choice because if I eat fast and get too many bites down the esophegus too quickly before it hits the stomack, the last few bits causes severe discomfort.  My nurse told me that negative reinforcement causes compliance with eating slower and less.  Now I have to convince my brain that it is ok to slow down and savor each bite, not try to top it with another before it starts hurting.

I will be going to get my fist “fill” on Dec 7.  The fill actually tightens the lap band and limits the amount of food going down and increases the ability to feel full longer.

I have made an executive decision to do monthly pics instead of weekly pics.  There is no real change from week to week and there will be some change month to month.

Successful Lap Band Surgery

On Friday October 30, 2009 at 11:10, the surgeon began the process with his first incision and 2 hours later, I am in surgical recovery.  Last night was tough, my “cuts” itched and tickled all night long and I did not get much if any sleep.  I will be posting pics in a day or two when I start feeling like a human being again.  THe surgery is the easy part to get over, but I am still battling this unknown virus and right now it is keeping me tired and worn out.  Just weighed, 299 down from 305 yesterday morning.

I have already won the battle for day one!

Lap Band Postponed Another Week

I will be having the Surgery within the next 2 weeks if all goes well with my health and the flu.  Still couching and running a slightly elevated fever.  I have my first pictures ready, now I am just waiting for the surgery to post the first pictures so that there is a baseline upon which to measure the statistics.  I will be answering any questions anyone has after the surgery.

Flu Symptoms Before Lap Band Surgery

What a crazy week I have had.  I developed Flu symptoms on Wednesday and unintentionally spent all day Thursday in the hospital.  My PCP’s day off is Thursday so the staff told me to go to ER to get checked out and get scrits to be able to be healthy enough for the upcoming surgery.  I was sent to ER because of various other underlying health issues that cound not be accounted for by a walk in clinic.  Needless to say Flu symptoms turned into CYA medicine and after thousands of dollars worth of tests and 10 hours in the ER I was sent home with the determination I had a virus of unknow type and that I would be ok to have surgury as long as I was not running a fever.

I am so excited about Lap Band.  I have many pre-concieved notions about how I will look after losing over 100 pounds.  I am more excited about wearing a size XL for the first time in 3 decades.  Now if I can just convince my shoulder that it is ok to feel good about life again, I would feel great physically. 

Less than 14 days to Lap Band and I am stoked.

Lap Band Surgery is on the Way

Over the next year, I will be documenting a miracle that is about to change my life.  I am about to experience bariatric Lap Band surgery within the next few weeks.  Each week, my sons and I will be documenting my weight loss and inches lost.  We will be taking pictures of me in a pair of shorts in front of my front door to give a point of reference for the weight loss.

I am currently at 312 lbs.  My first goal is 212 lbs, my weight at graduation from high school.  My second goal is 199, first time below 200 since 11th grade.  My final goal is 184, first time under 185 since 10th grade.

We plan to document all doctor visits, surgery, fills and total weight loss each week.  We will also be documenting other underlying health problems and how they are affected by the surgery and weight loss.

We will begin documenting the surgery after the surgery which is to take place over the next few weeks.

Worthy Is The Lamb

Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy

worthy is the Lamb that was slain

The Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Slain before the foundation of the world

Holy is the Lamb

Sacrificed in Heaven before the world

The Angles cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

 

Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy

worthy is the Lamb that was slain

The Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Who in the beginning was the Word

Holy is the Lamb

The creator of the world

The Angles cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

 

Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy

worthy is the Lamb that was slain

The Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Who was the Passover sacrifice

Holy is the Lamb

Whose blood protected the firstborn

The Angles cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

 

Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy

worthy is the Lamb that was slain

The Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Whose flesh is the bread

Holy is the Lamb

Whose blood is the wine

The Angles cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

 

Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy

worthy is the Lamb that was slain

The Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Who is our crucified sacrifice

Holy is the Lamb

Whose blood cleanses us from sin

The Angles cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

 

Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy

worthy is the Lamb that was slain

The Angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Holy is the Lamb

The Angles cry Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy is the Lamb

Holy is the Lamb

Mother in Law Going Home to Heaven

Over the last 2 months, my mother in law has been battling numerous serious health conditions.  On February 7, after 20 days in the hospital, we were able to bring her home with hospice care.  The maladies were numerous and none individually would have been fatal, but combined, we were informed that she could not survive.

 

On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 my mother in law, Dortha J. Beardsley went home to be with her redeemer.  He delivered her from immeasurable pain and torment from her maladies.  He is a glorious and gracious God.  If you would like to leave a personal note for my wife Anita, you can send it to our personal e-mail account at jimmiekersh@hotmail.com.

 

CastMaster Ministries Camp Information

CastMaster Ministries is multi-dimensional 501(c)3 religious non-profit specifically developed to minister to the corporate body and individual believers.  Thomas Cotter IV, James D. Hughes, Jimmie W. Kersh and Kyle A. Patterson founded and serve as the executive directors of CastMaster Ministries Inc.  The CastMaster Ministries umbrella covers three separate and diverse ministries:  First is the Conference and Retreat Center Ministry that includes the Minister’s Retreat Ministry.  Second is the Publishing and Production Ministry.  Third is the Ranch Ministry for troubled youth.

 

The purpose of CastMaster Ministries is to expose children, teenagers, adults and senior adults to their immeasurable worth and identity in Jesus Christ to empower them to impact their community with the life changing love of God.

 

The philosophy of CastMaster Ministries is to provide ministry tools that will accomplish our purpose. We will equip individuals and organizations with biblically sound, relevant resources to retool and refocus their ministry efforts. We will be the outfitter of choice for churches as they seek to provide the highest quality materials for the teaching and training of their membership.

 

The vision of CastMaster Ministries is to outfit believers to “fish”  in every mountain stream, pond, lake and ocean so that every person will receive a presentation of the Gospel.

 

The mission of CastMaster Ministries is to be the premier outfitter of the church, the saints and Christian organizations by providing the highest quality facilities and services.

 

 

Camping Ministry

The Retreat is the centerpiece of the Conference and Retreat Center Ministry.  The Retreat  

is a high-end resort-style Christian Conference and Retreat Center based in the Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas triangle designed to accommodate more than 864 guests.  The Retreat has a projected cost of approximately $25 million.

 

The purpose of our Conference and Retreat Ministry is to outfit individual believers and the corporate body to fish in every mountain stream, pond, lake and ocean in a setting that promotes community and safety.  The goal of the CastMaster Ministries Conference and Retreat ministry is to be a self supportive environment where believers and non believers can come together to experience the love of God in a natural setting which promotes community in a sanctuary of safety.  

 

The Retreat is specifically designed for year-round, multi age, multi group usage allowing the most feasible use of the facilities as possible.  The design of the facilities allows for multi age group usage including children, youth, young adults, median age adults and senior adults.  The design of the facilities also allows for multi group usage allowing up to six groups to use the facilities at the same time. 

 

The Minister’s Retreat is a gift to Christian ministers. The Minister’s Retreat has two main purposes:  First, renewal is for full time ministry staff and his immediate family. Our gift includes up to 7 nights of lodging and meals as well as the use of all of the facilities and amenities of the Conference and Retreat Center. Minister and families are also welcome at all of the evening worship services during their stay. Because The Retreat is centrally located near three of the largest cities in Texas, we are a great hub for day trips for the minister and his family if they so choose to venture out for site seeing.  Second, restoration is for ministry staff who are recently terminated or forced resignation and their immediate family, whether or not they have chosen to rejoin full time ministry. We are committed to minister to ministers and their families. Our concern stems from our own personal experiences with the trauma of ministerial termination and we understand the uncertainty associated with this upheaval. Our gift includes up to 12 weeks of lodging and meals as well as the use of all facilities and amenities of The Retreat.   Restorative counseling services will be provided during these stays.  Contacts for church ministry service will be given upon completion of restorative counseling.  

 

 

The Publishing and Production Ministry

The Second Phase of CastMaster Ministries is the publishing and production ministry.  We will be placing this ministry on the property with The Retreat.

 

The CastMaster Ministries team is blessed with writers who put together exceptional materials to equip the local body and believers to fish in every mountain stream, pond, lake and ocean so that every person will receive a presentation of the Gospel.

 

CastMaster Ministries also wants to train and develop the next generation of writers, musicians and producers to prepare them for their ministries that lie ahead.  We will be a publisher for new and emerging talent wishing to minister to the body of Christ.  We will focus on a variety of materials for every aspect of corporate and individual Christian life, whether in evangelism, discipleship, worship, Christian educational materials for homeschool and private school, ministry leadership training, marriage and family, youth and children as well as church and ministry consulting.  

 

We also anticipate a Recording/production studio that will be provided at little to no cost as a ministry to up and coming artists.  We are committed to ministering to the whole body of Christ in any way that is possible so that we can equip the local body and believers to fish in every mountain stream, pond, lake and ocean so that every person will receive a presentation of the Gospel.

 

 

Ranch Ministries

CastMaster Ministries has long term plans to build ranches for troubled teens that will host up to 30 adolescents.  This working ranch will have therapeutic horse training and riding instruction, cattle ranching and farming.  Our ranch for troubled teens is an outdoor restoration ministry using horse training and riding, cattle ranching and farming to teach self-discipline and life skills.  We will use all of our other ministries to fund and develop this ministry.

  

 

We Need Your Help

We are currently beginning a Capital Fundraising Campaign.  We need to raise $100,000 to begin working with a Professional Fundraising Consultant.  We need to raise $25Million to open The Retreat.

 

 

Why I Homeschool

BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
Rescue your kids from Caesar!
Exclusive: Dave Welch laments fact 90% of Christian children are educated in humanism

Posted: December 02, 2008
1:00 am Eastern 

 

By Dave Welch on WorldNet Daily

How could this nation, founded on the solid foundation of Judeo-Christian traditions that produced personal freedom, political stability, economic prosperity and cultural unity, slide so far from those roots? Is this indeed just the “end times” or the “last days” pre-ordained by God and described in His word as a great falling away from Him with its resulting fruits of moral anarchy?