Only by losing weight can you win: The success story of volleyball player Kerry Feather

2026-05-24

**Only by losing weight can you win.**

Kerry Feather achieved a double victory as an individual and as an athlete, and while changing her lifestyle, she met the man who would later become her husband.

During the days when I was participating in volleyball tournaments, people always mocked the food I carried with me.

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The competition schedule was from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., during which everyone was frantically eating sugary foods. Some athletes were eating bagels and oranges, while I was sitting there eating my own roast chicken, a few slices of ham, and a turkey I bought from a store in Derry and Atkins Bar.

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> There are so many bars at Atkins! (I also brought salad and strawberries.) By the end of the day, everyone else was exhausted, but I was as energetic as I was at 8:30 in the morning.

I am indeed able to maintain my energy thanks to Atkins therapy, which also gave me the physical strength to train continuously.

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I have always been an athlete, and even when I reached my peak weight of 81.5 kg, I was still playing in college or local competition federations.

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That was truly the most difficult period of my life: I was not only in the final stages of a terrible marriage, but I was also extremely depressed, and I started binge eating.

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Between 1997 and 1998 alone, I actually gained 27 kilograms, and the weight kept increasing as I kept buying new, even larger clothes.

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Until one day, I realized I needed to wear a size 16! I not only felt depressed, but my blood pressure also became so high that I had to take medication to control it.

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I believe my high blood pressure is caused by family genetics, but my doctor thinks it should be attributed to my weight.

I started trying low-fat foods: pancakes for breakfast, low-fat yogurt for lunch, and pasta for dinner every other day.

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I also bought exercise tapes and practiced until I was drenched in sweat every day.

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Even so, I never lost a single pound and was always hungry.

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Although I am skeptical of Atkins' method, my mother lost 4.5 kg by practicing it, so I think it's worth a try.

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If I fail again, I will try the Weight Watchers weight loss method.

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When I finally got my doctor's permission to try the Atkins method, I read the book "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" and started the Atkins weight loss phase in January 2000.

My weight dropped very quickly; after 5 months I lost 27 kilograms and reached my target weight of 54.5 kilograms.

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My blood pressure also started to decrease, and I gradually weaned off the medication.

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My current weight no longer slows me down, I've started playing volleyball again, and I've started dating the man who is now my husband.

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He was our workout partner. We started by running together and talking about triathlon. In July 2001, we participated for the first time in the Wild Dog Triathlon in North Kings, Rhode Island.

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The competition includes a 400-meter swim, a 20.8-kilometer bike ride, and a 5-kilometer run.

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My husband, his boss, and I were in the same group, and we won first place. We've participated in the triathlon several times so far and plan to compete in the wild dog race again this year.

Atkins' approach is not about "ruining your diet" but about a lifestyle.

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I am in the best shape I've ever been in, and my blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal - I've been living according to the Atkins method for 3 years now.

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Anyone who wants to frustrate you is probably either misunderstanding or jealous of your success.

**Kerry believes the reasons for his success**

◎ Don't skip any meals.

Avoid foods sold as "low-sugar" products that contain levonorgestrel, as this "potential" sugar can cause your weight to rebound.

Atkins Sugar Balance Value: 50

Age: 27

Height: 1.63 meters

Weight before receiving Atkins therapy: 81.5 kg

Weight after receiving Atkins therapy: 54.5 kg

Weight loss: 27 kg

Blood pressure before receiving Atkins therapy: 140/95

Blood pressure after receiving Atkins therapy: 110/70

Total cholesterol after receiving Atkins therapy: 186

High-density lipoprotein after receiving Atkins therapy: 89

LDL cholesterol level after Atkins therapy: 87

Triglycerides after receiving Atkins therapy: 52

Date of initiation of Atkins therapy: January 2000