LaToya Atterberry, left, works with powerlifting coach Demetrius Hill on her squad.

A visit to the doctor was an eye-opening experience for Meridian resident LaToya Atterberry several years ago.

Atterberry was told her heart it wasn’t beating as fast as it should be due to a previously undiagnosed condition. She was put on medication to help manage her blood pressure, and a change in lifestyle was also urged.

“The doctor told me if I didn’t do something soon, I could die,” Atterberry recalled.

Not crazy about running, Atterberry ultimately decided to work with local weightlifting coach Demetrius Hill beginning in late 2014. Three years later, Atterberry hasn’t just lost 50 pounds, she’s also picked up powerlifting — and excelled. Last month, Atterberry competed in the World National Powerlifting Federation’s U.S.A. National Championship meet, placing first in her age group (40) with a squat of 365 pounds, a bench press of 165 pounds and a deadlift of 325 pounds.

The first-place finish punched her ticket to the world competition later this year in Florida, and Atterberry said it was a long way to come in a short amount of time. Prior to that, Atterberry had only competed in one other powerlifting meet, the WNPF’s regional meet in April.

“I was supposed to do one with State Games last summer, but they canceled it,” Atterberry explained.

Her interest in the sport began while she was working with Hill lifting weights. Hill, who coaches the Meridian High School girls powelifting team, was the one who suggested she give it a try.

“She was listening to me about the girls powerlifters, and she said she would have loved to do that when she was younger, and I told her it wasn’t too late,” Hill said. “She’s done well at it. She really jumped on it, and it’s something she can do as long as she wants to. I judge meets, and there are people 60 to 70 years old powerlifting.”

Hill encouraged Atterberry to pursue powerlifting, and since Atterberry already enjoyed lifting weights, she figured she would probably like powerlifting, too.

“He always said I was stronger than I thought,” Atterberry said. “Weight training was something I was good at, and it was a stress reliever. The more it did it, the more I realized I was good at it.”

At first, though, she didn’t realize how good she would be at powerlifting. In late April, she competed in the Chalk Up WNPF event in Huntsville, Ala., where she squatted 295 pounds, bench pressed 160 pounds and deadlifted 325 pounds, earning her a first-place finish in the women’s 40 division. She was also named the best overall first-time female lifter.

“I was shocked,” said Atterberry, who admitted the unknown feeling of her first powerlifting meet gave her doubts. “I was like, ‘OK, I’m good.’ I wasn’t believing in myself, and it took me a couple of weeks to realize that I’m a 40-year-old woman who was lifting more than some men.”

Up next was the national championship meet in June, and Atterberry said she knew she would have to increase her weight for each lift in order to have a chance. Not only did she finish in first place again, but Atterberry also competed in the bench press for reps division, in which she also placed first, finishing with 13 reps for 135 pounds.

“In Huntsville, I was scared to jump my numbers, but in June, we pushed the bar to make sure I could get them,” Atterberry said. 

Now that she’s seen some success, Atterberry said there’s a sense of accomplishment to it all, which she enjoys, especially since powerlifting wasn’t on her mind when she first began working with Hill.

“It feels good,” Atterberry said. “A lot of people ask how to get involved, but it wasn’t my goal in the beginning. It just ended up being this way, and I love it.”

Hill said as a personal trainer, it’s rewarding to both see Atterberry’s physical transformation and her accomplishments as a powerlifter.

“It’s a great feeling,” Hill said. “For someone who never had any interest in doing it, all of a sudden, she’s doing well at it. I told her it’s not about me, it’s about you and your drive to do the best you can — to get the weight off, to get stronger and stuff like that.”

Physically, Atterberry hasn’t only lost weight. When she started lifting, Atterberry was having to go to the doctor twice a month to monitor her heart. Back in March, she made enough progress to where the doctor changed it to a biannual trip. 

Atterberry said she couldn’t put into words how grateful she is to Hill for helping her improve her health and her physical strength.

“He doesn’t want me to (credit him), but without him keeping me focused and staying on me, I wouldn’t be here,” Atterberry said. “I’ve done other things to lose weight, and this  is the only thing that’s helped. He was that push for me.”

The WNPF world competition takes place in November in Kissimmee, Fla., and Atterberry said she’ll be pushing for even more weight on her lifts. She also plans to compete in an American Powerlifting Association meet later this month in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to stay active.