Terry Atteberry is held accountable when she treats herself to the occasional trip to McDonald's. As student wellness coordinator for the Eldon School District, the 44-year-old said she has a reputation.
"People see me out around town and they're like, "Ooooh she's eating fast food?'" Atteberry said, laughing. "I get that a lot, especially as the student wellness coordinator."
At the end of May, Atteberry was selected by the Allegiance for a Healthier Generation as one of 25 people to run on their team for the New York City Marathon. The only person chosen from the state of Missouri, Atteberry said the invitation is a recognition of her healthy lifestyle, as well as her efforts to combat childhood obesity in the Eldon School District.
She's held many positions throughout her 14 years in the district - secretary, PTA president, cheerleading coach - but served as student wellness coordinator for the past three. The result of a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health, her job is to help reduce childhood obesity in Missouri by 5 percent over the next five years. She's helped implement more physical education throughout the school day, as well as lectures about nutrition.
The AFHG sent her an invitation in May to apply for a spot on their marathon team, but she wasn't sure if she would. She had run one marathon before and didn't know if she was ready to do it all again - the months of training, the possible injuries. Eventually she agreed to submit an application, dismissing the odds as 1 in a million.
Two days later, sitting in her office at Eldon Middle School, she opened up an email.
"It said, "congratulations, you've been accepted,' and I was just blown away," Atteberry said. "I was the only one in Missouri...it was a huge honor, an amazing honor."
A week ago, Atteberry announced it publicly on Facebook, sharing a link to her own webpage with a big, bold "donate" button. Part of running with the team means raising money to fight childhood obesity.
"This isn't about me, this isn't about New York, this isn't about the marathon - this is all about our kids," Atteberry said. "It's about our youth, and it's about helping them have a better lifestyle and a better life."
But three years back, Atteberry acknowledges she wasn't the woman people see today, leading by example in the fight against obesity. Eighty-five pounds heavier, she remembers feeling unhappy about what she saw in the mirror, ashamed of an unhealthy lifestyle that came with three children and a hysterectomy operation. When she jogged around her neighborhood, she waited until it was dark outside. The 41-year-old avoided any kind of attention.
Atteberry remembers wanting to make a change around the fall of 2012. She had always been an avid walker, but she decided to start running more regularly. She remembers one day, her headphones in, she picked up her pace and didn't look back. The anxieties in her life melted away with each passing street, she said.
"I took off running and it stuck," Atteberry said. "It was a good stress relief."
Additionally, she started to adhere to a stricter diet, setting a series of goals for herself. Caffeine quickly became a smaller part of her weekly intake, as well as fast food and after-work snacks like potato chips. Although she still indulged in a brownie or piece of cake every once in a while, she said she always managed her portions.
The lean diet, coupled with regular exercise, yielded results for Atteberry. One of the biggest moments in her transformation came when she and a few friends ran in the 2012 St. Louis Rock "n' Roll Half Marathon. Their only goal was to not get picked up by the back pace cart, but they ended up running better than they anticipated - around two and a half hours.
"We didn't ever have to walk, so we were ecstatic," Atteberry said. "It was a feeling like none other. I can't even explain the accomplishment that you feel in that day."
Since shedding 85 pounds and becoming a regular at local races, Atteberry said she's tried to let her own story of weight loss inspire others.
"I don't have all the answers, I don't claim to have all the answers - all I can share is what I've done and what's worked for me," she said. "I will do that anytime, all the time."
Her son, Tanner Atteberry, 18, said it's been incredible to see his mother's journey with her weight loss. The youngest of three children, Tanner has been struck by Atteberry's persistence and commitment. Her efforts to get healthier have even rubbed off on him.
When Tanner goes out to eat with friends, he said almost always urges them to steer clear of soda. Water or lemonade is a better alternative, he usually tells them.
"One of my friends is on maybe five weeks without soda and that's basically just because of what my mom and I have told him," Tanner said. "So not only has it rubbed off on me, it's starting to rub off on my friends through her."
Tanner, who will be attending George Mason University in the fall, is going to be in attendance when his mom sets out to conquer the New York City Marathon in November. It will be a thrill to see her compete at such a historic race, he said.
"It's going to be incredible to go up there and watch her do it," Tanner said. "Just to see how far she's come."
For Atteberry, the marathon is just another opportunity to fight the high rate of childhood obesity in America. Like her job, it's a platform to help those struggling with their weight.
"It's a real blessing for me to help someone else - to say you don't have to be ashamed, you don't have to run in the dark like I did," Atteberry said. "I think you should really feel like you're beautiful from the inside out, but you should also feel healthy, you should feel comfortable within your body, you should feel good about yourself."
Anyone who wants to donate to Atteberry's cause can do so at bit.ly/UEvbmo.