30 pounds in 5 months

I started back in July. I have been overweight most of my life, ever since I was in late elementary school. I was turning 21 and already heavier than all of my friends, weighing in at 237. I remember getting ready for my 21st birthday party, looking at myself in the mirror and thinking how I should look the best I'll ever look at this age; I am 21, in college, and engaged to a wonderful man.... yet I didn't feel like I looked that great at all. Diabetes runs rampant through my father's side of the family, and over the summer my dad faced the possibility of getting his feet amputated due to his diabetes. At the same time, my future mother-in-law was diagnosed with diabetes and I had to watch her go through the transition of altering her diet and the challenges she faced during this. After seeing this, I knew that this was not how I wanted to live and knew I had to do something to change my lifestyle. I began with MFP, counting calories, and also began the C25K app. However, living in the South the summer heat got to be unbearable (running in 98+ Degree heat is really good for weight loss ), so my fiance, mother-in-law, and myself all decided to join the gym. I began going to Zumba and walking on the treadmill, but Zumba has been my sole workout program. I have dropped 3 pants sizes, 11 inches off my waist, and a total of 33 pounds. I have a long way to go...I hope to get below 180 before my wedding in May, and hope to continue to progress even further after that. I have no specific goal, I just want to be the healthiest that I can be. But I want to encourage anyone thinking of starting to get into shape, or anyone struggling, that If you really set your mind to it and stick with it, you CAN do this. I have not taken a single diet pill or gimmick, something I am very proud of. This is sheer hard work and determination.