( CNN ) -- Deidre Robinson 's cheeks flushed as two ride attendants tried to push her safety guard into the lock position . At 310 pounds , Robinson knew she 'd have restrictions at the theme park , but that did n't make her feel any less humiliated when she was told she could n't ride the roller coaster with her daughter . `` There was a big guy next to me and his snapped , '' she said . `` I thought , 'There 's something wrong with that . ' Obviously I was a lot bigger than he was . '' The 2007 event was one of several turning points for Robinson , now 31 , who was eventually inspired to join Weight Watchers and start doing Zumba , a Latin-inspired dance fitness class , in February 2009 . Less than two years later , the South Carolina native had dropped more than half her body weight -- going from a size 24 to a size 2 -- and was ready turn her healthy lifestyle into her livelihood . Childhood scars . `` My mom always called me thick , '' Robinson said . `` Back in the fourth grade , I remember my mom measuring my cereal ... three-fourths a cup of Cheerios . '' Nobody in her family had ever battled weight problems , she said . They could n't understand why she gained weight while eating the same things as her sister , who `` to this day is just genetically thin . '' By high school , she had tried just about every diet out there : from eating only chicken and rice every day for a month to `` the no-carb thing . '' The quick results were nice , she said , but nothing ever stuck . Weight loss helps mom battle cancer . Things did n't get any easier after graduation . Robinson 's parents and sister , who she said she 's very close with , tricked her into attending a weight intervention under the false pretense of discussing a bill . She showed up with her boyfriend at the time , who was n't overweight . A few years ago , they tried again , giving Robinson a gym membership for Christmas . `` For my family to come at me like that ... they did n't intentionally try to hurt my feelings , but they were trying to wake me up , '' Robinson said . `` They did n't know what it was like . They never had weight problems . They ate the same food ( as me ) . They 're the ones who took me to the restaurants . '' Robinson said her family 's well-meaning gestures did nothing to motivate her to lose weight . Rather , they made her defensive and caused tension . Robinson 's dad was n't overtly hard on her , but she could tell he was disappointed -- `` like he thought I let myself go , '' she said , which might have been unfair considering he had his own vice . Just as Robinson considered eating a habit that she had little control over , her dad had smoked cigarettes since he was 20 . He died at 45 in 2004 from coronary artery disease , five years before Robinson lost the weight . `` The one thing I hate the most is that my dad never got to see ( me thin ) , '' she said . `` I know how proud he 'd be that I got that weight off . He was always so proud of me for my job accomplishments , but he could never understand why I could n't get that part right . '' Family wins $ 10K after losing 255 pounds . The tipping point . From what she could wear and drive to where she would sit at restaurants , Robinson 's size dictated many aspects of her daily life . `` I did n't have one pair of shoes that had laces , '' she said . `` It put me out of breath to tie them . ... I would go into a restaurant already determining in my head whether I 'd need a table or booth . I could n't drive a sports car . I literally could n't fit behind the wheel . '' And the theme park incident is just one bad memory of a too-snug safety belt . Robinson had n't been on an airplane in about five years when she jetted off to Miami for a work trip with her husband in 2005 . She cringed as a flight attendant yelled out for someone to bring a seat belt extension over . `` In that situation , you almost feel like ... yes , you are a human being , but not only do you not fit into society because you look different and you stand out , but you literally do not fit , '' she said . `` I would n't even go to a concert because the seats ( were ) too small . You do n't want to put yourself in those situations because they 're so embarrassing . '' Robinson said her daughter McKenzie , who turns 10 in November , is the main reason she ultimately decided to get fit . Up until McKenzie was 6 , Robinson had n't been in a pool with her because she did n't feel comfortable in a bathing suit . `` She started asking me , 'Mom , why are you not swimming with me ? ' `` And as parents slid down the giant slide at the carnival with their children , Robinson waited for her daughter at the bottom . `` Why wo n't you go down with me ? '' McKenzie would ask her mom . `` I felt like I was missing out , '' Robinson said . `` I was there . I would take her to the events , but I could n't participate . I 'm at all the events , but I 'm in none of the pictures . '' Shake it . Thanks to Weight Watchers and Zumba DVDs , the weight started to fall off , Robinson said . After losing 30 pounds and gaining confidence , she began taking Zumba classes at a gym . She started going a few times a week and loved it so much she continued to go every day . More than 150 pounds later , Robinson decided to open her own fitness studio in Greenville , South Carolina . Within two months of opening Fitness Shakers in May 2011 , Robinson said she quickly lost another 15 pounds -- bringing her total weight loss to 170 pounds in two years -- just from being the only instructor at the time . `` It 's amazing to think I used to have these huge round chubby thick arms and now I 've got this muscle definition , '' she said . `` Pounds do n't even bother me anymore . Now it 's body fat percentage . '' FDA : Dietary supplements dangerous . Her studio , as well as her story , now helps inspire others to be active and healthy , if the testimonials on her website are any indication : `` I could never thank Dee Dee Robinson and her team enough for all they have done for me through Fitness Shakers , '' Jessie E. writes . `` I immediately felt love , support , and acceptance walking into my first class . '' `` They trust me because they know where I 've been , '' Robinson said of the members at her gym . `` They know I can relate . '' She now has a staff of 10 and a second location in Taylor , South Carolina , which opened in November 2011 . `` I work out every day of my life , '' Robinson said , who also credits her fit physique to knowing what foods to eat . Salmon is one of her favorites because it 's filling , yet low on the Weight Watchers ' PointsPlus system . `` Do I have my one cheat day a week ? Yeah , '' she said . `` Is one cheeseburger going to make me gain weight ? No . '' Robinson has also noticed some other positive changes in her life since losing the weight . In addition to strengthening the bond she has with herself -- gaining confidence and happiness -- she said her relationship with her family has flourished . `` They say , 'We finally got our Dee back . Her personality is back . She 's her bubbly normal self , ' `` Robinson said . `` We 're definitely closer . '' She said she used to remove herself from situations , such as family cookouts , because she was n't comfortable with her size , but now she 's a lot more involved . `` I did it for me , '' Robinson said of losing the weight . `` But maybe this whole weight loss process was n't just for me . Never did I think I could inspire others . ... I get more gratitude from that than just knowing what I 've done for myself . '' Have you lost weight ? Share your story on iReport .
Deidre Robinson went from a size 24 to a size 2 and opened a fitness studio . Robinson 's family did n't understand why she was overweight growing up . Her daughter encouraged her to get fit so they could participate in activities together .