( CNN ) -- Angela Baldwin can pinpoint the day she changed the course of her life . Her friend invited her to a dance fitness class in March 2013 . Baldwin tried to think of an excuse to skip it , but could n't come up with one so she reluctantly tagged along . At this point , the Prestonsburg , Kentucky , social worker weighed 350 pounds . She hid in the back of the room so few people would see her . Then something unexpected happened : Baldwin really enjoyed the class . `` The music moved my soul , '' she said . `` Even though I felt sure I was going die after each song , I kept moving . '' Growing up , the 5-foot-10-inch Baldwin had always loved music and dance , but had never tried classes or training . She was used to being `` the biggest person in the room , '' and had been all her life . `` I had become so miserable I did not want to leave my house , '' she said . At her heaviest , she said she wanted to just `` curl up and die . '' Baldwin began attending the classes twice a week , and the pounds started to drop off . Baldwin was especially encouraged after learning that her instructor had lost 100 pounds through dance fitness . `` When I saw ( the weight loss ) happening I gained a new drive and determination that I had never had before . I suddenly knew I could be healthy and have fun in the process . '' Buoyed by her progress , Baldwin , now 43 , started supplementing her diet with protein powder . As summer came around , she was attending classes five nights a week , and began `` eating clean , '' avoiding processed foods . As her weight continued to drop , Baldwin 's confidence grew . By October 2013 , she was down to 250 pounds . In addition to her classes , she began three days of high intensity interval training and three days of weight training . Baldwin 's instructor , Tabitha George , began to notice more than a physical change . `` She went from hiding in the back of class -- very shy , very withdrawn -- to moving to the front of class with a very outgoing and can-do attitude . '' Her mother has noticed the difference too . `` The results are remarkable , '' said Ann Stumbo . `` She is a different person today in body , spirit and attitude from what she was when she began with one visit to a ( dance fitness ) class . '' Baldwin is now down 127 pounds from when she started . She no longer needs to take medication for her blood pressure , depression or anxiety . She still hopes to lose 50 additional pounds , which would bring her to her goal weight of 175 . To that end , she 's started running 5K races , and has completed six so far . `` I am so much stronger than I ever thought possible , mentally and physically , '' she said , crediting it all to dance . She believes the classes saved her life . `` If I had not found the dance fitness class that I attend and the supportive group of women there , I believe I would have been either dead by now or so large that I could not leave my home . ''
Angela Baldwin credits dance classes for helping her lose many pounds . She used to ` ` curl up and die '' at her heaviest weight of 350 pounds . Dance fitness classes showed her she could be healthy and have fun .