I posted this in "general". I think it probably belongs here. Forgive me, my first time posting!

Help! My pinky and ring fingers are numb from riding

Hi! I have only been riding for about 4 months now. At 34, I finished my first Triathalon this month.

My hands kept falling asleep on bike rides over 12 miles but the feeling always went away.

Last week I started alternating 12 mile and 20 mile rides and it feels like my left pinky and ring finger never "wake up"....

The bike shop keeps telling me not to hold on so tightly to the handlebars. I have purchased handle bar extensions and I feel like I am hardly ever gripping so tightly anymore.

Has this "tingle" ever happened to anyone else. I weighed in at 253 when I started riding the bike this year...now i am down to 230 and i almost feel like I would rather be numb then ever stop riding the bike and risk gaining the weight back.

Many thanks for your replies,
Jam (sisu_concepts)