An ant has no quarrel with a boot.

[j3smc21]

Hi everyone,

I am a 24 year female looking to get back into shape. Typical story that I have seemed to read a few times on here....softball player for 16 years; stops after college, etc. I'm 5ft tall, and about 140 lbs.

The past 8 months haven't been that great for me which has caused me to gain weight because of stress, and a work related injury. I worked with children with severe disabilities in a crisis intervention center..dealing with behaviors and trying to modify said behaviors so they can live in a less restrictive environment. Well the day before Christmas eve I was bit three times on my left hand...causing severe nerve damage on my radial nerve ..(unfortunately my work misdiagnosed my injury and I was not sent to see a specialist until March/April). In June my doctor said there was nothing else he could do for me and sent me on my way with a 25 lb restriction on my left hand..(thank the lord i'm right handed!!!) My job ended up letting me go once they found this out...which has added to the extra stress of not being able to work...paying for student loans..etc.

SO that leads me to this.. I WANT/NEED to be active. It's been highs and lows emotionally and my body has suffered. I've been looking at the programs that are offered already on this site. I've been doing body weight circuits, but by the 2nd circuit my hand gets tired and cramps up after awhile.

My main goal is fat loss. I have my weeks planned out with food and have everything I need to prepare.

I've read over some of NROL, which a lot of women have seemed to suggest. I looked over Jamie Eason's 12 week Burning The Fat program and also her Livefit. I like the programs that are suggested there because it gives me the chance to work up my strength with the weight lifting especially when dealing with complications with my hand.

Any help???

[Razor]

Hey, welcome to NF!

In terms of actual fat loss, most of the battle is your diet. Calories in<Calories out=less mass. So eating less calories, along with foods that aren't wholly absorbed (things with fiber and steel cut oats are a good example) will definitely help you cut fat. Even with a 25 lb. restriction on your hand you can still do weight and resistance training, which burns more calories than most cardio, so go with it. Good luck with your goal, I'd start a thread in the adventurer forum asking for a little help if you need it. Sucks about your hand. I'm not a doctor, but is it nerve damage that can't be healed whatsoever? There's a lot of times people were told they had an injury and couldn't use something anymore, but gradually using it more and more helped them heal.

[j3smc21]

Hi there! Thanks.

I've seen multiple doctors and neither of them want to perform surgery because of the area on my hand for which got bitten. They said that it would cause scar tissue and more harm done then to actually "give time". I wasn't given a definitive answer on whether or not it would heal all the way or not. I do have my good and my bad days..which is better than when I had straight bad days. I'm optimistic and am constantly using it to the best of my abilities.

I want to do free weights. I've seen some pre-made plans on bodybuilding.com and have adjusted some to work with my capabilities.

[Razor]

Hi there! Thanks.

I've seen multiple doctors and neither of them want to perform surgery because of the area on my hand for which got bitten. They said that it would cause scar tissue and more harm done then to actually "give time". I wasn't given a definitive answer on whether or not it would heal all the way or not. I do have my good and my bad days..which is better than when I had straight bad days. I'm optimistic and am constantly using it to the best of my abilities.

I want to do free weights. I've seen some pre-made plans on bodybuilding.com and have adjusted some to work with my capabilities.

Be wary of people on BB. I go there too, and while it's a great place and can be very informative, often times workout plans and advice are given with the priority of looks and aethstetics rather than actual health and strength. They're easily a step above curlbros, but they'll still make workouts that make them look great and leave them easily injured. (I.E., they're strong in the gym. But if they try to pickup a couch, a tv, or even a girlfriend, they end up throwing their back, pulling a hamstring, hurting a shoulder, etc. Because they're workouts train them to be better at working out, not to be stronger in every day life).