I have been cutting for 3 months now. I've gone from 225 down to 197 as of this week. The problem is, i've been loosing about 2 1/2 pounds per week until two weeks ago. Two weeks ago I was 198, then last week I was 197, now this week i'm 197....again.

It seems like i'm at a sticking point, or my body has caught on to what i'm trying to do and its protecting itself from any more weight loss.

I've noticed that my energy has dropped a bit as well over the weeks so I did something last night. I decided to eat some chineese food (fried) and eat a ton of white rice till I couldnt eat anymore. Then this morning when I got up for my workout, I was a BALL of energy.

Now this leads me to believe that I might need a week off of cutting just to reset my fat burning abilities....or so thats what I think.

Am I way off here, or could this be something else?

If you've been training and dieting hard and strict for 3 solid months a week off could do you good in my opinion. I try to take a week off completely about every 3-4 months. I still eat relatively clean although I might have a few extra cheat meals (or more than a few, ha!).

I don't see why a one pound weight fluctuation would warrant you to think there is a problem. I can fluctuate 5 pounds up and down easily depending on what I eat, water intake, time of day, etc. I wouldn't worry about it if bodyweight is the only thing you are using for consideration.

However your energy levels might play a better factor in determining a plateau. What is your diet like? Are you getting enough sleep? Anyway with the energy level in mind perhaps a week off would do you well.

Well, i'm 6 feet tall and when I look in the mirror I still see a bit of progress, but the weight is not coming off. I know I could be gaining muscle, but I seriously doubt that I am gaining 2 lbs of muscle in one week to counter the 2lb weight loss of fat to even out the scale.

The fatigue was a factor as well as me starting to get a sore throat cause of immune system weakening from the drop in calories.

I eat clean all week, chicken breasts, clean salads, brocolli, spinach, Natural Peanut Butter, ect.. I have one cheat meal per week though on Sunday. I eat about 2000 calories per day, give or take 200 depending on if its a weight day or a cardio day, and I do 4 cardio days per week on the cross trainer 60 minuts, 70%HR, first thing in morning on empty stomache.