Hello, I'm new here. I thought I'd start off with a bit about me, tell you my problem and hopefully get a bit of advice.

I'm 23, 6'6" roughly 225-230lbs (or so the Wii fit tells me). I used to be about 260lbs in the winter. I still have a fairly hefty layer of fat on me, especially in the stomach, sides, back and somewhat in the chest.

I've struggled with weight most of my teenage years and still do. I don't have a particularly active life, but I've gone about changing that in the recent months. I had done a fairly significant weight loss a few years ago when I got down to 215lbs. During that weight loss when I hit 230-235ish from 265ish, then got a bad virus and couldn't eat for two weeks where I got down to 215lbs and stayed there for several months. At 215lbs I looked great and was very happy with how I looked. Shortly afterwards I got into a serious relationship for a year and a half, put on what I call 'comfort fat' as I wasn't quite as insecure about my weight. So I basically shot back up to 260lbs within about 6-8 months.

We recently seperated and I wanted to lose weight again. I've been exercising thoroughly and regularly. Eating A LOT less (roughly 1000-1500 calories per day max). Took me a few months to drop down to 235ish, and has been slow ever since.

The Problem: Over the last month or two I've kept my eating habits the same, if not less, and exercise even more vigorously. However, after I hit around 225-230lbs I seem to no longer lose any fat! What's even more frustrating, is if I allow myself a cheat night (which really is never that bad) I notice the weight gain within days.
I'm becoming extremely discouraged because I no longer see ANY fat loss whatsoever and am also starting to notice I may even be gaining weight back (and it doesn't seem to be muscle mass because my clothes are getting tighter again).

I was feeling great over the last while before I hit this plateau because all my old clothes that I bought when I was 215lbs started to fit again.

Does anyone have any reasoning as to why I've hit this plateau or any advice that could help me break through it? I've even been starting to hope that I get really sick again so I don't have to eat for two weeks...

I'd appreciate any information or help. Thanks!

Your cunning body has adapted to your diet and exercise program and worked out how to hang on to the fat.

You need to outsmart your body by one or more of the following

1. change the proportions of carbs to protein. Go for a low carb approach for 3 days, then a day of your normal diet and repeat a few times till you start losing again.

Eat mainly complex carbs and those mainly at breakfast (you do eat breakfast don't you - if you don't eat a good breakfast within an hour of getting out of bed, that is another issue to fix immediately)

Cut most complex carbs out completely at night - no rice, potatoes or pasta platefillers at night. Just lean protein and veggies or salad.

2. Instead of a cheat night, go for a cheat breakfast or lunch - you are more active during the day and you will retain less calories than if you have a cheat night then toddle off to bed.

3. Shake up your exercise routine. Try some high intensity interval training at least once a week (if you are fit enough to not fall over from it) and/or change your resistance training to high intensity.

4. If you don't already, start keeping an accurate weight loss journal to record calories in and out. Without accurate figures, you are just guessing and if your weight has stabilized, you can't afford guesswork.