weight fluctuations

Question
hello,

i am a regular 5 -6 day/week exerciser; cardio emphasis with some strength training too. i am also journaling my food intake. finally, i drink a lot of water.

so i know exactly how much work i am doing and how much/what kinds of food i am eating.

i know that i am getting smaller: my clothes are looser and my body looks less jiggly. however, the scale fluctuates so much that it is hard to know where i am.

i have about 7 - 10 pounds to lose to weigh 160. 153 - 155 would be my ideal weight, but from exp., i know that it is hard to maintain. 160 will be a "mentally comfortable" weight for me. :)

here's a fluctuation example: i start at 170 and one month later, it hovers between 167 and 168.5. then over the next couple of weeks, it climbs up a pound. then it fluctates back and forth between 167 and 170. all the while, i'm seeing and feeling a difference.

my question is, how do i get my weight to stop fluctuating and start a continuous, downward trend?

thanks!

Answer
Tawnya,
I would really have to be working with you personally and on a continuous basis to answer your question.  It is about impossible for me to know the problem through just hearing a few sentences about what you are doing.  
Fluctuating weight is very normal.  We rarely weigh the exact same every single day.  The fluid amounts in our body fluctuates, scales can be off, etc...  
As far as your weight plateauing make sure you are not watching only WHAT you eat but how much you eat, watch those portion sizes!  Look at your exercise and if you are doing the same thing each day try mixing it up a little with different machines/different cardio exercise.  
It sounds like what may be happening is that you are losing inches, which means you are losing fat but gaining some muscle.  That can definitely make the scale stick BUT it is exactly what you want.  In that case you just have to be patient.  Keep up what you are doing and the weight will eventually come off.  The more muscle you have the more calories you burn!  Don't get discouraged.  Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job!!  Your hard work WILL eventually pay off!!
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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