Basic Rating Question?

Tactics trainer causes so much fluctuation, I am constantly swinging around by as much as 200 points.

I found that the best ways for me to improve have been playing lots of correspondence tournaments and watching the videos (especially live sessions with ACEChess--it's good to hear the thought process of a high level player)

Ratings go all over the place in general.  I broke 1400 once and then went back down to 1320, then swing up to my current rating.  I found that my rating goes up the most when I don't pay attention to my ratings and focus more on just playing well.

Thanks for the advice, makes total sense. I just view the rating as guidance as how much I'm learning and I believe I learn something new each time I play somebody. On his profile is there any way I can pull up old live sessions he had to watch them?

from my personal experience I can say any intermediate book for tactics will help you ten fold than doing tactical training in any site..at lower level ofcourse.

http://www.chess.com/topic/live-sessions

scroll down to the videos portion, there are a few there.

and don't get me wrong, for the most part I watch my rating like a hawk.  It is definitely rewarding to see that number go up :-)

Go to the 'learn' tab at the top and select videos. When the screen comes up, search for 'Daniel Rensch' and select the first live show video that comes up. Once your in that link there is a link to 'previous live shows'. I watched a few of them yesterday and each one links to the last.

He is quite funny, which really helps keep you interested. Alot of the videos you watch on youtube are by GMs who have quite a monotone voice and, while you definitely learn alot from them, it can be hard work. Daniel Rensh makes it quite easy to listen to him and you learn as you go. He plays a standard game against a real opponent and discusses the moves, his ideas, potential plans for down the line etc. Very informative.

You may also want to watch some of his 'The Big Show' videos where he plays 10 players simultaneously under time pressure. Interesting to hear a  strong players thought process under such conditions.

Thanks to all you guys for your advice and help. Look forward to watching the videos.