I sincerely think ^ this option would be better for you. You want to get stronger and have more muscle for aesthetic purposes, but are restricting caloric intake to a point such that…
This happens.
You need to fix this; energy does not disappear - but your body will find a way to make it stretch if done long enough… enter Adaptive Thermogenesis. You’re forcing your body into a state which you will gain weight whilst eating at ‘maintenance’ via increased work and reduced caloric intake.
There are at least a dozen people on this forum that have said you need to fix this, all of whom are highly respected. You’ve identified the outcome of your current diet in the quote I pulled from your log, I hope you see this and rectify it.
You’ve no problem restricting calories, so I think bulking and cutting would work well for you.