Scale is maddening...

I know it's just a number, but it seems like the last month or even two months this scale will have me down 5 lbs one day, up 2 the next, as of this morning it looks like I have gained 4 lbs since my last update.....I haven't changed a thing.  Only thing I have changed was the frequency and intensity of my workouts.  I try to stay hydrated, I up my intake of water whenever I work out.  I haven't changed my food intake.  Ahh the other thing I have added is coffee once a day with 2 splenda's and 2 creams.  But I am starting to wonder if I am getting enough calories and my body is going into protection mode?  I know that when I workout I burn an average of 650-850 calories, I am still taking in about 900-1200.  I was working out 3-4 times a week, now about 4-5 times a week.  All but one of my workouts consist of cardio right now, the 1 is strength training, so I don't think it's building muscle.  I am almost 7 months out.  I have had a good run, been through one plateau, but this is getting maddening.... Any ideas?? 

I'll just keep plugging away, but starting to think there must be something that I am doing or not doing.

 If you have changed the frequency and intensity of your workouts, thats a pretty big change.  You are better served measuring your progress on performance and/or how your clothes are fitting.  Its no un common to see weight changes after you increase workout frequency or intensity due to muscle gains and also water weight - even if you have not focused on strength training, that cardio will work on you.   I fluctuate all over the place, plus or minus 7-9 pounds from 210 (I have yet to see a scale read below 200...).  

I do think weight training and protein intake is the key to losing fat while gaining muscle, so make sure your protein levels are high and hit the weights.  You probably need more cals and protein with all those you burn.

I would add cals from protein and see if the scale moves. I would add a shake or 2 in and get to 1500+ cals a day and see what happens.

I don't know your height and weight but if your eating 1200 and your resting metabolism is 2000 and your workout is 800 ....that puts you at a 1600 calorie defecit per day which may be too much. Get it closer to a 1000 and see if the scale moves a little.

hydration swings can be huge, mine can go up or down to 12 lbs in one day (morning to night or vice versa, i weigh myself twice daily) based on how much i sweated/hydrated/salt intake/or taken in diuretics like alcohol.

regarding your calorie intake, don't take it lightly, you should try to get your RMR or BMR tested so you know how much you are burning each day without activity, then you can add in your burn from work outs and adjust accordingly.  without that information, you are just shooting in the dark and relying on trial and error, which is a valid method, but it will take months to settle on your intake as you have to hold steady for several weeks to gauge what effect any significant adjustment to your intake.  best of luck!

 I added about 200-300 more calories, mostly lean protein and scale is moving again!  Yay!  :)  Had this fear that my body was done losing.