My weight loss dilemma- advice sought

[Dramascus]

Ok, heres my status:

Ive been bulking for about 5 months, i went from 163 pounds at 10-12% BF to my current 190 at around 15%, my stomach sticks out about an inch past my chest, yet i can see the faint glimpse of my outer abs if i stand in the light and pose correctly.

My diet while bulking started to get messier since about 2 months ago, I started eating sugary things occasionaly or eating sausages and other junky things instead of lean meat, I attribute this to the excess fat gain.

So my plan is to get down to about 12% BF just so that I dont have a balooning belly.

Now I am confused about my options here, as I have never had to lose weight while retaining muscle before, my preferred option is to eat clean again and continue to bulk, and do 30 minutes of cardio (Go to the park and alternate fast walking/sprinting) on the days I dont lift, so 4 days a week.

Or maybe a quick and effective cut would be better, But I really want to preserve my mass and strength, what do you guys suggest?.

BTW I know all the basics of nutrition, im eating over 6 meals a day etc, and do not want to keto.

Thanks.

[Chi_town]

There is no such thing as a quick effective cut IMHO. At least not one that makes the lbs fly off at extreamly fast rates while preserving muscle.

If you cut to quickly, you will surely lose a higher % of muscle.
Do not drop cals to low, this will cause your nody to go into starvation mode and motabolis. will slow inhibiting/limiting fat loss. Losing 1-2 lbs a week is ideam IMO except for initially where you may lose a few more than that the first weeks.

I would go with a 40/40/20 cleaner diet getting the majority of fats from fish, oilve and flax oils. Keep carbs from better sources as well (complex carb - yams, brown rice ect.) Fiberous veggies are great regardless of the diet you choose, eat tons of them.
Salads are a dieters best friend. Drink at least 1 to 1.5 gals of water a day.

Your cardio is a start IMO, you could increase intensity and duration as time goes on. I really like HIIT which is similar to the "Go to the park and alternate fast walking/sprinting" that you do, which really stokes the motabolism.

If you could begin even some light weight training this has a profound effect on health overall and raises motabolism to aid in burning fat.