Cutting Help

[bj03sm]

I just finished a bulking cycle and am now wanting to cut 20-25 pounds. I am just needing some help with the most effective way to cut the fat while losing minimal muscle. Last time I just cut calories and lost fat, but also lost to much muscle. Right now I am 5-9 and around 186. Would it be best to still eat maintenance calories, but use cardio to put me in the deficit? I guess what I am asking is would it be better to eat, say 1700 cals a day and do a little cardio or eat 2200 calories a day and burn off the extra cals through cardio every day?

[cumminslifter]

the smaller the deficit the less chance you have to lose LBM, a 10-20% deficit is recommended

[vimalancity]

the smaller the deficit the less chance you have to lose LBM, a 10-20% deficit is recommended

^Done. Just a minor deficit from maintenance is more than enough. Start and maintenance first though and then reduce slowly when your weight stalls. The point of a cut is to eat as much as possible while stripping of the fat and preserving the muscles.