22 Continue cutting or transition into a lean bulk? Looking for guidance

[RC200]

Started around 177 pounds with a lean mass of 138 pounds at 21.6% body fat from a dexa scan taken around 10 months ago.

I’m currently weighing 168 pounds and look like this (attached pic), and my goal looks like that (attached pic).

The dexa showed around 138 pounds of lean mass at the time, but I honestly don’t fully know where my current muscle mass is at now since lifting has been inconsistent until recently. The calorie deficit and walking/cardio have been much more consistent over these past months than the lifting itself.

I’ve mainly been losing weight through:

• calorie deficit
• walking/cardio
• high protein intake (130g-160g daily)
• appetite suppression from retatrutide

I’ve been averaging around 1-2 pounds lost per week.

I recently started taking lifting more seriously and just started strength training this Monday. Currently training around 4 days per week focusing on progressive overload and training every muscle group while continuing the cut.

I know I’m currently lacking a good amount of muscle compared to that physique, but I’m mainly looking for guidance because I do like having some overall size/frame and I don’t want to end up looking too small after cutting too hard.

I’m estimating I’m probably somewhere around 18% body fat currently but not fully sure.

From my calculations I think 10-12% body fat would maybe put me somewhere around 155-160 pounds depending on how much lean mass I’ve maintained.

Based on my current stats and physique:

• how long would you continue cutting before transitioning into a lean bulk?
• would you keep pushing down to around 10-12% body fat first or slow the cut once getting leaner?
• realistically how long do you think it would take me to achieve a physique somewhat similar to the one I attached?
• how should my nutrition/macros look for now while trying to lose fat but also build some muscle?

Any help/advice would be appreciated

 

[WhiteApe]

following along. Good for you for starting this thread.

 

[WhiteApe]

With that being said, I would stop trying to have someone else's build. All you can do is produce the best built for you. We all have different frames, structures, muscle bellies, muscle fibers, insertions, etc.

For me this is a competition for myself, against myself.

 

[Wardamn]

Eat at maintenance and learn to train.

 

[HAAM]

Eat at maintenance and learn to train.

This.

New lifter gains. Dial in your maintenance calories, learn proper form and execution for basic lifts. The next 6 months will be wicked.

 

[JLovely]

Like Wardamn says you need to learn to train.
With that being said I feel like youre trying to do too many things at once. If it was me I'd continue to lose some more fat before trying to do any bulking. Would you rather bulk from a 8-10% bf where if you add 5% youre still only 13-15% or bulk from a 20% and add that same 5%? Do one thing at a time and stay the course until the goal has been achieved before switching gears and doing something else.